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The FReeper Foxhole's TreadHead Tuesday - British Cromwell & Comet Cruiser Tanks - May 18th, 2004
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Posted on 05/18/2004 12:00:33 AM PDT by SAMWolf



Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.


...................................................................................... ...........................................

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Cromwell (A27)



The General Staff drew up specifications in late 1940 for a heavy cruiser tank.

In 1941 2 designs were submitted. One with a Liberty engine that was produced by Nuffield and the other with a Rolls-Royce Meteor engine that was produced by Leyland. The Meteor engine was proven to be very reliable and based on the Rolls-Royce Merlin aero engine. Approximately 80% of the components of the engine were similar to the aero engine. The M in the A27M stood for Meteor. In January 1942 Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company took over the design. In January 1943 production models first appeared. Initially Rolls-Royce produced the engines, but it was contracted out so that Rolls-royce could concentrate on aircraft engines.



Driver and co-driver/hull MG gunner sat in the forward compartment. The rest of the crew was in the turret and the loader was also the radio operator. The turret could be rotated in 15 seconds. The commander had a cupola, with early models having 2 episcopes and later models having 8 episcopes. 23 rounds of 75 mm was stored in the turret and the rest around the walls of the fighting compartment. There was a No. 19 wireless set in the back of the turret.



The engine was placed between 2 air cleaners and 2 fuel tanks. The radiators were mounted upright in the back. In later models side doors were added for the driver and hull gunner to be able to exit the tank easier. Some storage was lost, and local modifications often added additional storage.


Cromwell 1st Polish Armoerd Div - 1st Canadian Army


With experience in Africa, the General Staff change the specifications to include the 75 mm gun that would allow HE ammunition to be fired at infantry and anti-tank targets. The ammunition was American made and taken from the Lend Lease supplies.


Cromwell in Germany in April 1945


This was the most numerous British tank in 1944-45, and replaced Shermans in many units. Many considered it too lightly armed and armored.

Many were used by the 7th Armored Division.

Cromwell I: Original production with 6 pdr.


Cromwell II: Removed hull MG. Installed wider tracks, 15.5".
Cromwell III: Centaur I with Meteor engine.


Cromwell IV: Centaur III with 75 mm and Meteor engine. Issued to armored regiments in Oct. 1943.
Cromwell IVw: With welded hull and Meteor engine.
Cromwell Vw: With welded hull.
Cromwell VI: As Mk IV with 95 mm.


Cromwell VII: Applique armor welded on hull front, wider tracks, and speed governed to 32mph.
Cromwell VIIw: All welded hull.
Cromwell VIII: Cromwell like VI.
Cromwell ARV: Turret removed and fitted with jib and winch.
Cromwell Command/OP: Mk IV, VI, or VIII fitted with dummy gun and extra communications equipment.
Cromwell CIRD: Fitted to take Canadian Indestructible Roller Device mine exploding equipment. Few produced.


Cromwell "Prong": Fitted with Cullin Hedgerow device in Normandy.
Cromwell OP: Used as mobile artillery observation post. Main gun removed and extra radios installed.



TOPICS: VetsCoR
KEYWORDS: a27; a34; armor; britain; comettank; cromwelltank; crusiertanks; freeperfoxhole; tanks; treadhead; veterans
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To: SAMWolf
DAMN!!
41 posted on 05/18/2004 8:45:35 AM PDT by Valin (Hating people is like burning down your house to kill a rat)
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To: Valin

Yeah, Of course Kimmit could be wrong.


42 posted on 05/18/2004 8:50:35 AM PDT by SAMWolf (KERRY LIED . . . While Good Men Died)
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To: SAMWolf

From your lips to Gods ear!

Back tonight.


43 posted on 05/18/2004 8:52:22 AM PDT by Valin (Hating people is like burning down your house to kill a rat)
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Comment #44 Removed by Moderator

To: snippy_about_it; bentfeather; SAMWolf

Hi folks, barely here. Couldn't miss Treadhead Tuesday!


45 posted on 05/18/2004 10:09:09 AM PDT by Professional Engineer (Islam is a cancer on humanity. Time for some radiation treatments.)
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To: Valin
1969 Apollo 10 (Stafford/Cernan/Young) launched toward lunar orbit

Ground-level view at sunset of the Apollo 10 (Spacecraft 106/Lunar Module 4/Saturn 505) space vehicle at Pad B, Launch Complex 39, Kennedy Space Center. The Apollo 10 stack had just been positioned after being rolled out from the Vehicle Assemble Building (VAB) (34318); View of the Apollo 10 space vehicle (through palm trees and across water) on the way from the VAB to Pad B, Launch Complex 39. The Saturn V and its mobile launch tower are atop a crawler-transporter (34319).

