请输入您要查询的百科知识:

 

词条 Cruiser Mk IV
释义

  1. Design and development

  2. Production history

  3. Variants

     Mk IVA / AC Mk IIA 

  4. Combat history

  5. References

  6. External links

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}{{Use British English|date=March 2018}}{{Infobox weapon
| name = Tank, Cruiser, Mk IV (A13 Mk II)
| image = Cruiser Mk IV.jpg
| image_size = 300
| origin = United Kingdom
| type = Cruiser tank
| is_vehicle = yes
| is_UK = yes
|production=1939–1941
| service = 1940–1941[1]
| length = {{convert|19|ft|9|in|m|abbr=on}}[2]
| width = {{convert|8|ft|4|in|m|abbr=on}}[2]
| height = {{convert|8|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}}[2]
| weight = 14.75 Long tons[2]
| suspension = Christie
| speed = {{convert|30|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}
off road: {{convert|14|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}
| vehicle_range = {{convert|90|mi|km|abbr=on}}
| primary_armament = QF 2-pdr gun
87 rounds
| secondary_armament = 0.303 in Vickers machine gun
3,750 rounds
| armour = 6–30 mm
| engine = Nuffield Liberty V12 petrol
| engine_power = {{convert|340|hp|kW|abbr=on}}
| pw_ratio =
| crew = 4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver)
}}

The Cruiser Tank Mk IV (A13 Mk II) was a British cruiser tank of the Second World War. It followed directly on from the Tank, Cruiser, Mk III (A13 Mk I). The first Mk IVs were Mk IIIs with extra armour fitted to the turret. Later Mk IVAs were built with the complete extra armour. The tank was used in France in 1940 and in the early part of the war in North Africa, before being withdrawn from service. In total, 955 of these tanks were built.

Design and development

Britain became interested in fast tanks after observing the Soviet BT tanks during the 1936 Red Army manoeuvres. The BT was based on the revolutionary designs of American J. Walter Christie and a team from Morris Motors was sent to the United States to purchase a Christie tank and the rights to build more. The tank became known as the A13E1 and was delivered in late 1936, but the hull was too small and this led to a second British-built prototype.

The A13E2 was built to mount the turret of the Vickers designed Cruiser Tank MkI (A9). This carried a 40 mm Ordnance QF 2-pounder gun and a co-axial .303 water-cooled Vickers machine gun. The drive train was also revised, with the road wheels no longer powered so the tank could not be driven on its wheels alone. Better tracks were used, with rear-mounted drive sprockets and in trials, over {{convert|40|mph|kph}} was attained on them but later the speed was governed to {{convert|30|mph|kph}}. The armour of the A13E2 was {{convert|15|mm|in}}, in line with other pre-war fast tank designs.

The A13E3 was the final trials model, which led to the production tank, A13 MkI, Cruiser Tank Mk III, which entered production in 1939 at Nuffield Mechanization & Aero Limited, a munitions subsidiary of Morris Motors. An order for 65 tanks was placed and at least 30 tanks completed when the War Office decided to build a new model with thicker armour. The A13 MkII, Cruiser Tank Mk IV, had a maximum armour thickness of {{convert|30|mm|in}} and faceted armour was mounted on the original turret sides and rear. This gave the tank a far more modern appearance; some Mk III tanks were re-built to Mk IV standard while at the factory.

The .303 Vickers machine gun gave constant trouble and was replaced by the 7.92 mm BESA. All British tanks were to have their designs modified to mount the new weapon from early 1940. This led to the main production version, the A13 MkIIA, Cruiser Tank MkIVA. A few examples were sent with the BEF to France, along with most of the earlier A13s. It is not known how many A13 MkIVA tanks were built - the numbers depending on the source. Between the Cruiser Mark III and Cruiser Mark IV, 665 had been built when production ended in 1941.[2] English Electric, Leyland and LMS Railway were also involved in A13 production.

