Ground Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>Cromwell>HG3101

General Background

The Cromwell Mk.IV was a British Cruiser class tank based on the Centaur III and was one of the most successful British tanks in WWII. In 1943 the Mk.IV with a new 75mm cannon capable of using U.S. Army ammunition arrived in the field. The superior speed and agility of the Cromwell helped the Allies to make spectacular progress through Northern France , Belgium and Holland during the advance to Germany . The Cromwell also fought in Korea and retired in the late 1950's.

The 5th Royal Tank Regiment was part of the British Expeditionary Force in France May 1940. In 1941 they sailed to the Middle East and fought at Tobruk and the Battleaxe and Gazala battles. With reorganization the 5th RTR joined the 22nd Armoured Brigade at El Alamein in North Africa . In October 1942 the 22nd AB joined the 7th Armoured Division until the end of WWII. In 1940 the 7th AD adopted the Jerboa (a desert rat) as the Divisional Sign and became “The Desert Rats”. The 22nd AB used the stag head as its badge.

Specifications :

Vehicle Type :	Cruiser Mk. VIII (A27M) Cromwell Mk. IV
Manufacturer :	Leyland
Production :	Approximate 2050 with the Mk. IV being the most numerous
Crew :	5
Length :	6.35 m – 20.8 ft
Width :	2.91 m – 9.55 ft
Height :	2.49 m – 8.17 ft
Weight :	27,500 kg – 60,627 lb – 27.06 (British long tons) 30.13 (US short tons)
Ground pressure :	14.7 lb/sq. in
Powerplant :	Rolls Royce Meteor V-12 26.9 liters 600 hp@2550 rpm
Power to weight ratio :	21 . 4 hp/t
Fuel :	Gasoline capacity 527 liters – 139 US gallons
Speed :	On road 52 kph – 32 mph , Off road 29 kph – 18 mph
Range :	On road 265 km – 164.66 miles , Off road 134 km – 83 miles
Main armament :	1 x 75mm ROQF Mk. V or VA cannon with 64 rounds
Secondary armament :	2 x 7.92mm Besa MG (coaxial, bow) with 4,950 rounds
Maximum armour :	76mm – 2.99 in
Minimum armour :	20 mm - .79 in