The Apollo 10 spacecraft approaches touchdown in the South Pacific recovery area to conclude an eight-day lunar orbit mission. Splashdown occurred at 11:53 a.m., May 26, 1969, about 400 miles east of American Samoa. Note that in this photo the capsules parachutes are fully deployed.

46 posted on 05/18/2004 10:23:32 AM PDT by Professional Engineer (Islam is a cancer on humanity. Time for some radiation treatments.)
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To: snippy_about_it; bentfeather
Good afternoon ladies. Flag-o-gram.


47 posted on 05/18/2004 10:25:05 AM PDT by Professional Engineer (Islam is a cancer on humanity. Time for some radiation treatments.)
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To: SAMWolf
Yeah, but who would you rather look at Thalia or Dobie? :-)

You mean there's someone else, besides the girl, in the picture?

48 posted on 05/18/2004 10:27:49 AM PDT by Professional Engineer (Islam is a cancer on humanity. Time for some radiation treatments.)
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To: snippy_about_it; SAMWolf
Many considered it too lightly armed and armored.

Our current Pentagon brain trust would call that "transformational."

I hope everyone in the Foxhole has a pleasant Treadhead Tuesday.

49 posted on 05/18/2004 10:36:33 AM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: SAMWolf
Dobie Gillis was cool. He had his own bicyclespankentruppen corps.
50 posted on 05/18/2004 10:43:48 AM PDT by colorado tanker (Did you know bicyclespankentruppen passes the FR spellchecker?)
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To: Matthew Paul
Morning Matt.

Snippy posted the picture of the POlish Flag flying over Monte Cassino.


51 posted on 05/18/2004 10:52:24 AM PDT by SAMWolf (KERRY LIED . . . While Good Men Died)
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To: Professional Engineer

Morning PE. Abigail keeping you up at nights?


52 posted on 05/18/2004 10:53:45 AM PDT by SAMWolf (KERRY LIED . . . While Good Men Died)
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To: Professional Engineer

Nice flag-o-gram!


53 posted on 05/18/2004 10:55:27 AM PDT by SAMWolf (KERRY LIED . . . While Good Men Died)
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To: Professional Engineer
You mean there's someone else, besides the girl, in the picture?

Someone else? Where?

54 posted on 05/18/2004 10:56:28 AM PDT by SAMWolf (KERRY LIED . . . While Good Men Died)
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To: colorado tanker
Morning CT.Our current Pentagon brain trust would call that "transformational."

I noticed they already had to put extra protection on the Strykers, must just be "transformational".

55 posted on 05/18/2004 10:58:50 AM PDT by SAMWolf (KERRY LIED . . . While Good Men Died)
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To: colorado tanker
He had his own bicyclespankentruppen corps.

LOL! I'd let Tuesday join our Treadhead Tuesday Truppen anyday!


56 posted on 05/18/2004 11:03:02 AM PDT by SAMWolf (KERRY LIED . . . While Good Men Died)
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To: SAMWolf
Morning, Sam. I've never heard a treadhead tanker complain about a tank being overarmored or overgunned, but think tankers say that kinda stuff all the time. From what I've heard so far, the future combat vehicle will carry far less armor and will have a smaller gun than the M-1.
57 posted on 05/18/2004 11:06:12 AM PDT by colorado tanker (Did you know bicyclespankentruppen passes the FR spellchecker?)
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To: Johnny Gage
"I'd love to buy these guys a round of Guinness."

Don't know if Scots Highlanders would take Guiness over good whiskey! Maybe a few cases of Johnny Walker Black!!

Seriously, though, there are several modern successful bayonet attacks. I think the bayonet is a wonderful weapon (the modern ones are too short, though), helps the wielder have the right attitude, and the enemy is scared sh!tless. Like the Kukri for the Gurhkas.
58 posted on 05/18/2004 11:07:22 AM PDT by Iris7 (If "Iris7" upsets or intrigues you, see my Freeper home page for a nice explanatory essay.)
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To: colorado tanker
From what I've heard so far, the future combat vehicle will carry far less armor and will have a smaller gun than the M-1.

Someone is not thinking about China /North Korea that still maintain large MBT forces. :-(

59 posted on 05/18/2004 11:13:01 AM PDT by SAMWolf (KERRY LIED . . . While Good Men Died)
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Comment #60 Removed by Moderator


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