Crusader MK. 2

Crew: 4

Combat Mass: 20.1 t

Armament: QF 2 pdr Mk 1 (40mm); 1 X 7,92 mm BESA Machine-guns; 2-in Smoke Bomb Thrower;

Engine: Nuffield Liberty Mark II, III, or IV; 27-litre V-12 petrol engine 340 hp @ 1,500 rpm (17 hp/t)

Transmission: Nuffield constant mesh 4-speed-and-reverse

Suspension: Christie suspension with vertically mounted coil springs

Fording: Without preparation 0.9 meters

Speed: 42km/h - Road; 24km/h - Off-road

Operating Range: Road 322km - Cross Country 193 km

Development history

South Africa is home to the largest British Crusader Mk2 tanks in the world with some 15 on display in museums or as memorials. During World War 2 some 25 Crusaders were delivered to South Africa and used by the then Union Defense Force to train tank crews before they deployed to North Africa, Sicily and Italy. After the war, the tanks were stored at the 81st Technical Stores Depot at Lyttelton, Pretoria. Later they were lent to museums and army bases as static displays or gate guards.

The Crusader Mk II was an improved version of the Crusader Mk I, incorporating several modifications based on combat experience. It featured slightly thicker armor on the hull and turret, enhancing its protection against enemy fire.

Like the Mk I, the Crusader Mk II was equipped with a 2-pounder (40 mm) QF main gun and a 7.92 mm Besa machine gun. The improved armor provided better survivability, but the main gun remained inadequate against more heavily armored German tanks encountered in the North African campaign.

The Crusader Mk II retained the same Nuffield Liberty V12 petrol engine, transmission, and suspension system as the Mk I, providing similar performance and mobility. Its top road speed was 42 km/h, with a cross-country speed of 24 km/h. The fording capability and operating ranges were also unchanged from the Mk I.

The Crusader Mk II saw extensive use in the North African campaign, where its speed and mobility were crucial in the desert warfare environment. Despite its limitations, it played a significant role in the British Army's efforts to counter German armored forces in the early years of World War II.