Cavalier tank

Tank, Cruiser, Mk VII Cavalier (A24)
TypeCruiser tank
Place of originUnited Kingdom
Service history
In service1942–1945
Used byUnited Kingdom, Free France
WarsSecond World War
Production history
DesignerNuffield Mechanization & Aero Limited
Designed1941
ManufacturerNuffield Mechanization & Aero Limited
Produced1942
No. built500
Specifications
Mass27 long tons (27 tonnes)
Length20 ft 10 in (6.35 m)
Width9 ft 6 in (2.90 m)
Height8 ft (2.44 m)
Crew5 (Commander, gunner, loader, driver, co-driver)

Armour20–76 mm (0.79–2.99 in)
Main
armament
QF 6 pounder, 64 rounds
Secondary
armament
2 x 7.92 mm Besa machine gun, 4,950 rounds
EngineNuffield Liberty petrol
410 horsepower (310 kW)
Power/weight14.9 hp (11.2 kW) / tonne
SuspensionImproved Christie
Operational
range
165 mi (266 km)
Maximum speed 24 mph (39 km/h)
off-road 14 mph (23 km/h)

The Tank, Cruiser, Mk VII Cavalier (A24) was an interim design of British cruiser tank during the Second World War.

It was derived as a follow on from the Nuffield's A15 Crusader tank as it was expected to enter production in 1942. A parallel effort under Leyland Motors and Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company to the same specification resulted in the A27 Cromwell and Centaur tanks which was accepted for service in preference to the Cavalier.


© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search