| Crusader I to III |
| Crusader Crew: 3-5 Armament: 2 pounder or 6 pounder, 1 or 2 BESA mg's Armor: 51mm maximum, 7mm minimum Weight: 19,300 kg Performance: 40 mph road speed, 100 miles range History: Served with British Army 1939-1943 The Crusader was largely derived from the earlier Cruiser tank series, and was designated a "heavy cruiser", to be up armored over previous models. The Crusader used the famous Christie suspension. This excellent suspension system allowed for a very smooth ride in the tank, even at extreme speeds. The tank was powered by a Liberty engine, which was basically a WWI aircraft engine. The Crusader was mainly used in North Africa, where its engines suffered in the heat, and gained a reputation for mechanical failure. Never the less the tank was liked by its crews for its speed. But this never made up for its weak armor and weak gun. Some tanks were converted to AA platforms after the North African campaign, but relatively few Crusaders saw service past 1942. |
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