The Road to War… the Cruiser Mk III Tank

HIGH SPEED TANK: the Cruiser Mk III A13-E1 (1937)

As the inevitable World War approached, Britain scrambled to reinvent her military to face the challenge from Nazi Germany. While the 1936 Spitfire clearly played a huge role in winning the war for the Allies, the Cruiser Mk III had less success on the battlefield. But it was a milestone in British tanks, an important pioneer.

Car manufacturer Morris was set the challenge of designing a high speed tank and they wisely bought a second hand tank from American fast tank pioneer, J. Walter Christie. With a Christie suspension, oversized wheels and a V12 340hp Nuffield Liberty aircraft engine, the Cruiser Mk III managed 30 miles an hour. Useful as the British Expeditionary Force retreated as fast as they could to Dunkirk.

TIMEWARP… When the first Mk III prototype was produced in 1937 Britain didn’t even have a tank division

WHAT MAKES IT GREAT… A great pioneer – the Mk III paved the way for the Mk IV, Mk V, Crusader and other tanks that had to be developed incredibly quickly during wartime.

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