Hobby Master Archive
Ground Power 1/72
Cromwell
The Cromwell comes from a long line of tanks. It was designed as a Cruiser tank to be used for reconnaissance and other such tasks. With the Christie suspension it was able to attain speeds of 52 km/h and proved quite agile. The Cromwell became a fighting machine when the later versions were given heavier armor. In the latter part of WWII the Cromwell was the most produced British tank but its numbers and actions were always lost in the shadows of the Sherman’s and Churchill’s. The Cromwell became the basis for what arguably was the best British tank of WWII, the Comet.
In WWII the British had an armour doctrine that called for two classes of tanks. Infantry tanks were just that, fairly slow well armoured with the main goal to support the infantry. The Cruiser tanks were just the opposite they compromised armour for speed and agility. This was very important during their reconnaissance roles. Using the Meteor engine the Mk. IV could attain speeds up to 52 km/h while almost gliding across the terrain on the Christie Suspension. Later models received heavier armor when it was deemed some speed should be given up for crew protection. Late in WWII there probably were more Cromwell Mk. IV in operation than any other British tank but the Churchill and the Sherman overshadowed its importance.
The Cromwell Mk.IV was a Cruiser class tank based on the Centaur III with a Meteor engine and was one of the most successful British tanks in WWII. In 1943 the Mk.IV with a new 75mm cannon capable of using U.S. Army ammunition arrived in the field. Once the Allies broke out into open country in Normandy its super speed and agility helped make spectacular progress through Northern France, Belgium and Holland as the Allies advanced toward Germany. The Cromwell fought in Korea and retired in the late 1950’s.
The Rolls Royce Meteor engine that the Cromwell was designed around wasn’t yet available so Liberty engines were installed and the tank became a Centaur. This engine was so poorly made that with any speed it shook itself apart so it was kept for training. Still not a Meteor but upgraded engines were placed in about 80 Centaurs and used very successfully by the Royal Marines Armored Support Group on D-Day. Their 95mm Howitzer was used to destroy beach obstacles and pillboxes.
In 1943 a decision was made to improve the Cromwell’s firepower so a 75mm cannon became the standard. The 75mm was designed so ammunition could be interchanged with U.S. Army shells. As a result the Mk. IV appeared in October 1943. With speed and agility the Cromwell now had greater firepower and became more lethal. It had great success helping to drive the Germans out of France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The Cromwell led to the design of the arguably best WWII British tank, the Comet.
