Cruiser Mk V Covenanter

United Kingdom's Cruiser Mk V Covenanter
Royal Armored Corps Tank Museum

Britain's Covenanter

Training in 1941.
Britain's Covenanter

Britain's Covenanter

In Norfolk in the summer of 1941:
Britain's Covenanter

Inspired by Russian T-28. Was produced by the London, Midland, and Scottish Railway Company.7

They were delivered in the Summer of 1940.6 Production ended in January 1943.6

Was declared obsolete in 1943 and orders were issued that all surviving tanks were to be scrapped.

Had an improved steering system. The driver's position was moved to the right side and the radiators for the engine were located in the front on the left side.1,7 A flatter engine was installed to lower it's height, but this caused it's cooling system to not work.7 These problems weren't discovered until it was already been in production.

The turret floor was smaller than the turret ring and this caused the gunner to sit in an uncomfortable position and the commander risked getting his legs trapped when the turret was rotated.

Were issued to the regiments of the 1st Polish Armored Division.6 When the 1st was transferred to Egypt the tanks were transferred to the 9th Armored Division.6

Never used operationally. Used for training until 1943 in England and the Middle East.1

Probably the only Covenanter lost to enemy action was one that was attached to the Armored Train "H," based in Canterbury. It was destroyed in an air raid on May 31, 1942, by the Germans.

Cruiser Mk V Covenanter Mk. I:

Original production model.

Cruiser Mk V Covenanter Mk. II:

Had a multi-tube oil cooler mounted on the radiator.

Cruiser Mk V Covenanter Mk. III:

Had oil coolers installed on each side of the engine. The clutch linkage was also modified. There was a change in the pattern of radiator cooling louvres. Pot shaped air cleaners were located inboard at the rear. The exhaust silencers were situated on the ends of the track guards.

Cruiser Mk V Covenanter Mk. IV:

Similar to the Mk. II but with the clutch modifications of the Mk. III.

Covenanter CS:

Close support with a 76.2 mm / 3" howitzer.7

Covenanter OP:

Had extra radio and was used as an observation post.7 The main armament was replaced by a dummy gun.7

Bridgelayer:

United Kingdom Covenanter Bridgelayer
Royal Armored Corps Tank Museum

Had a bridge 34' long7 and 9' 6" wide and could cover a gap 30' wide. Also given to New Zealand forces.

Used by the Australians on Bougainville Island.6

Anti-Mine Roller Attachment:

Britain's Covenanter

The anti-mine roller attachment used pressure to set of the mines while being pushed in front of the tank.7

A few trials were conducted.

  Cruiser Mk V (A13 Mk3) Covenanter Cruiser Mk V CS
Crew Commander, gunner, loader, driver.2
41,2,3,6,7
 
Physical Characteristics    
Weight 40,320 lb2
16.2 tons4, 18 tons1,3,6,7
18,289 kg7, 18,300 kg1
 
Length w/gun 19'1,3,6,7, 19' 3/8"2
5.76 m4, 5.8 m1,7
 
Length w/o gun    
Height 7' 3.75"2, 7' 4"1,3,6,7
2.22 m4, 2.23 m1, 2.24 m7
 
Width 8' 6.75"2, 8' 7"1,3,6,7
2.59 m4, 2.61 m1, 2.62 m7
 
Width over tracks    
Ground clearance    
Ground contact length    
Ground pressure    
Turret ring diameter    
Armament    
Main 2 pdr OQF2,7
2 pdr (40 mm)1
2 pdr3,4,6
3" howitzer2,3,4,6
Secondary    
MG 7.92 mm Besa MG coaxial1,4,7
Besa MG2
MG3
Besa MG, coaxial6
 
Side arms    
Quantity    
Main    
Secondary    
MG    
Side arms    
Armor Thickness (mm) 7 - 401,3
72, 402,4,6,7
 
Hull Front, Upper 40  
Hull Front, Lower    
Hull Sides, Upper    
Hull Sides, Lower    
Hull Rear    
Hull Top    
Hull Bottom 7  
Turret Front    
Turret Sides    
Turret Rear    
Turret Top    
Engine (Make / Model) Meadows Flat-12 D.A.V.1,2
Meadows Flat-123,5,6
Meadows DAV17
 
Bore / stroke    
Cooling    
Cylinders 127  
Net HP 3004,6,7  
Power to weight ratio    
Compression ratio    
Transmission (Type) Wilson compound epicycle gearbox  
Steering    
Steering ratio    
Starter    
Electrical system    
Ignition    
Fuel (Type) Gasoline7  
Octane    
Capacity    
Road consumption    
Cross country consumption    
Performance    
Traverse 360°2  
Max speed 30 mph6, 31 mph2,3,7, 31.05 mph1
50 kph1,7, 52 kph4
 
Cross country speed 25 mph2  
Road radius 99.36 miles1, 100 miles2,7
160 km1, 161 km7
 
Cross country radius    
Turning radius    
Elevation limits -15° to +20°2  
Fording depth 3' 2"2  
Trench crossing 7'2  
Vertical obstacle 2' 6"2  
Climbing ability    
Suspension (Type) Christie2  
Wheels each side    
Return rollers each side    
Tracks (Type)    
Length    
Width 10.75"2  
Diameter    
Number of links    
Pitch    
Tire tread    
Track centers/tread 7' 6 7/8"2  
Production 1939-1943: 1,7711, 1,3005
1,3656
London, Midland, and Scottish Railway Company7
 

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. 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
  3. Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
  4. Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
  5. Allied Armour of World War Two, Ian V. Hogg, 2000
  6. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
  7. The Illustrated Guide to Tanks of the World, George Forty, 2006
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