In France, the A13 did not do well, due to poor crew training as a result of its being rushed into service. Many tanks shipped to France were in poor condition and some were so new that they had vital parts missing. The A13 performed much better in the deserts of North Africa and coped with the conditions better than some other designs. It was fast, adequately armed and armoured against Italian and German tanks. It remained an effective weapon until late 1941, when newer models of the Panzer III and Panzer IV appeared with thicker armour and larger guns. In North Africa, it was the anti-tank gun that claimed the vast majority of British tanks lost in battle; German tanks accounted for few British losses, contrary to popular belief.[3]

The Cruiser MkIV was replaced by two tank designs, the Cruiser MkV Covenanter tank and the A15 Crusader. The A13 Covenanter was a radical departure from the original A13 design and constituted an entirely new tank. The A15 Crusader tank retained the original Cruiser IV Liberty engine but in all other respects was a new design.

Production history

  • 65 MkIII, built 1939 by Nuffield (some converted to MkIV)
  • 225–665 MkIV and MkIVA, built 1939–41 by Nuffield, Leyland, English Electric and LMS.
  • MkIV CS, not built
  • MkV, re-design by LMS Railway as A13, Cruiser Tank MkV Covenanter

Variants

Mk IVA / AC Mk IIA

.303 Vickers machine gun replaced with {{convert|7.92|mm|in|adj=on}} Besa machine gun. The MkIVA featured a new gun mantlet and was built at several factories, including LMS Railway. It was the main type used in the desert from 1940–42.

Combat history

Approximately 40 Cruiser Mk IV and MkIVA, saw service in France in 1940 with the 1st Armoured Division of the British Expeditionary Force.{{citation needed|date=April 2015}} Most were abandoned at Calais, and the few tanks that did see action were destroyed by the numerically superior German armored forces.

From October 1940, the Cruiser Tank MkIVA was sent to North Africa, where it was used with the older A9, Cruiser Tank MkI and A10 Cruiser Tank MkII. The A13 was never available in sufficient numbers and a typical armoured brigade would have a mixture of slow ({{convert|10|–|20|mph|kph}}) A9 and A10 with faster ({{convert|30|–|40|mph|kph}}) A13 and Light Tank Mk VI (acting as cruiser tanks). This caused tactical and supply difficulties, but the A13 was popular with its crews{{citation needed|date=May 2017}} and its only{{citation needed|date=May 2017}} deficiency was the lack of a high-explosive shell for the 2-pounder. In common with all cruisers, it was vulnerable to standard Axis anti-tank guns, (unlike the Matilda II infantry tank), which it could only counter with short-range machine gun fire. The A13 was generally reliable{{citation needed|date=May 2017}} and the 2-pounder gun was adequate{{citation needed|date=May 2017}} against all Axis tanks up to late 1941, when the A13 was retired. It was replaced by the A15 Crusader tank, which was an enlarged A13 with thicker armour.

Nine MkIV tanks captured by the Germans after the Battle of France were reused as command vehicles for Panzer Abteilung (Flamm) .100 during Operation Barbarossa.[4]

References

1. ^{{cite book |last=Forty |first=George |authorlink=|author2=Jack Livesy |title=The World Encyclopedia of Tanks & Armoured Fighting Vehicles |publisher=Lorenz Books |year=2006 |location= |page=55 |isbn=978-0-7548-1741-3}}
2. ^White, BT British Tanks 1915–1945 Ian Allan p. 46
3. ^Harris J. P. and Toase F. N., Armoured Warfare (London, 1990), p78
4. ^http://beutepanzer.ru/Beutepanzer/uk/A13_MkII/a-13_MkII-3.htm

External links

{{Portal|Tank}}{{Commons|Cruiser tank Mk IV}}
  • HenkofHolland
  • OnWar.com
  • WWIIvehicles.com
{{WWIIBritishAFVs}}{{Subject bar
| portal1=Tank
| portal2=World War II
| portal3=Military of the United Kingdom
}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Cruiser Mk IV}}

2 : Cruiser tanks of the United Kingdom|World War II tanks of the United Kingdom

随便看

 

开放百科全书收录14589846条英语、德语、日语等多语种百科知识,基本涵盖了大多数领域的百科知识,是一部内容自由、开放的电子版国际百科全书。

 

Copyright © 2023 OENC.NET All Rights Reserved
京ICP备2021023879号 更新时间:2024/11/13 23:25:24