Cromwell: British Army tank of the Second World War

In 1940 in France and North Africa, the actions of British tank forces showed that the armored cruisers Covenanter and Crusader are becoming obsolete. Their negative sides were weak armor, an unreliable engine and insufficient armament. Standard weapons in 40 mm inferior to German guns in 50 and 75 mm on medium tanks in Germany.

By the end of 1942, British designers had developed a new cruiser "Cromwell" - a tank with high speed and maneuverability.

New engine

"Cromwell" was developed according to the classic British tank construction scheme: engine, fuel tanks, cooling systems installed in the engine compartment, extending to the stern of the hull. Armor and combat compartment - the middle part of the hull and tower. Transmission and control compartment - the front of the tank.

The V-shaped Rolls-Royce Meteor engine with 12 cylinders and a maximum capacity of 600 horsepower is Cromwell. The tank easily developed speed on the highway to 64 km / h. The transmission of the new medium tank included:

• Gearbox with synchronizers;
• Friction - part of the flywheel engine, working on the principle of dry friction;
• An extended propeller shaft with a multi-stage system;
• Rotary mechanism with double differentials.

Armor hull and turret

The body was made of plates of rolled armor. The rivets were fastened with rivets to each other and to the frame. The thickness of the plates of the body reached 64 mm, the forage and the sides - 32 mm. The bottom and roof of the tank were made without a constant thickness of armor, the value ranged from 6 to 14 mm.

The sheets of armor, which formed a tower of almost square shape, were fixed without riveted corners with riveted and bolted connections. The thickness of the plates of the front part of the tower is 76 mm, the sides and the forage are 51 mm. The new "Cromwell" (tank) was more armored than the previous models of medium-sized Boamashin Britain.

Modernization

Since the end of 1943, the cruiser tank was modernized. In the original version there were isolated models by the end of the war. Modernizing machines for major repairs, as well as new combat structures with a small mileage. In the process of improving the tank from 1943 to 1945 there were variants of "Cromwell":

• Cromwell I.
• Cromwell II - a trial machine with a caterpillar of 15.5 inches wide against 14.
• Cromwell III is a 75 mm cannon.
• Cromwell IV and IVw.
• Cromwell VIII - late model with a 95 mm howitzer.

Cruising "Cromwell" (tank) in the process of modifications received reinforced armor and improved weapons.

Strengthened armor and improved weapons appeared in the process of modifications, but at a slower rate. Other versions of the machines were also designed.

Armament

The main armament of the cruiser tank is a cannon in 57 mm, the length of the trunk is 50 calibers. Various modifications of "Cromwell" were equipped with howitzer in 95 mm.

The gun was mounted on the front of the tower in a square mask with an additional armored plate. The tank was also equipped with auxiliary weapons: 27.7 mm machine guns - British modifications of the Czechoslovak guns. One machine gun was fixed as paired to the main gun, the second - to the left side of the case from the front. The set of charges included 3000 cartridges.

Exploitation

The cruiser tank "Cromwell", the photo of which was presented above, participated in battles during the Second World War in Western Europe and North Africa. In practice, the machine revealed shortcomings: weak firepower and armor.

The tank could withstand the German "Panther", but was powerless against the heavy "Tiger". During the battle near the French city of Villers-Bocage in 1944, a British column of medium tanks "Cromwell" suffered a crushing defeat from the Germans, armed with tanks "Tiger". At the same time, the number of German combat vehicles was three times less.

World of Tanks

The game is popular with many people in the world. Custom online arcade allows you to plunge into the days of World War II, learn about the combat vehicles that are in service with several nations.

Tank "Cromwell" in the World of Tanks - the average fighting machine of the sixth level. In the game, for the best results, the mobility and cruelty of the cruising tank is used. It is more advantageous to approach the enemy from the flank or rear. The rate of fire of the machine will quickly lead to the opponent's failure.

The tank is distinguished by good speed: due to this, it is possible to illuminate anti-tank equipment and heavy vehicles.

The main enemies of "Cromwell" in the game:

• PT (anti-tank technology) 5-6 levels.
• ST (medium machines) 6-7 level with top gun.
• TT (heavy tanks) at long distances, in the melee remains the chances of survival.

Cruising British tank "Cromwell" (user reviews online games confirm this) well breaks the stern and sides. The players note the merits of the machine: high speed, tower mobility at a good level, profitability.

From the minuses:

• Almost complete absence of armor;
• The gun has a low accuracy;
• A long reduction of the gun.

Also in the game "Cromwell" is often on the battlefield with tanks of the eighth level, where most of the machines are heavy equipment.

It is desirable in the game machine not to stand still, but constantly move to complicate the task to the enemy. The aircraft engine installed on the technology allows the medium tank to successfully pass enemy enemy combat assemblies and strike in places where opponents do not expect it.