British A15 Crusader and their variants
Cruiser Tank A15
Masters by HenkofHolland
Source text: Articles "Crusader of the Desert" from Vasko Barbic and British 'AA' Tanks from William E. Platz.
Photo's and models from HenkofHolland. Most of the kits are converted from Hasegawa Crusaders kit 26.
Click on the Pictures.
Crusader MKI, MKII and MKIII
The Crusader concept stemmed from the "Fast Tank"concept, designed and
produced around 1930 by the American Walter Christie, and could have evolved
to generate an all-round fine tank. Instead, Crusader paid the consequenses
of ill-defined high command theories and uncertain piecemeal decicions, hastily
made by committee, and suffered from unfortunate shortcomings for most of
its existence.
Crusader came from a lineage of "Cruiser Tanks" produced to complement the
heavier armoured and slow going "Infantry Tanks" Then in service, such as
the Matilda. Conceived to exploit the latter's break through, cruisers were
characterised by a light armour, a good range and speed and a running gear
and suspension designed for fast going. Their main armament invariably consisted
of the ubiquitous two-pounder or 40mm gun.The narrow and long hull was of
simple rectangular section, stiffened with cross-braces and bulkheads to
withstand the starins and stresses provoked by the fast riding on rough terrein
and the consequent rolling and pitching. The multifaceted turret was given
its characteristic hexagonal cross section -developing into an octagonal
one towards the centre- to afford more internal space, limited otherwise
by the narrow hull and small ring diameter. The suspension, a slightly improved
version of the American Christie design, consisted of one spring unit for
each of the wheels, enclosed in an individual housing within the double-walled
vertical sides of the hull.
Like most other British tanks of the period, Crusader was armed with a two-pounder
anti-tank gun, a 7.92mm Besa mg (derived from an original Czechslovakian
design, the Zb-model 53) coaxially mounted at the right of the main gun,
a two-inch bomb thrower further to the right, and a second Besa MG installed
in a small auxiliary turret, set in the left side of the glacis, next to
the driver's compartiment. The latter had a pistol port in the armoured hood,
for the use of his side arm.
Crusader MK-I
Crusader MK-II, (without auxilairy mg turret)
Crusader MK-III
The crew was also provided with a fairly comprehensive variety of optical
devices; there was a side look-out and a prismatic visor for the driver,
a telescopic sight for the auxiliary machine-gunner, a front look-out and
a telescopic sight for the main gunner, a periscope for the loader and finally,
for the commander, a periscope in the centre of the roof and two look-outs,
one in the left and one in the right side of the turret.
For external communication, the commander had at his disposal a No.9 radio
set, fitted behind him in the rear turret bustle. This was later replaced
with a No.19 wireless, characterised by two aerial masts. Power came from
a Liberty engine and a gearbox manufactured by Nuffields, who also designed
and produced the Cruasader. Being the direct descendant of the cruisers A13
and Covenanter, Crusader retained several of their features and consequently
their shortcomings as well as their advantages. Its Christie-type suspension,
large dished wheels, the design of its hull and the exellent power-to-weight
ratio gave the tank good speed and mobility, particularly in the North-African
desert, where it spent all of its service as a cruiser tank. These characteristics
and the low, sleek silhouette made Crusader a diffecult target to hit when
charging. Unfortunately this was offset by several inadequacies. Although
longer than its predecessors, its ground pressure was not entirely satisfactory,
due the narrow wide of its tracks which, in addition, the tank tended to
shed a bit too often. Mechanical breakdowns also caused the loss of an inordinate
number of tanks, while in action.
The armour was too thin to withstand shots from the Italian 47mm or the German
improved 50mm guns. The turret, because of its particular shape, presented
dangerous shot traps.Ventilation was poor all round and when the secondary
machine-gun was fired,both the gunner in his tiny auxiliary turret and the
driver on his right, suffered badly from cordite fumes. The two-pounder gun
had only anti-tank capabilities and could not fire high explosive shells.
Crusader was also plagued during most of its operationale life, in the
desert with air filters problems, defective coolingfan systems, etc., all
shortcomings that basically were the consequences of illdefined specifications,
hasty development and insufficient trials in times of emergency. But, given
the circumstances and the situation in those fatefull years 1941 and 1942,
it was the best that could be made available and rushed to the embattled
British armoured units in Egypt.
In conclusion one must say that, all considered, Crusader acquitted itselfs
fairly wll in the face of Axis force equipped with 88mm, 75mm, 50mm and 47mm
anti-tank guns, whether in defensive emplacements or mounted on heavier and
better armoured tanks.
Crusader MK-III, AA, Mark-I
Crusader MK-III, AA, Mark-II
Crusader MK-III, AA, Mark-III
Crusader Anti Aircraft
By 1943, the Crusader series of Cruiser tanks was being phased-out of
the combat role, and a new source of chassis became available. With the larger
capacity of the Crusaders, larger weapons could be mounted, and the British
were quick to seize the opportunity. Experiments were made with the excellent
40mm Bofors AA gun and with a triple 20mm Oerlikon mount. Originally, the
40mm field mount simply replaced the turret on the Crusader III tank. This
became the Crusader III,AA, Mark I; and later modifications included a lightly
armoured turret, surrounding the gun. The triple 20mm version was never mass-produced:
however, a new mark, with a fully enclosed turret, soon appeared. The Crusader
III, AA, Mark II, as this variant was called, carried a twin 20mm mount,
similar to the weapons used for anti-aircraft defense on naval vessels. An
additional modification to the new turret resulted in a third Mark of the
Crusader II, AA; however the changes were primarily internal, and principally
involved moving the radio from the turret to the hull.
Crusader MK-II, Recovery / ARV
Crusader MK-II, Gun Tractor (Photo and model from a friend from Vladimir Cereba (Mr.Sandman) from Cz.)
Crusader MK-II, Recovery / ARV
Crusader MK-II, with dozer
Crusader Gun Tractor and AVR's.
The Crusader Gun Tractor were converted from the Crusader MKII cruiser tank and used as armoured tractor for 17-pounder AT-gun. 600 were produced from March 1944 to April 1945. They were converted by Ruston and Hornsby Ltd. Also were many Crusader II and III converted to AVR's (Recovery Vehicles) From the AVR vehicles were many variants, with dozer blades and / or crane's.
The Full range of Crusader variants:
Crusader I :...Initial production model.
Crusader I and II CS:...3-inch howitzer in place of the 2pnd gun
Crusader OP and Command :...Fitted with a dummy gun for use as observation post or for general command post with extra radio.
Crusader III, AA Mark-I :...Normal turret replaced by 40mm Bofors gun behind shield.
Crusader III, AA Mark-II and -III :...As Aa Mark-I but with 20mm twin Oerlikons.
Crusader with triple Oerlikon :...A few vehicles were fitted with a special open mount fitted with three Oerlikons.
Crusader II, Gun Tractor Mark-I :...A special conversion of the Crusader hull for use as a tractor to pull the 17pdr anti-tank gun. In service 1944-45.
Crusader ARV :...Turretless version with a jib crane on front.
Crusader Dozer :...Turretless version used by the Royal Engineeers.
Crusader with AMRA Mark 1d :...Mine clearing device -not used in action.
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