| While the United Kingdom was a leader in tank tactics development in the 20�s and 30�s, her tanks were somewhat lacking upon entrance to war in 1939. Many of the UK�s armored formations were still outfitted with older Cruiser and Vickers tanks, which were sorely out gunned and out maneuvered by German armor. The development of armor within the United Kingdom left a peculiar gap in the area of a main battle tank. Infantry tanks, like the Matilda II, Valentine, and Churchill gave excellent account for themselves supporting the infantry. And the cruiser tanks, mainly the Crusader line proved useful as fast light tanks, but it was not until the introduction of the Cromwell late in the war that the UK had a tank comparable to the American Sherman and German PzKpfw IV. After the US entrance into WWII most UK armored formations were heavily supplemented with Grant and Sherman tanks. |
