Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
Cruiser Tank "Cromwell"
| GENERAL DATA | |||
| Formal Designation | Cruiser Tank Mk. VIII, Cromwell Mk. I (A27M) | ||
| Manufacturer(s) | Leyland | ||
| Production Quantity | n.a. | Production Period | mid-1943 |
| Type | Medium/Cruiser Tank | Crew | 5 |
| Length hull/overall (m) | 6.35 | Barrel Overhang (m) | n.a. |
| Width (m) | 2.91 | Height (m) | 2.49 |
| Combat Weight (kg) | 24500 | Radio Equipment | n.a. |
| FIREPOWER | |||
| Primary Armament | 57mm 6-pounder ROQF | Ammunition Carried | 75 |
| Traverse (degrees) | Hydraulic (360°) | Elevation (degrees) | n.a. |
| Traverse speed (360°) | n.a. | Sight | n.a. |
| Secondary Armament | 2 x 7.92mm Besa
MG (coaxial, bow) |
Ammunition Carried | 4950 |
| 2 x 7.7mm (.303) Vickers MG (AA) | 2000 | ||
| MOBILITY CHARACTERISTICS | |||
| Engine Make & Model | Rolls Royce Meteor | Track Links | n.a. |
| Type & Displacement | V12, 26.9 liters | Track Width | 39.4 or 35.6 cm |
| Horsepower (max.) | 600hp@2550rpm | Track Ground Contact | n.a. |
| Power/Weight Ratio | 24.5 hp/t | Ground Pressure | 13.3 or 14.7 psi* |
| Gearbox | 5 forward, 1 reverse | Ground Clearance (m) | 0.41 |
| Fuel | Gasoline (Petrol) | Turning Radius (m) | n.a. |
| Range on/off road (km) | 280 | Gradient (degrees) | n.a. |
| Mileage (liters/100km) | 188 on road | Vertical Obstacle (m) | 0.91 |
| Fuel Capacity (liters) | 527 + 136 (auxiliary) | Fording (m) | 1.22 |
| Speed on/off road | 64 km/h | Trench Crossing (m) | 2.36 |
| ARMOR PROTECTION | ||||
| Armor Detail | Front | Side | Rear | Top/Bottom |
| Hull | 25mm@26° | 29+14mm@90°(front) | 32mm@76° | 6+8mm@0°(front) |
| 57mm@67°(nose) | 25+14mm@90°(rear) | 6mm@0°(rear) | ||
| Superstructure | 25mm@23°(glacis) | 32+14mm@90°(front) | 25mm@90° | 20mm@0°(front) |
| 64mm@90°(driver) | 25+14mm@90°(rear) | 14mm@0°(rear) | ||
| Turret | 64mm@90° | 51+13mmm@90° | 44+13mm@90° | 20mm@0°&25° |
| Mantlet | - | - | - | |
| The Cromwell was the first British tank to have a reliable engine (the Rolls Royce Meteor). Production started at Leyland Motors arsenal from mid-1943 onwards |
| The Cromwell, with its well-tried suspension, powerful engine, and good protection gave the British tank crews the opportunity to be at par with their German opponents. It saw action from May 1944 onwards and became the most important, in both numerical and quality terms, of the British tanks. |