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Sentinel Mk1

As the war situation deteriorated, from the Allied point of view, Australia decided to design and manufacture its own tanks; the chances of obtaining any from Britain or the United States in the immediate future seeming remote. This was an ambitious step for a country with limited industrial resources, and it even involved building a new factory at Chullora NSW administered by the NSW Government railways.

The new tank sometimes known as the Sentinel employed American tracks and engines, British weapons, and a French suspension system, but also incorporated many original features. The use of large castings for the hull and turret was innovative, but the most impressive feature was the arrangement of three Cadillac V8 engines driving through a common transmission.

The Australian Cruiser Programme was terminated with the delivery of British and American tanks, and they never saw action but they were used for training and some models were fitted with larger guns. Indeed some of them remained in service as training tanks until 1956 and they appear to have performed well.

Information from the board accompanying this vehicle at Bovington