Cardboard model of the Crusader anti-aircraft tank

The Crusader III AA Mk.III was an anti-aircraft variant of the tank. The model shown in the photos represents a tank from the Polish 1st Armored Division from 1944, in the colors of the 10th Mounted Rifle Regiment. The miniature was built in 1:25 scale. The work was presented at the 10th Competition of Paper and Plastic Models in Świdnik, Poland in 2016.

The Crusader tanks were produced in the years 1940-1943 in Great Britain. They were made in several versions that differed in the size of the gun or the thickness of the armor. They can be classified as pursuit or fast tanks.

By the assumption, the pursuit tanks were being supposed to use its high speed to attacks unexpectedly and harass the enemy behind the front line. The reality of the Second World War negatively verified this idea. After the war experiences in Africa, the Crusader tanks were used only in anti-aircraft versions at the front.

Some technical data:

• Length: 5.98 m (19 ft 7.43 in),
• Width: 2.64 m (8 ft 7.94 in),
• Ground clearance: 0.41 m (1 ft 4.14 in),
• Mass: 19 t (UK-18.7 t, USA-20.9 t),
• Maximum speed: 48 km/h (29.8 mph),
• Propulsion: a 12-cylinder gasoline engine (V-type) with a power of 340 hp (254 kW),
• Engine displacement: 27 l (1,647.6 in³),
• Armor thickness: 10-52 mm (0.39-2.05 in),
• Crew: 3.

Armament:

• Two 20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns.

Sources:

• https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czo%C5%82g_po%C5%9Bcigowy
• http://mtg.domek.org/wbrytania/crusader.htm
• http://www.sklep.wak.pl/product_info.php?products_id=441
• http://www.2wojna.pl/encyklopedia-uk-wb-010.html
• https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mk_VI_Crusader

12 Jul 2016