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Cruiser Mk II file photo [7247]

Cruiser Mk II

CountryUnited Kingdom
ManufacturerVickers-Armstrongs, Limited
Primary RoleCruiser Tank

Contributor:

ww2dbaseThe Cruiser Mk II (A10) tanks were designed by Sir John Carden of British manufacturer Vickers in 1934 based on the A9 design. The main armaments consisted of a 40-mm QF 2-pounder gun per tank, mounted on turrets, each supported by a coaxial machine gun and at times a second machine gun. Production began in Jul 1938, and the first examples entered service in Dec 1939. A number them were assigned to the British Expeditionary Force in France, and during the Desert War a few of them were put in use in North Africa, participating in the battle of Tobruk of 1941. Their performance left something to be desired, but they were generally regarded as reliable. Sixty used tanks were sent the Greece and fought against the Axis invasion, but most of them were eventually lost to breakdowns, particularly with damaged tracks. Overall, 175 Cruiser Mk II tanks were built; 120 of them were built by Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company, 45 by Metropolitan-Cammell, and 10 by Vickers.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia.

Last Major Revision: Jan 2008

SPECIFICATIONS

A10
MachineryOne AEC Type A179 6-cyl gasoline engine rated at 150hp
SuspensionTriple wheel bogie with coil spring
Armament1x40mm QF 2pdr gun (100 rounds), 2x7.7mm Vickers or 2x7.92mm Besa machine guns
Armor6-30mm
Crew5
Length5.50 m
Width2.60 m
Height2.50 m
Weight14.0 t
Speed25 km/h
Range160 km

Photographs

Cruiser Mk II tank, date unknownBritish Cruiser Mk II tank disabled by having lost a track, Greece, Apr 1941




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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Commenter identity confirmed Alan Chanter says:
2 Aug 2009 01:15:28 AM

The two armoured regiments sent to Greece in 1941 were 3/RTR and 4 Hussars. 3/RTR had been sent to Egypt equipped with A.13 cruisers, but on arrival these had been changed (much one suspects to their dismay) for older A.10s mostly with worn out tracks, and it was with these that they embarked for Greece. 4 Hussars were even worse off-being equipped only with obsolete Vickers Mk.VI light tanks armed only with heavy machine guns. The establishment laid down for a British Armoured Regiment at this time was 52 tanks (Four with the Regimental Headquarters and three companies of fifteen each, plus a reserve of three tanks) per regiment.

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Cruiser Mk II tank, date unknownBritish Cruiser Mk II tank disabled by having lost a track, Greece, Apr 1941


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