Crusader Down Under

by Paul D. Handel

Introduction

The Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC) Memorial and Army Tank Museum at Puckapunyal in Victoria is the home to several interesting British tanks of the early Second World War period. One of these is a Crusader Mark 1 Cruiser Tank. It is believed that the Crusader Mark I tank in the museum is a very early example of this family, and how this vehicle came to be in Australia is related in the following article.

Background

When Australia entered the Second World War, its tank strength was only four Vickers Medium Mark II and ten Vickers Light Mark VIA tanks. It was decided to raise an armoured division for service with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) overseas, and two armoured brigades for service with the Australian Military Forces (AMF) on the mainland of Australia. In order to equip these units, Australia turned to the UK, its traditional supplier of military hardware. Subsequent to suggestions of the War Office in London, orders were placed in the UK for 400 M3 tanks (the allocation being advised by the War Office in July 1941 as 150 Lights and 250 Mediums) and one (1) British Cruiser Mark VI. It was noted in the order (LO 847) that the vehicle was for “Design Data”. This presumably was in reference to the orders placed in Australia for a total of 775 Australian designed and built Cruiser tanks, and the Crusader was to be used as a model for Australian designers to see an actual Cruiser type tank of relatively modern design.

The Crusader in Australia

The lone Crusader tank arrived in Melbourne in early August 1941. When issued to the Directorate of Mechanisation, it was noted to be a “Pilot Model”. On 27 August 1941 it was directed that the tank be issued to the Chief Inspector of AFV’s. The Crusader carried the UK registration number T15630 and was part of UK Contract No. T7186 first let on 27 June 1939. The vehicle was characterised by having early type air cleaners, a headlight mounting box on the glacis plate and a sub-turret for a Besa machine gun. It was allocated the Australian registration number C6900, and this was carried on a plate on the front right mudguard. The British WD number was still retained.

The use of the tank in Australia is not well documented, but certainly its intended purpose of “Design Data” was met. A comparison of the Crusader turret shape with that of the Australian Cruiser Tank shows a very close resemblance, bearing in mind that the Australian tank used a cast steel turret. The Pilot Model No. 1 Australian Cruiser Tank had a turret hatch similar in shape to that of the Crusader, and it operated in a similar manner, by sliding to the rear. In addition, the Heavy Armoured Car “Rhino” had a turret of very similar shape, although it was of welded construction. It would appear therefore that the Crusader served Australian AFV designers well.

The vehicle was also used for training at the Armoured School at Puckapunyal in late 1941 and 1942. Much use was also made of the vehicle for propaganda purposes. Newsreels and newspapers of the period would often feature the Crusader as being “ the modern cruiser tank of the type which will eventually equip the Armoured Division”. Photos appeared of the vehicle driving on the Puckapunyal range at speed and generally “showing the flag”. It would appear to have been returned to Melbourne after this, as it appeared in several parades.
 

At some stage in 1942, the 2 pounder main armament was removed. This has remained a mystery, but some years ago the author interviewed a former member of the Directorate of AFV Production (DAFVP), who was responsible for the turret design of the Australian Cruiser Tank, and he indicated that in early 1942 there was a shortage of weapons following the entry of Japan into the war in December 1941, and the armament was used on one of the pilot model Australian Cruisers.

The vehicle apparently remained at the DAFVP for quite some time, as it appeared in 1943 with the Cromwell Mark I during winching trials of the Recovery Tank Aust. No. 2 (based on the M3 Medium Lee).

The Museum Exhibit

The Crusader is currently finished in a Dark Olive Green, with the shipping marks on the glacis plate. These markings have been taken from photos of the actual vehicles during their time in Australia. At present it is fitted with the barrel of a 37mm gun, but it is hoped to obtain a 2 pounder barrel in order to finish off the vehicle correctly.

Australian Crusaders in the Desert

Crusader tanks were also used by an Australian Cavalry Regiment (Reconnaissance) unit in the Middle East. The 9th Australian Division Cavalry Regiment were withdrawn from their occupation duties in Syria in early June 1941 and returned to Egypt. There they returned their worn out Vickers Light Mark VIB tanks and were equipped with more modern vehicles, in the form of M3 "Stuart" Light Tanks and Crusader Mark 2 Cruiser tanks. By the beginning of July the Regiment moved into the desert where they provided two squadrons for the protection of the Headquarters of the 9th Australian Division, becoming involved in several tank versus tank engagements. During these actions several Universal Carriers were destroyed and some Crusaders were damaged.

At the time of El Alamein the regiment had on strength:

The Crusaders used were issued from British stocks held in Egypt and it would appear all were Mark 2 tanks. A typical registration number was T45128. At least one was used as a command tank and one mounted a Besa Machine Gun on the turret roof as an AALMG. Most appear to have had stowage boxes on the rear of the turret.

The Cavalry did not play a major role during the battles of Alamein, being held in divisional reserve. In early November the regiment was chosen as the advance guard to lead the division in the westward advance. The Eighth Army's advance, however, was too fast, and as the Division was being withdrawn to serve in South West Pacific theatre, the Cavalry did not take part in the pursuit of the Afrika Korps. The equipment was returned to British stocks and by January 1943 the unit was on its way back to Australia.

A few photos of the Crusader Mark II tanks of the 9th Australian Division Cavalry Regiment around El Alamein can be seen on the Australian War Memorial Photo Database.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to the staff of the RAAC Memorial and Army Tank Museum; Mr Arthur Bruce formerly of the DAFVP; Mr David Fletcher of the Tank Museum Bovington for a copy of the Contract Card, and Mr Laurie Wright for assisting with photographs.

 

"CRUSADERS DOWN UNDER" PHOTO ALBUM

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Article Text and Photographs Copyright © 2001 by Paul D. Handel
Page Created 09 December, 2001
Last Updated 09 December, 2001

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