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Britain's Cruiser Mk II, A104; Cruiser Tank Mark II, A10 Mark IA11

Cruiser Mk II, A10E1, prototype
Britain's Cruiser Mk II, A10E1, prototype
Imperial War Museum
Cruiser Mk II, A10:
United Kingdom's Cruiser Mk II (A10)
Royal Armored Corps Tank Museum
Cruiser Mk II, A10:
Image: Britain's Cruiser Mk II A10  (26K)
Cruiser Mk ICS (left) and two Cruiser Mk IIAs, North Africa, 194010
Britain's Cruiser Mk ICS and Cruiser Mk IIAs, North Africa, 1940
Imperial War Museum
Cruiser Mk II, A10, and Cruiser Mk III, A1310
Cruiser Mk II, A10 and Cruiser Mk III, A13
Imperial War Museum
Cruiser Mk IIAs, Valentine, and Matilda IIs10
Britain's Cruiser Mk IIAs, Valentine, and Matilda IIs
Imperial War Museum
   

Design

Sir John Carden9 of Vickers Armstrongs designed the Cruiser Mk II to be an infantry support version of the A9 in 1934.4 It was decided it needed to be slower and have thicker armor.1

Twin "sub-turrets" were removed9 which allowed for more room for ammunition.1 It had the same turret and shaped hull, but it had additional armor bolted on the hull and turret.1,9 Gunner controlled the elevation of the gun with his shoulder.

Prototype

The first prototype appeared in 1936.8

By 1937 it was determined that the A10 did not have heavy enough armor and was cancelled.10 In 1938 it brought back and 75 were ordered.10

Production

Order for 100 was placed in 1938.1 First delivered in December 1939.8

Variants

Usage

France

31 Cruiser Mk IIs were sent to France with the 1st Armored Division.4,9

North Africa

Cruiser Mk IIs were used in the Western Desert until late 1941.4,10

  Cruiser Mk II, A1010 Cruiser Tank Mark II, A10 Mark IA11 Cruiser Mk IIA10 Cruiser Mk IIA CS10
Crew Commander, loader, gunner, driver, hull MG.3
51,2,3,4,8
511 4-55, 59  
Radio   Wireless Set No. 911    
Physical Characteristics        
Weight 31,696 lb3
12.7 tons2, 13.75 tons1,4,8, 14 tons7
13,970 kg1
13.75 tons11 13.75 tons5,9
13,970 kg9
 
Length w/gun 18' 1"1,8, 18' 4"3,4
5.51 m1, 5.52 m2
18' 1"11
5.51 m11
18' 1"5,9
5.51 m9
 
Length w/o gun        
Height 8' 6"1,8, 8' 8.5"3,4
2.654 m1, 2.65 m2
8' 6"11
2.59 m11
8' 6"5,9
2.59 m9
 
Width 8' 2.5"4, 8' 3.5"3,8, 8' 4"1
2.527 m1, 2.58 m
8' 4"11
2.54 m11
8' 3.5"5, 8' 4"9
2.54 m9
 
Width over tracks        
Ground clearance 1' 6"
0.44 m2
     
Ground contact length        
Ground pressure 13.37 psi
0.94 (kg/cm2)2
     
Turret ring diameter        
Armament        
Main 2 pdr QFSA3 L/52
2 pdr (40 mm)1,4
40 mm L/522
1: 2 pdr (40 mm) OQF11 2 pdr5
2 pdr QFSA L/529
3.7" howitzer3,4,5,10
76.2 mm6
Secondary        
MG 1: MG2
2: Besa MGs3
  Vickers MG5  
OR     2: Besa MG5  
MG - coaxial .303 cal Vickers10 1: 7.92 mm Besa MG11 Besa MG4,10
7.92 mm Besa MG8,9
Besa4
MG - hull 7.92 mm Besa1,4 1: 7.92 mm Besa MG11 Besa
7.92 mm Besa MG8,9
Besa4
Side arms        
Quantity        
Main 1002      
Secondary        
MG 4,0502      
Side arms        
Armor Thickness (mm) 4 - 301, 6 - 304, 15-307
63, 303,8, 506
  22-309, 305  
Hull Front, Upper 22.1-302      
Hull Front, Lower 22.1-30      
Hull Sides, Upper 22.12      
Hull Sides, Lower 22.1      
Hull Rear 122      
Hull Top 72      
Hull Bottom 72      
Turret Front 302      
Turret Sides 262      
Turret Rear 302      
Turret Top 72      
Engine (Make / Model) AEC Type A1791
AEC2,8
AEC Type 17911 AEC5
AEC Type A1799
 
Bore / stroke        
Cooling Water2      
Cylinders 62,8 611 69  
Capacity        
Net HP 1508, 150@2,200 rpm2 15011 1505,9  
Power to weight ratio        
Compression ratio        
Transmission (Type) 5 forward2, 1 reverse2      
Steering        
Steering ratio        
Starter        
Electrical system        
Ignition        
Fuel (Type) Gasoline2 Gasoline11 Gasoline9  
Octane        
Capacity 117 gallons
441 liters2
     
Road consumption        
Cross country consumption        
Performance        
Traverse 360°3      
Max speed 16 mph3,7,8, 16.15 mph1
26 kph1, 39.6 kph2
16 mph11
26 kph11
16 mph5, 16.16 mph9
26 kph9
 
Cross country speed 8 mph3      
Road radius 100 miles3, 99.36 miles1
160 km1, 225 km2
100 miles11
161 km11
100 miles9
161 km9
 
Cross country radius        
Turning radius 26'
7.9 m2
     
Elevation limits        
Fording depth 3'3
0.91 m2
     
Trench crossing 6'3      
Vertical obstacle 2'3      
Climbing ability        
Suspension (Type) Triple wheel bogies on springs with Newton hydraulic shock absorbers.3
Coil Springs.2
     
Wheels each side 62      
Return rollers each side        
Tracks (Type)        
Length        
Width 14"3
267 mm2
     
Diameter        
Number of links        
Pitch        
Tire tread        
Track centers/tread 7' 3"3      

Sources:

  1. 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
  2. Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1933-1942, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
  3. 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
  4. World War Two Tanks, George Forty, 1995
  5. Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
  6. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
  7. Allied Armour of World War Two, Ian V. Hogg, 2000
  8. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
  9. The Illustrated Guide to Tanks of the World, George Forty, 2006
  10. AFV 6: Valentine Mark III, B.T. White
  11. Western Allied Tanks 1939-45, David Porter, 2009
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