constructors, Designed in 1941 city, in accordance with the technical requirements of the General Staff to create a "heavy cruiser", "Cromwell", We take into account the experience of the "Crusader", making, that the tank is necessary not only to speed, but armor and firepower. Half heavier, than the "Crusader", because of the enhanced armor (thickness up 76 mm), "Cromwell" offset the increased weight due to the powerful power unit - engine Rolls Royce "Meteor", It is a version of the famous "Merlin" aircraft engine, is set to "Spitfire" and "Lancaster".
tank Cromwell – video
V-shaped 12-cylinder "Meteor" was the first truly reliable engine, mounted on the British tanks. With this power plant, "Cromwell" was the most fleet of British tanks during the Second World War. Frankly, he was even too fast for his suspension, that because of this very quickly wear out, and in later versions of designers from a slightly lower top speed in favor of durability materiel. Release tank began at the company "Leyland Motors" in January 1943 g. Soon the original modification, "Cromwell» I, on production lines were replaced by improved versions, "Cromwell» II and III, which arming tested 6-lb. (57-mm) guns. "Cromwell» Mk IV, put into service in October 1943 city, already had a 75-mm cannon, which is then installed on all tanks of this brand, except Mk VIII, armed 95-mm howitzer direct fire support.
By the beginning of the Normandy landings British tank regiments were completed mainly due to the US "Sherman", However, "Cromwell" had time to war as part of the 7th Armored Division in North-West Europe. With its proven suspension system Christi (US suspension, characterized by a large road wheels and the lack of support rollers; a base chassis T-34 was put Chassis family of light BT tanks, in its turn, created on the base of the chassis Christie), powerful engine and reliable armor protection, "Cromwell" gave his crew a chance to compete on an equal footing with German tank crews. Specialized versions, created on the base of the tank cannon, includes "Cromwell» ARV (Armoured Recovery Vehicle - tow truck tanks, or a mobile tank workshop) and "Cromwell" OR - mobile artillery observation post. "Cromwell," served as a kind of stepping stone for the creators of a more perfect "Comets", had time to grab the last days of the war, and many served as after its completion.
The performance characteristics of Cromwell tank
Crew, pers.: 5
The layout: classical
developer: Leyland Motors
Manufacturer: Nuffield Mechanisation and Aero
years of production: 1943—1945
years of operation: 1943—1980
The number of issued, PC.: 1070
Weight Cromwell tank
– 27,97 tonnes
The dimensions of the tank Cromwell
– body Length, mm: 6350
– housing width, mm: 3050
– Height, mm: 2500
– Clearance, mm: 406
Armor Cromwell tank
– housing forehead (top), mm / city.: 64/ 0°
– housing forehead (middle), mm / city.: 25/ 68°
– housing forehead (through), mm / city.: 57/ 27°
– body board, mm / city.: 32/ 0°
– housing feed (top), mm / city.: 25/ 0°
– housing feed (through), mm / city.: 32/-10°
– Bottom, mm: 6,5—8
– corps roof, mm: 14
– tower forehead, mm / city.: 76/ 0°
– board towers, mm / city.: 51 + 12,7
– tower feed, mm / city.: 51 + 12,7
– tower roof, mm: 20
Armament Cromwell tank
– Caliber guns and stamp: 57-mm QF 6 pounder
– gun type: nareznaya
– barrel length, calibres: 50
– gun ammunition: 75
– sights: № 33 or number 39 MKII
– Shotgun: 2 × 7.92-mm BESA, 1 × 7,7-мм Bren
Cromwell Tank Engine
– engine's type: Rolls-Royce Meteor V-shaped 12-cylinder liquid-cooled Carburetor
– Engine power, l. from.: 600
speed of the tank Cromwell
– Road speed, kmh: 64
– Speed over rough terrain, kmh: 28
– Cruising on the highway, km: 278
– power density, l. p. / m: 21,5
– suspension type: individual spring, Christie suspension
– Unit ground pressure, kg / cm²: 0,97 width at caterpillars 394 mm
– Gradeability, city.: 24
– to overcome the wall, m: 0,9
– trench, m: 2,3
– fording, m: 0,9—1,2
Photo Cromwell tank
Cromwell destroyed tank