Would Crusader and Centaur AA tansk have been used together in a troop? Were they kept apart because of the need to reduce the number of replacement parts carried etc?
Any thoughts or advice appreciated.

Cheers
Kevin

Hi Kevin,

Here's some information from the Osprey Publishing ' Cromwell CruiserTank 1942 -50', by D Fletcher & R Harley, that might help a bit!! :-) :-)

Quote p35

No reason has ever been found to explain why Centaur AA tanks should not have replaced the unreliable Crusaders with the armoured divisions in Europe. However, by October 1944 the order for Centaur AA tanks Mark I had been cut back from 450 to 100 and it's replacement the Mark II, probably only existed as a single example.

end Quote.

So based on the fact that there were limited Centaurs available and they would have been issued as replacements, I would say best guess would be yes, they may well have been mixed with Crusaders.

Hope this helps a bit. I now wait to be proved wrong. :-) :-) :-)

Cheers

Al

One explanation I have seen is that the Allied forces had almost total air-superiority, hence it was felt that specialised AA vehicles were a luxury.

Hi Jeff,

That's the most logical explanation for the cut back and it's the one I've heard before.

The Centaur was seen as the natural seccessor to the Crusader AA Tank Mk III. The 20mm Oerikons being replaced with the Polsten cannon and the turret being powered by an auxiliary generator located in the nose of the tank with a separate exhause pipe on the nearside trackguard as opposed to the Crusader turret which was powered by the tanks engine.

There is some hint that Centaur AA's were used in 'Operation Drive', the Op to counter the VI's but who used them or where they were deployed is not known.

Of all the British Tanks the 'Cromwell Family' is possibly the most interesting, offering a very wide range of possibilities for the modeller. If I ever get past my Sherman obsession, then they and the Churchill will be next on my list.

Cheers

Al

Speaking of AA vehicles, I came across these interesting variations; Polsten on Ford Skink AA Polsten

The Skink looks like a good project for those who like M4 Shermans and variants...you interested Alan? :-) :-)

Hi Jeff,

The Skink AA looks pretty interesting. I'll save the Polsen for the LVTs.

If you have a look on MLF

http://www.mapleleafup.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=549522538cf3982675c0a63203bed2a2&forumid=7

there are a couple of interesting pictures of Shermans with twin Brens and Vickers as AA defence.

Nice find

Cheers

Al