Full Name | Tank, Cruiser, Mk VI (A15) Crusader II |
Class | Heavy Vehicle |
Movement | 5 |
Armor Value | 3 |
Vs Infantry (RNG / FPR) | 5/5 |
Vs Vehicle (RNG / FPR) | 6/5 |
Traits | |
Period | 1941-1943 |
Theaters of Service |
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Commonwealth forces used this British cruiser tank extensively in the first phases of the North Africa campaign (mid-1941 through 1942). In British doctrine, the relatively lighthly armored, quick (with top speed of 26 mph), and mobile cruiser tanks were intended to speed-through gaps in enemy defenses, and not slug it out with opposing tanks. The main armament for the Mk. I and II variants was the Ordnance Quick-Firing (QF) 2-Pounder (40 mm) L/50 gun. It also carried up to two 7.92 mm Besa machine guns. Four or five crew operated the Mk I and Mk II. Crusader Mk I and Mk II suffered from chronic reliability problems in desert use, and also lacked an effective high explosive round suitable for soft targets. With the appearance of improved German tank variants--including the Pz. VI Tiger I--by late 1942, the British began replacing Crusaders with American-made M3 Grant and M4 Sherman medium tanks. The Nuffield Mechanizations and Aero Ltd. company produced more than 5,000 Crusader tanks in all variants, but they did not see active frontline service beyond the North African campaign. These stats reflect the base ToI unit.