History, technical details and pictures

Mk IV Cromwell tank history

The British had at the beginning of the Second World War in Europe the Churchill tank, heavily armored but very slow and unable to fight against most German tanks.

Very quickly after the start of production of the Churchill tank in 1940, the British decided to develop a new tank, this time more mobile. Thus was born the Cromwell tank and its production began in 1942.

Its 75 mm gun could not face the firepower of German tanks, however its mobility and its speed were significantly bigger. But this increase of mobility automatically decreased the size of the shielding, which made the Cromwell tank more vulnerable, despite its speed.

As with the American tank hunter M10 Destroyer, the Cromwell Mk IV tank model had always to have the initiative in order to win the battle. Once the combat engaged, the Cromwell no longer rely on its mobility. Therefore, it is often engaged to support the actions of the infantry.

The Cromwell tank was present on the Mediterranean and north-west Europe battlefields, especially during the Battle of Normandy and Operation Market-Garden in Holland.

Mk IV Cromwell tank sheet

Country creator/user: Great Britain
Name: Mark IV Cromwell

Rate of fire: 6,35 m
Width: 2,91 m
Weigth: 28 000 kg
Maximum speed: 52 km/h
Range: 265 km

Main gun: 75 mm (6 pounds) Mk V ROQF gun
Secondary armament: two 7,92 mm Besa machinguns

Engine: Rolls-Royce Meteor, 600 hp
Consumption: 199 L for 100 km

Crew: 5 (1 tank commander, 1 pilote, 1 co-pilote and gunner, 1 radio operator and loader)

Front shield: 76 mm
Back shield: 20 mm