Cruiser Mk III (A13)
Royal Armored Corps Tank Museum
Lt. Col. G. le Q Martel saw Russian BT tanks in maneuvers and suggested the war office adopt the Christie suspension.1 Morris Commercial Ltd. built prototypes based on 2 Christie tanks purchased in 1936. Two prototypes were developed and they had many mechanical problems primarily resulting from their high speed.
By January 1938 a production order of 651 was placed. Production was done by Nuffield Mechanisation and Aero Ltd.
The first models were delivered in December 1938.6 A total of 665 were produced.6
The speed was governed down from 35 mph to 30 mph, alterations in the clutch and transmission, and using shorter pitched tracks. The engine could be started with compressed air or electronically.1
Used same turret as A9 with larger commander's cupola.
Used by the 1st Armored Division in France, and the 7th Armored Division in Libya from 1940-41.1,6,7
Half of the 7th Armored Brigade's tank strength was A13s in November 1941, during Operation Crusader.6
| Cruiser Mk III A13 | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, gunner, loader, driver.2 41,2,3,4,6,7 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 31,360 lb2, 44,240 lb4 14 tons1,3,5,6,7 14,220 kg1, 14,225 kg7, 20,067 kg4 |
| Length w/gun | 19' 8"4, 19' 9"1,2,3,6,7 5.994 m4, 6.02 m1,7 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 7' 4"4, 8' 4", 8' 6"1,2,3,6,7 2.235 m4, 2.59 m1,7 |
| Width | 8' 4"1,2,3,6,7, 8' 6.5", 8' 8"4 2.54 m1,7, 2.64 m4 |
| Ground clearance | |
| Ground contact length | |
| Ground pressure | |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 2 pdr QFSA2,7 2 pdr (40 mm)1 2 pdr3,5,6 6 pdr4 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | Vickers .303 cal (7.7 mm), coaxial1,6,7 .303 cal Vickers MG2 MG3 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 872 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 3,7502 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 6 - 141,3 62, 142,5,6,7 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 14 |
| Hull Front, Lower | |
| Hull Sides, Upper | |
| Hull Sides, Lower | |
| Hull Rear | |
| Hull Top | |
| Hull Bottom | 6 |
| Turret Front | |
| Turret Sides | |
| Turret Rear | |
| Turret Top | |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Nuffield Liberty1,7 Liberty3,5,6 Nuffield Mk III4 |
| Bore / stroke | |
| Cooling | |
| Cylinders | V-126,7 |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 3404,5,6,7 |
| Power to weight ratio | |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | |
| Steering | |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | Electrical or compressed air7 |
| Electrical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline7 |
| Octane | |
| Capacity | |
| Road consumption | |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°2 |
| Max speed | 27 mph4, 30 mph1,2,3,5,6,7 43.4 kph4, 48 kph1,5,7 |
| Cross country speed | 15 mph4, 24 mph2 24 kph4 |
| Road radius | 90 miles1,2,7, 127 miles4 145 km1,7, 204 km4 |
| Cross country radius | |
| Turning radius | |
| Elevation limits | |
| Fording depth | 3'2, 3' 3"4 0.99 m4 |
| Trench crossing | 7' 6"2, 8' 6"4 2.59 m4 |
| Vertical obstacle | 2' 3"4 0.686 m4 |
| Climbing ability | |
| Suspension (Type) | Christie |
| Wheels each side | |
| Return rollers each side | |
| Tracks (Type) | |
| Length | |
| Width | 10 1/8"2 |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | |
| Tire tread | |
| Track centers/tread | 6' 11"2 |
| Production | 1/38-Summer 39: 65 |
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
- 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
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- Allied Armour of World War Two, Ian V. Hogg, 2000
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- The Illustrated Guide to Tanks of the World, George Forty, 2006
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