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Britain's Cruiser Mk VI, Crusader III, A15
Cruiser Mk VI, Crusader III, A15: |
Variants
- Crusader III: Final production vehicle with 6 pdr. Increased armor on hull and turret. The turret was longer and taller to handle the 6 pdr. The front plate was vertical, with a rectangular opening for the gun with an internal mantlet. A coaxial Besa MG on the left. There was a smoke discharger to fire through the roof.
The turret hatch was replaced by a pair that opened outwards. One flap had the periscope for the commander. Two additional periscopes were mounted forward as well as an extractor fan. To allow for more ammunition to be carried the auxiliary turret was removed as well as one of the turret crew. The commander acted as loader and the gunner acted as wireless operator too.
Muzzle velocity for the 6 pdr was 2,800'/sec.9 AP round was 6.28 lb.9
| Cruiser Mk VI , Crusader III | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, gunner, driver.4,7 37,9, 10 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 19.75 tons7,10, 22.1 tons9 44,240 lb4 19,812 kg, 20,067 kg10, 20,085 kg |
| Length w/gun | 19.8'9 6.31 m |
| Length w/o gun | 5.98 m |
| Height | 7.2'9 |
| Width | 9' 2"10, 9.25'9 2.77 m, 2.79 m10 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | 15.7"9 0.41 m |
| Ground contact length | 146"9 |
| Ground pressure | 14.1 psi9 |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 57 mm OQF |
| Secondary | |
| MG | Besa MG, coaxial7 7.93 mm Besa MG, coaxial9 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 654,9, 73 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 3,3759, 3,755, 5,000 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 74, 514,7 Front: 0.75"9 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 51 |
| Hull Front, Lower | |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 0.63"9 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | |
| Hull Rear | |
| Hull Top | |
| Hull Bottom | |
| Turret Front | 1.1"9 |
| Turret Sides | 0.63"9 |
| Turret Rear | |
| Turret Top | |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Nuffield Liberty9 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | Water9 |
| Cylinders | V-129 |
| Net HP | 340@1,500 rpm9 |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | 4 forward, 1 reverse9 |
| Steering | |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | |
| Octane | |
| Capacity | |
| Road consumption | |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | |
| Max speed | 27.5 mph9 |
| Cross country speed | |
| Road radius | 112 miles9 204 km |
| Cross country radius | |
| Turning radius | |
| Elevation limits | |
| Fording depth | 33.5"9 0.85 m |
| Trench crossing | 8.2'9 2.5 m |
| Vertical obstacle | 31.5"9 0.8 m |
| Climbing ability | 30° slope9 58%9 |
| Suspension (Type) | |
| Wheels each side | |
| Return rollers each side | |
| Tracks (Type) | Dry pin9 |
| Length | |
| Width | 10.75"9 |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | 4.25"9 |
| Tire Tread | |
| Track centers/tread | 7.6'9 |
Sources:
- The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
- Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1933-1942, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
- Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1943-1945, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
- British and American Tanks of World War Two, The Complete Illustrated History of British, American, and Commonwealth Tanks 1933-1945, Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis, 1969
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- -
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- AFV 8: Crusader-Cruiser Mark VI, Major James Bingham
- Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
- The Illustrated Guide to Tanks of the World, George Forty, 2006
- World War Two Tanks, George Forty, 1995
