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Posted on 12/20/2004 10:24:46 PM PST by SAMWolf
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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 In the twenties, the British produced their last Medium Tank Mark II. The projects proposed afterwards were so expensive for the budgets of the time, that they were rejected. After more than 10 years interruption, the medium tank reappeared under the designation "Cruiser Tank". It was designed to form the backbone of the armored divisions. Although British thinkers like Fuller of Liddell-Hart were precursors in the idea of large tank units, the British army started only late to set them up. The first generation of cruiser tanks was disastrous. The A-9 and A-10 had not only an insufficient armor, but also suffered from mechanical defects that made them unable to "go one mile without breaking a track". They were the only cruiser tanks available during the first year of the war. Their follower, the A-13, using Christie suspension, was only marginally better for the mechanic, and its armor remained insufficient.  Mark6A Crusader2 CS The final evolution of the A-13, the Convenanter, is probably the top in the horror story of British tanks. Ordered "off the drawing board" like most of its contemporaries, it proved useless on the battlefield because of its mechanical defects. Yet 1771 were built (7% of the total number of British tanks produced during the war, at a time when any war material was at a premium) and none of them ever saw action ! With the Crusader, the British had their first acceptable cruiser tank. Better on the mechanic, with a thicker armor, it temporarily restored the balance of quality on the battlefields of North Africa when it arrived in the end of 1941. It was the backbone of the British armored divisions until the battle of El-Alamein. At that time, it is outclassed by the latest German Panzers and it left the battlefields after the end of the campaign in Tunisia. The Cromwell was the first British tank to get rid of both the norm of the British Railways (limiting the width of the tanks) and of the practice of "off the drawing board" orders. Thanks to previous testing with the Cavalier and Centaur prototypes, it was mechanically sound, fast, with a reasonable armor and a good autonomy. It was armed with the 7.5 cm gun, the first able to fire antipersonnel as well as antitank shells (Up to then, the 2-pounder and 6-pounder guns could only fire antitank shells). Its gun was no match for the latest German Panzers though, but the gap was reduced. The Cromwell equiped the British units from 1943 until the end of the war.  Mark1 CS It was then time for the British to have their last horror story with tanks before turning out their first really brilliant cruiser tanks of the war. By attempting to mount an 17-pounder gun on the hull of a Cromwell, they perpetrate the dismal Challenger. More than 200 were built but very few ever saw war action since they were too handicapped by the overweight of the turret and its gun. The first very good cruiser tank was the Comet, which reached the frontline in December 1944. It used a shortened version of the 17-pounder, could really outgun the Panzer IV and could compete with a Panther. A still better tank was ready at the end of the war, the Centurion, but it arrived too late to take part in the war. The term "cruiser tank" is typically British. Other nations would have qualified those machines as "medium tanks", but they would have failed to capture the difference between a slow tank, intended to progress at the pace of walking men to support them, from the fast tank specialized in the pursuit and exploitation. The history of the cruiser tanks is no success story. Ordered "off the drawing board", going over directly to mass-production, they made their tests on the battlefield, with more than often, disastrous results. The models at the start of the war (A-9, A-10, A-13) were always one generation late in face of their German opponents. Their flimsy armor was a serious handicap. Later in the war, there were some successes, like the Crusader, but they were interspesed with total failure like the Convenanter.  The first really successful model was the Cromwell. It appeared at the right moment, when its mobility coul be put in good use in the exploitation phase in France and later in Germany. That first success was followed by two others in a row: the Comet and the Centurion, which had brilliant careers after the war.  A-9 tank, infantry support version with a 3.7 inch howitzer in the turret on a tank-carrying truck. Note the two bogies with 3 road-wheels each, common between the A-9, A-10 and Valentine tanks. The auxiliary turret is visible on the front of the hull. Named A-9 or Cruiser Mark I. The British doctrine planned, besides infantery tanks, a "Cruiser" tank for the armor mission in large tank units. The A-9 was the first tank aimed at that. The A-9 was far from perfect. Its armor was flimsy and it was mechanically fragile. It represented the quarter of all cruiser tanks at the onset of the war. It took part in the campaign in France and then fought in Africa against the Italians. Its intervention in Greece in 1941 cost much due to numerous mechanical breakdowns. It appeared for the last time on the battlefield during the disastrous operation "Battleaxe" in June 1941.  Mark1 A9 E1 prototype Identification: Like the Valentine or the A-10, it had an running gear with two bogies with three road-wheels each. Its tracks were narrower than those of the Valentine, whereas it had an auxiliary turret with MG's in front of the vehicule, while the A-10 had none.  An A-10 on its way to the frontline for the operation "Battleaxe". The mechanical fragility of the first British cruiser tanks forced them to use extensively tank-carrying vehicles. (Picture: Imperial War Museum) Named A-10 or Cruiser Mark II. Planned as an infantery support tank, its armor was deemed insufficient for that mission. Thus it became a cruiser tank, although its speed was insufficient. It fought in France, in Africa, in Greece, where it distinguished itself by its numerous mechanical breakdowns. It went on fighting in North Africa until the end of 1941. "Crusader" was the last war action it took part in.  