Royal Scots Dragoon Guards

Cruiser Tank Comet

GENERAL DATA
Formal Designation Cruiser Tank, Comet (A34)
Manufacturer(s) Leyland
Production Quantity about 1200 Production Period Sept. 1944 - Postwar
Type Medium/Cruiser Crew 5
Length /hull (m) 7.66/6.55 Barrel Overhang (m) n.a.
Width (m) 3.07 Height (m) 2.67
Combat Weight (kg) 33225 Radio Equipment n.a.

FIREPOWER
Primary Armament 77mm ROQF Mk. II Ammunition Carried 61
Traverse (degrees) Electric (360°) Elevation (degrees) -12° to +20°
Traverse speed (360°) 24 sec. Sight n.a.
Secondary Armament 2 x 7.92mm Besa MG (coaxial, bow) Ammunition Carried 5175
2 x 6 barrel smoke discharger 12

MOBILITY CHARACTERISTICS
Engine Make & Model Rolls-Royce Meteor Mk. III Track Links n.a.
Type & Displacement V12, n.a. Track Width 45.7cm
Horsepower (max.) 600hp@2500rpm Track Ground Contact 393.6cm
Power/Weight Ratio 18.1 hp/tonne Ground Pressure 13.8 psi
Gearbox 5 forward, 1 reverse Ground Clearance (m) 0.4
Fuel Gasoline (Petrol) Turning Radius (m) n.a.
Range on/off road (km) 240/130 Gradient (degrees) 31°
Mileage (liters/100km) 220 on/405 off road Vertical Obstacle (m) 0.9
Fuel Capacity (liters) 527 Fording (m) 1.0
Speed on/off road 51/26 km/h Trench Crossing (m) 2.44

ARMOR PROTECTION
Armor (mm@degrees) Front Side Rear Top/Bottom
Hull 64mm@90°(nose) 14mm@90° 25mm@90° n.a.
Superstructure 32mm@17°(glacis) 29mm@90° - 14mm@0°
76mm@90°
Turret 102mm@90° 64mm@90° 57mm@90° 20&25mm@0°
Mantlet 102mm@90° - - -

The Cruiser Tank Comet was in practice an enhanced Cromwell ,but deserved a new name because the high number of design changes and new components (first of all the adoption of the 17-pounder as main gun). The first were delivered in December 1944 and during the last stages of the war they proved themselves both battle-worthy and reliable

The Comet was the best British tank of the war years and serviced in many countries well over the 1960s

BACK