World War Photos

Destroyed Crusader Mk III, North Africa

British Crusader Mk I tank, North African Campaign

Crusader Mk II T16567 2

Crusader Mk II T16567

Crusader I Tunisia

Crusaders Mk II of 1st Armoured Division enter El Hamma 1943

Crusader tanks in the Western Desert 1941 near Homs

Crusader Mk III 1942

Crusader Mk II T16567 3

Crusader III, AA Mk I 1944

Crusader II CS tank

German Crusader I of Afrika Korps 21 Panzer Division

Captured Crusader tank and Afrika Korps soldiers

Crusader III AA Tank Armed with Twin 20 mm Oerlikon Guns

Captured Crusader I North Africa

Captured Crusader I of Afrika Korps 21 Panzer Division

Crusader III tank fitted with sand guards

Crusader tank camouflage North Africa 1942

Tank cruiser Mk VI Crusader I

Crusader tank moving on country road England

Crusader tank Cruiser II Mk VI A15

Crusader II tank in german service photo

A15 Crusader I tank Cruiser Mk VI

Crusader tank on german low loader trailer

Crusader tank moving on country road England photo

Crusader tank in german service DAK

Crusader AA Mk III 40mm bofors anti aircraft tank

Crusader tank in german service

A15 Crusader I tank

Crusader II tank being recovered Egypt 1942

Crusader II tank in german service Afrika Korps

Crusader II tank North Africa

History

Crusader tank, Cruiser, Mk VI or A15 Crusader was one of the primary British cruiser tanks of the early part Second World War and perhaps the most important British tank of the North African Campaign. production: 5300 tanks
Fast tank Crusader was a development version of tank Covenanter, but initially however was classified as a so-called heavy fast tank. In the competition for a new type of tank next to the A15 were participated among others A18 tank, which was enlarged version of the tank Tetrarch, and the A14 and A16 tanks. It was decided that tank 15 will be produced, which was developed using elements of the A13 Mk III tank, and therefore was quickly directed to the serial production. Moreover, the new A15 was well armored and had better traction when driving off-road. In July 1939 the Director of Mechanization ordered 200 tanks. In 1940 order was increased by 400, and then by about 1,062 tanks. Tank A15 has extended hull by inserting an extra pair of road wheels and was driven by carbureted engine Liberty. Initially, there were gearbox failures and bad engine cooling. Later those defects have been eliminated. Tanks A15 Crusader were used in combat in June 1941 during “Operation Battleaxe”. Tank was respected by the Afrika Korps for its speed. The robust suspension allowed crews to exceed the theoretical maximum. Firepower and protection were not good, and the PzKpfw III with its 50mm gun – as well as German antitank gun crews equipped with 50mm, 75mm and 88mm guns – had no problems in confronting the Crusader. Tanks were used in combat to the end of the African Campaign until 1943. Later in combat were used only tanks in AA version. The AA guns were intended to be used as support for the invasion in north-west Europe in 1944. However, Allied air superiority meant that they were not required. The tank was also used in a fast gun tractor role for the 17pdr  anti-tank gun, and was used in the European theatre. It had an open-topped box superstructure with ammunition lockers, and side skirts were fitted for deep wading. A bulldozer and crane version was built by the ROF for handling unexploded bombs and shells, and extra armour was added to the hull roof.

Design

Crusader’s speed speed comes from 5 large wheels which touch track top and bottom. Tank’s drive comes from sprocket wheel in rear of track.
Angular turret helped deflect enemy projectiles.

Specifications