Mark 2A A10 Identification: Very close to the A-9 externally, with the same two bogies with 3 road-wheels each. Devoid of the auxiliary turret with MG at the front.  A-13, original model with straight turret sides The A-13 was the first real Cruiser tank. It introduced in the British armor force the Christie suspension and the idea to use an aircraft engine to propel a tank (ideas that the Russians had put into practice long before). They barely saw combat in France in 1940 but the A-13 were very successful against the Italians in North Africa and were roughly equal to the Panzer III engaged by Rommel at his arrival there. Later, new German models overtook them and they left the frontline at the end of 1941. Besides the A-13 Mark I and A-13 Mark II, a third series of tanks (later renamed Convenanter) were designated as "A-13". Although they were built in large numbers, they never saw action, because a faulty design made them unfit for combat !.  Mark 3 A13 E3 Named A-13 Mark I or Cruiser Mark III. Only two units took part in the campaign of France. It fought afterwards in Libya against the Italians and then against the Germans. It was a match for the Panzer III but was overtaken in the course of 1941 by new German models. It left frontline service at the end of the year. Identification: The introduction of the Christie suspension (large road-wheels, no return rollers) allow to differentiate the A-13 from the previous cruiser tanks (A-9 et A-10), with their bogies.  A-13 Mark II during an excercice short before the war. Note the V-shaped sides of the turret, distinctive of the Mark II Named A-13 Mark II or Cruiser Mark IV. The most glaring drawback of the A-13 Mark I was its insufficient protection. The next version was thus uparmored while the older units were brought up to the new standard. The A-13 Mark II had V-shaped turret sides, different from the lightly sloped side of the Mark I. Afterwards, the Mark I got the same turret as the next model. The history of the A-13 Mark II is the same as the original A-13. It fought in France and then in North Africa until the end of 1941. Identification: The new turret had distinctive V-shaped sides.  Mark 4 A version Mark IV A got a new mantlet and a coaxial MG.  Mark 4A Basically the Mark 4 was a upgrade of the A13. Extra armor was added for crew protection. Hollow "V" sides were fitted to the turret - though the purpose is unsure. Hollow charge shells were only then being "discovered" for anti-armor use. The upper part of the V could be used to deflect a side turret shot upwards, but why the bottom was a purposeful shot trap is clearly a mistake. The Mark 4 was in production before the Mark 3 in 1938. The Mark 4 saw action in Africa and France. Note the Christie suspension.  Convenanter. Thanks to its turret, it bears some ressemblance with the Crusaders. You can make the difference by looking at the road-wheels: there are only four, while the Crusader had five. Note the cooling louvres left in front the the hull. Named A-13 Mark III or Cruiser Mark V. The idea to build a heavy cruiser tank resulted in the Convenanter, a model of the A-13 Mark II with an increased armor. The machine was plagued from the start by cooling problems, which limited its role to training in Britain. It never saw combat.  Covenanter pilot model Identification: The turret of the Convenanter looks like the one of a Crusader, being low with sloped sides but the hull looks the same as the one of a A-13, with only four large road-wheels. The Convenanter had cooling louvres on the hull before the turret.
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Happy "Treadhead Tuesday"! Great read on the British development of their tanks for WWII. I note a lot of talk about the configuration of the wheels.
Like the Valentine or the A-10, it (A-9) had an running gear with two bogies with three road-wheels each
Very close to the A-9 externally, with the same two bogies with 3 road-wheels each (Mark 2A A-10).
And then . . .
The introduction of the Christie suspension (large road-wheels, no return rollers) allow to differentiate the A-13 from the previous cruiser tanks (A-9 et A-10), with their bogies.
What would be the main reason to change from a "two bogie with 3 road-wheel" to a "large road-wheel" system? Keep in mind you're talking to a "slo-mo". ;^)
Most likely it was an attempt to keep the tracks on. From the main article:
"The A-9 and A-10 had not only an insufficient armor, but also suffered from mechanical defects that made them unable to "go one mile without breaking a track". "
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
free dixie,sw
I'm a Treadhead, she's a Treadhead, wouldn't you like to be a Treadhead too!
Yer Baaad!!!
Holy cow! This day in 1972 appears to have been a really bad day for B-52 crews.
Hi miss Feather
How're our favorite Capitalist's today?
Have you framed your first dollar yet?
LOL!
But I happen to know it was supposed to be filled with new tools. (Neener neener)
That's one thing that is so hard to picture about our history. Most of the events we read about took place before roads, bridges, dams, etc. I made it from Chicago to Oregon in less than 3 days. The pioneers took months and walked most of it.
Are you all set for Christmas?
Christmas?!?!?! Is Christmas coming soon? I better get started on my shopping and stuff.
The Long Parliament, taking an aggressive stance, steadfastly refused to authorize any funding until Charles was brought to heel. The Triennial Act of 1641 assured the summoning of Parliament at least every three years, a formidable challenge to royal prerogative. The Tudor institutions of fiscal feudalism (manipulating antiquated feudal fealty laws to extract money), the Court of the Star Chamber and the Court of High Commission were declared illegal by Act of Parliament later in 1641. A new era of leadership from the House of Commons (backed by middle class merchants, tradesmen and Puritans) had commenced. Parliament resented the insincerity with which Charles settled with both them and the Scots, and despised his links with Catholicism.
