First of all, apologies if I have assked this question here before, but I can't find out how to view "my posts". I am hoping for proof (photographic evidence would be nice) of the use of the A13 MkI in North Africa. Chamberlain & Ellis claim a few in 2nd & 7th Armoured Divs. Perrett says none in Western Desert.
Hit your username and go to your profile. Every page on your profile has the 'Find Content' button towards the upper right: Hit that & it'll take you to your topics/posts which can then be sorted via the filters on the left. ~A
THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA 1940. © IWM (E 1004)IWM Non Commercial Licence Edit: Sorry, misread - lots of MkIVs on iwm
Thanks for the profile advice. That works. Sadly the tank you post photos of is the common A13 MkII, not the MkI (which lacks the spaced armour on the turret sides).
Hello David your original threads Cruiser tank MkVI Crusader MkI A13 MkII Close Support regards Clive
According to: http://www.desertrats.org.uk/equiparmourtanks.htm#A13 both mks of A13 were in use by 7th AD in NorthAfrica. According to " A short history of 7th AD" by Lt. Col. R. M. P. Carver, 2 RTR arrived in North Africa in autumn 1940, equipped with A13s, no mention of mk. though can't find any pics either, sorry. 2RTR formed part of 4th A.B.,
This is something I've also been seeking an anser to. I've found the name of the convoy, Apology, arrived sometime in September or October 1940. Now if we could only find the exact contents of the ship(s). Chances are slim though, considering the numbers produced and the timeline. Only 65 of the initial type were ordered, and a wikipedia entry states only 30 of these were completed before an order was issued to add the extra spaced armour. No specific date found for this addition other it being early 1939. Obviously all were not changed thusly, as a couple photos of the BEF in France are without the extra armour. There might be some confusion (or at least I am confused) when the statement is made that both types were used in the desert. A similar statement was made by Lt Norman Plough, that 2 RTR had both types at Beda Fomm. I see three types due to modifications: -the original A13 MkI -up armoured version (A13 MkII) -switch of the vickers mg to the Besa (A13 MkIIa) If I am wrong, hopeful someone will come along to correct this. regards, Jack
Peter Brown has written a comprehensive history of the A13 in Military Modeller magazine. I believe you can purchase .pdf's of the back issues. I haven't read the articles myself, but from reading discussions of them, I believe that Brown confirms that none of the Mk.I's were ever converted to Mk.II's, and that no Mk.I's served in the desert.
This is from Jentz's Tank Combat in North Africa: Inventory in the Middle East on 1 March 1941: Lt Tk MkVI - 36 Lt Tk MkVIA - 55 Lt Tk MkVIB - 276 Lt Tk Mk VIC - 1 Cruiser Mk I - 66 Cruiser Mk IIA - 89 Cruiser Mk IVA - 85 Cruiser Mk ICS - 6 Cruiser Mk IIACS - 12 Infantry Tank Mk IIA - 30 Infantry Tank Mk IIA* - 35
Just to clear up any confusion, when I said that no Mk.I's served in the desert I meant A13 Mk.I (Cruiser Mk.III), and not A9 Mk.I (Cruiser Mk.I).
Does anyone know what gearbox and steering units the A13 Mk.I and Mk.II used? Was it the Meadows "crash" gearbox and Wilson epicyclics?
Late in the day, but this is what the 7th Armoured Brigade's war diary for September 1941 claims: So they at least thought they had Cruiser Mk.III's and IV's, although I haven't seen any confirmation of their presence in the ME from the info generated by GHQ in Cairo.
Indeed. Another example of the quality of RAC staffwork and the accuracy of the knowledge held by high offices of the number and types of tank actually under their command or purview.
