The A15 Cruiser Mk VI – ‘Crusader’
The Crusader Tank was issued to both regiments of Sharpshooters in 1941 when they went to the desert.
It was very fast but mechanically unreliable. The crews had to modify their tanks in Egypt before they could deploy.
It was not well protected and relied on speed to protect it unlike British ‘Infantry’ tanks, which were slow, though much better protected.
The main armament – a 2pdr gun – was outranged by contemporary enemy vehicles. This meant that tanks had to charge at the enemy to get within effective range which was less than 500 yards.
Its major failing was that it had no High Explosive round. This meant that engaging troops on the ground and soft vehicles was difficult.
Later models were more reliable and the Mk III was up-gunned with a 6pdr gun. There was also an Anti Aircraft version which both regiments used in Normandy.