1642 was a banner year for Parliament. They stripped Charles of the last vestiges of prerogative by abolishing episcopacy, placed the army and navy directly under parliamentary supervision and declared this bill become law even if the king refused his signature. Charles entered the House of Commons (the first king to do so), intent on arresting John Pym, the leader of Parliament and four others, but the five conspirators had already fled, making the king appear inept. Charles traveled north to recruit an army and raised his standard against the forces of Parliaments (Roundheads) at Nottingham on August 22, 1642. England was again embroiled in civil war.
Cromwell added sixty horses to the Roundhead cause when war broke out. In the 1642 Battle at Edge Hill, the Roundheads were defeated by the superior Royalist (Cavalier) cavalry, prompting Cromwell to build a trained cavalry. Cromwell proved most capable as a military leader. By the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644, Cromwell's New Model Army had routed Cavalier forces and Cromwell earned the nickname "Ironsides" in the process. Fighting lasted until July 1645 at the final Cavalier defeat at Naseby. Within a year, Charles surrendered to the Scots, who turned him over to Parliament. By 1646, England was ruled solely by Parliament, although the king was not executed until 1649.
English society splintered into many factions: Levellers (intent on eradicating economic castes), Puritans, Episcopalians, remnants of the Cavaliers and other religious and political radicals argued over the fate of the realm. The sole source of authority rest with the army, who moved quickly to end the debates. In November 1648, the Long Parliament was reduced to a "Rump" Parliament by the forced removal of 110 members of Parliament by Cromwell's army, with another 160 members refusing to take their seats in opposition to the action. The remainder, barely enough for a quorum, embarked on an expedition of constitutional change. The Rump dismantled the machinery of government, most of that, remained loyal to the king, abolishing not only the monarchy, but also the Privy Council, Courts of Exchequer and Admiralty and even the House of Lords. England was ruled by an executive Council of State and the Rump Parliament, with various subcommittees dealing with day-to-day affairs. Of great importance was the administration in the shires and parishes: the machinery administering such governments was left intact; ingrained habits of ruling and obeying harkened back to monarchy.
With the death of the ancient constitution and Parliament in control, attention was turned to crushing rebellions in the realm, as well as in Ireland and Scotland. Cromwell forced submission from the nobility, muzzled the press and defeated Leveller rebels in Burford. Annihilating the more radical elements of revolution resulted in political conservatism , which eventually led to the restoration of the monarchy. Cromwell's army slaughtered over forty percent of the indigenous Irishmen, who clung unyieldingly to Catholicism and loyalist sentiments; the remaining Irishmen were forcibly transported to County Connaught with the Act of Settlement in 1653. Scottish Presbyterians fought for a Stuart restoration, in the person of Charles II, but were handily defeated, ending the last remnants of civil war. The army then turned its attention to internal matters.
The Rump devolved into a petty, self-perpetuating and unbending oligarchy, which lost credibility in the eyes of the army. Cromwell ended the Rump Parliament with great indignity on April 21, 1653, ordering the house cleared at the point of a sword. The army called for a new Parliament of Puritan saints, who proved as inept as the Rump. By 1655, Cromwell dissolved his new Parliament, choosing to rule alone (much like Charles I had done in 1629). The cost of keeping a standard army of 35,000 proved financially incompatible with Cromwell's monetarily strapped government. Two wars with the Dutch concerning trade abroad added to Cromwell's financial burdens.
The military's solution was to form yet another version of Parliament. A House of Peers was created, packed with Cromwell's supporters and with true veto power, but the Commons proved most antagonistic towards Cromwell. The monarchy was restored in all but name; Cromwell went from the title of Lord General of the Army to that of Lord Protector of the Realm (the title of king was suggested, but wisely rejected by Cromwell when a furor arose in the military ranks). The Lord Protector died on September 3, 1658, naming his son Richard as successor. With Cromwell's death, the Commonwealth floundered and the monarchy was restored only two years later.
The failure of Cromwell and the Commonwealth was founded upon Cromwell being caught between opposing forces. His attempts to placate the army, the nobility, Puritans and Parliament resulted in the alienation of each group. Leaving the political machinery of the parishes and shires untouched under the new constitution was the height of inconsistency; Cromwell, the army and Parliament were unable to make a clear separation from the ancient constitution and traditional customs of loyalty and obedience to monarchy. Lacey Baldwin Smith cast an astute judgment concerning the aims of the Commonwealth: "When Commons was purged out of existence by a military force of its own creation, the country learned a profound, if bitter, Lesson: Parliament could no more exist without the crown than the crown without Parliament. The ancient constitution had never been King and Parliament but King in Parliament; when one element of that mystical nion was destroyed, the other ultimately perished."
F-4 Phantom. Sure liked that plane.
I remember many a good laugh with Paul Winchell, Knucklehead Smith was a riot in my eyes.
Good Morning Feather.
LOL!
AWWWWWWWWWW! My Chickadee!!
Nice to see she had an extended life after the war for at least a while.
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