Cruiser Mk IV
Encyclopedia
The Tank, Cruiser, 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)
. 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The tank was used in France in 1940 and in the early part of the war in North Africa before being withdrawn from service.
, and so a team from Morris Motors was sent to the United States to purchase one of Christie's tanks, and also the rights to build more. The tank purchased became known as the A13E1, and this was delivered in late 1936. However, the hull was too small and this led to a second British-built prototype being constructed.
The A13E2 was built to mount the turret of the Vickers
designed Cruiser Tank MkI (A9). This carried a 40 mm 2-pounder anti-tank gun and co-axial .303 water-cooled Vickers machine gun
. The drive train was also revised, with the road wheels no longer powered - as a result the tank could not be driven on its wheels alone. Better tracks were used, with rear-mounted drive sprockets; on trials over 40 mph was attained on these tracks, but later the speed was governed to 30 mph. The armour basis of the A13E2 was 15 mm, in line with other pre-war fast tank designs.
The A13E3 was the final trials model; this led to the production tank, the A13 MkI, Cruiser Tank Mk III, which entered production in 1939 at Nuffield Mechanization & Aero Ltd, 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 30 mm, and faceted armour was mounted on the original turret's 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.
In service, the .303 Vickers machine gun gave constant trouble, and so the British Army
decided to replace it with 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 of this model were sent with the BEF to France, along with most of the earlier A13's so far produced. It is not known how many A13 MkIVA tanks were produced; numbers vary between 225 and 665 depending on source. English Electric
, Leyland, and LMS Railway were also involved in A13 production.
In France the A13 did not do well; this was mainly due to poor training as a result of its being rushed into service. Many tanks shipped to France were in poor condition, some so new they had vital parts not yet installed. However, the A13 did much better in the deserts of North Africa, and coped with the conditions better than some other designs. It was fast, and its 2-pounder gun was a fine weapon against Italian and German tanks of this period. It stayed in contention as a battle tank 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 which claimed the vast majority of British tanks lost in battle; German tanks accounted for few British losses, contrary to popular belief.
The A13 MkIII, Cruiser Tank Mk V was a radical departure from the original A13 design and constituted a new tank. Both hull and turret were redesigned, and it used a new flat-12 Meadows engine with radiators mounted in the front hull. Named the Covenanter
, it was built in large numbers, but was not battleworthy and was used only for training. The A13 MkIIA was replaced by the A15 Crusader tank
, which was similar to the Covenanter but used the original A13 engine.
Vickers
machine gun
replaced with 7.92 mm BESA
machine gun
. MkIVA featured a new gun mantlet. Built at several factories including LMS Railway. Main type used in Desert 1940-42.
. Most were abandoned at Calais
, and the few tanks that did see action were overwhelmed by the vastly superior German forces. From October 1940 the Cruiser Tank MkIVA was sent to North Africa
, where it served alongside 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 mix of slow (10-20 mph) A9 and A10 with faster (30-40 mph) A13 and Light Tank Mk VI
(acting as cruiser tanks). This gave tactical and logistical problems. However, the A13 was popular with its crews, and its only real drawback was the lack of a high-explosive shell for the 2-pounder. Like all British tanks of the period, it was vulnerable to anti-tank guns, which it had no way of countering except by short-range machine gun fire. The A13 was generally reliable, and the 2-pounder gun was adequate against all Axis tanks up to late 1941, when the A13 was retired. It was replaced by the A15 Crusader tank
, which was in essence an enlarged A13 with thicker armour.
A-13 (tank)
The A-13 was a series of British light tanks designed and built before and during the Second World War. There are several different types of tanks designated by their mark.*Cruiser Mk III*Cruiser Mk IV*Covenanter tank...
) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
cruiser tank
Cruiser tank
The cruiser tank was a British tank concept of the inter-war period. This concept was the driving force behind several tank designs which saw action during the Second World War....
of the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It followed directly on from the Tank, Cruiser, Mk III (A13)
Cruiser Mk III
The Tank, Cruiser, Mk III was a British cruiser tank of the Second World War. It was the first British cruiser tank to use the Christie suspension system which gave higher speeds and better cross-country performance, previous models of cruiser tanks having used triple wheeled bogie...
. 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.
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 ChristieJ. Walter Christie
John Walter Christie was an American engineer and inventor. He is best known for developing the Christie suspension system used in a number of World War II-era tank designs, most notably the Soviet BT and T-34 series, and the British Covenanter and Crusader Cruiser tanks, as well as the Comet...
, and so a team from Morris Motors was sent to the United States to purchase one of Christie's tanks, and also the rights to build more. The tank purchased became known as the A13E1, and this was delivered in late 1936. However, the hull was too small and this led to a second British-built prototype being constructed.
The A13E2 was built to mount the turret of the Vickers
Vickers
Vickers was a famous name in British engineering that existed through many companies from 1828 until 1999.-Early history:Vickers was formed in Sheffield as a steel foundry by the miller Edward Vickers and his father-in-law George Naylor in 1828. Naylor was a partner in the foundry Naylor &...
designed Cruiser Tank MkI (A9). This carried a 40 mm 2-pounder anti-tank gun and co-axial .303 water-cooled Vickers machine gun
Vickers machine gun
Not to be confused with the Vickers light machine gunThe Vickers machine gun or Vickers gun is a name primarily used to refer to the water-cooled .303 inch machine gun produced by Vickers Limited, originally for the British Army...
. The drive train was also revised, with the road wheels no longer powered - as a result the tank could not be driven on its wheels alone. Better tracks were used, with rear-mounted drive sprockets; on trials over 40 mph was attained on these tracks, but later the speed was governed to 30 mph. The armour basis of the A13E2 was 15 mm, in line with other pre-war fast tank designs.
The A13E3 was the final trials model; this led to the production tank, the A13 MkI, Cruiser Tank Mk III, which entered production in 1939 at Nuffield Mechanization & Aero Ltd, a munitions subsidiary of Morris Motors. An order for 65 tanks was placed; and at least 30 tanks completed when the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
decided to build a new model with thicker armour. The A13 MkII, Cruiser Tank Mk IV, had a maximum armour thickness of 30 mm, and faceted armour was mounted on the original turret's 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.
In service, the .303 Vickers machine gun gave constant trouble, and so the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
decided to replace it with 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 of this model were sent with the BEF to France, along with most of the earlier A13's so far produced. It is not known how many A13 MkIVA tanks were produced; numbers vary between 225 and 665 depending on source. English Electric
English Electric
English Electric was a British industrial manufacturer. Founded in 1918, it initially specialised in industrial electric motors and transformers...
, Leyland, and LMS Railway were also involved in A13 production.
In France the A13 did not do well; this was mainly due to poor training as a result of its being rushed into service. Many tanks shipped to France were in poor condition, some so new they had vital parts not yet installed. However, the A13 did much better in the deserts of North Africa, and coped with the conditions better than some other designs. It was fast, and its 2-pounder gun was a fine weapon against Italian and German tanks of this period. It stayed in contention as a battle tank until late 1941, when newer models of the Panzer III
Panzer III
Panzer III was the common name of a medium tank that was developed in the 1930s by Germany and was used extensively in World War II. The official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen III translating as "armoured battle vehicle". It was intended to fight other armoured fighting vehicles and...
and Panzer IV
Panzer IV
The Panzerkampfwagen IV , commonly known as the Panzer IV, was a medium tank developed in Nazi Germany in the late 1930s and used extensively during the Second World War. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz...
appeared with thicker armour and larger guns. In North Africa it was the anti-tank gun which claimed the vast majority of British tanks lost in battle; German tanks accounted for few British losses, contrary to popular belief.
The A13 MkIII, Cruiser Tank Mk V was a radical departure from the original A13 design and constituted a new tank. Both hull and turret were redesigned, and it used a new flat-12 Meadows engine with radiators mounted in the front hull. Named the Covenanter
Covenanter tank
The Tank, Cruiser, Mk V, Covenanter was a British Cruiser tank of the Second World War. It was named for the Covenanters, a Scottish religious faction in the British Isles at the time of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
, it was built in large numbers, but was not battleworthy and was used only for training. The A13 MkIIA was replaced by the A15 Crusader tank
Crusader tank
The Tank, Cruiser, Mk VI or A15 Crusader was one of the primary British cruiser tanks of the early part Second World War and perhaps the most important British tank of the North African Campaign...
, which was similar to the Covenanter but used the original A13 engine.
Production history
- 65 Mk III - Built 1939 by Nuffield (some converted to Mk IV)
- 225-665 Mk IV and MkIVA - Built 1939-41 by Nuffield, Leyland, English Electric and LMS.
- Mk IV CS - Not Built
- MkV - Complete re-design by LMS Railway, A13, Cruiser Tank MkV Covenanter
Mk IVA
.303.303 British
.303 British, or 7.7x56mmR, is a .311 inch calibre rifle and machine gun cartridge first developed in Britain as a blackpowder round put into service in December 1888 for the Lee-Metford rifle, later adapted to use smokeless powders...
Vickers
Vickers machine gun
Not to be confused with the Vickers light machine gunThe Vickers machine gun or Vickers gun is a name primarily used to refer to the water-cooled .303 inch machine gun produced by Vickers Limited, originally for the British Army...
machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
replaced with 7.92 mm BESA
Besa
-As an acronym:* Banco Espírito Santo Angola* Bond Exchange of South Africa* British Engineering Standards Association* British Educational Suppliers Association* Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies...
machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
. MkIVA featured a new gun mantlet. Built at several factories including LMS Railway. Main type used in Desert 1940-42.
Combat history
The Cruiser Mk IV and MkIVA, in small numbers (40?) saw service in France in 1940 with the 1st Armoured Division of the British Expeditionary ForceBritish Expeditionary Force (World War II)
The British Expeditionary Force was the British force in Europe from 1939–1940 during the Second World War. Commanded by General Lord Gort, the BEF constituted one-tenth of the defending Allied force....
. Most were abandoned at Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
, and the few tanks that did see action were overwhelmed by the vastly superior German forces. From October 1940 the Cruiser Tank MkIVA was sent to North Africa
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
, where it served alongside 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 mix of slow (10-20 mph) A9 and A10 with faster (30-40 mph) A13 and Light Tank Mk VI
Light Tank Mk VI
The Tank, Light, Mk VI was a British light tank, produced by Vickers-Armstrongs in the late 1930s, which saw service during World War II.- Development history :...
(acting as cruiser tanks). This gave tactical and logistical problems. However, the A13 was popular with its crews, and its only real drawback was the lack of a high-explosive shell for the 2-pounder. Like all British tanks of the period, it was vulnerable to anti-tank guns, which it had no way of countering except by short-range machine gun fire. The A13 was generally reliable, and the 2-pounder gun was adequate against all Axis tanks up to late 1941, when the A13 was retired. It was replaced by the A15 Crusader tank
Crusader tank
The Tank, Cruiser, Mk VI or A15 Crusader was one of the primary British cruiser tanks of the early part Second World War and perhaps the most important British tank of the North African Campaign...
, which was in essence an enlarged A13 with thicker armour.
- Battle of FranceBattle of FranceIn the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
1st Armoured Division - Western Desert CampaignWestern Desert CampaignThe Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War, was the initial stage of the North African Campaign during the Second World War. The campaign was heavily influenced by the availability of supplies and transport. The ability of the Allied forces, operating from besieged Malta, to...
(Libya) 1940-1941 7th Armoured Division