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Britain
Cruiser Mk VII (Cavalier)
Ordnance classification - A24

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The Cruiser Mk VII was designed in 1941, manufactured by Nuffield Mechanization & Aero Limited based on the existing fully tracked A15 and was in use from 1942 to 1945.

Flag of World War 2 Britain
Photo of Cruiser Mk VII (Cavalier)
Cruiser Mk VII(Cavalier) scale illustration

General Details
Specifications
Operational Date(s)1942 - 1945
Ordnance classificationA24
Quantity Produced500
Weight26.5 tonne
Crew5
M.G's small2
M.G's large(>10mm)n/a
Length6.40 mtr
Width2.95 mtr
Height2.46 mtr
Engine Details/Performance
Max Road Speed24 mph
Max Cross Country Speed13 mph
Range Road165 miles
Range Cross Country66 miles
Fuel TypePetrol
Fuel Capacityunknown
Horse Power410 hp
Power/Weight15 hp/tonne
General Information
The Cruiser Mk VII was designed in 1941, manufactured by Nuffield Mechanization & Aero Limited based on the existing fully tracked A15 and was in use from 1942 to 1945.

The vehicle was powered by Nuffield 'Liberty' petrol powerplant producing 410 HP which could drive the vehicle on roads at up to 24 mph with a range of about 165 miles before refuelling. Its cross country performance was good providing a max speed of about 13 mph and a range of about 66 miles.

It was armed with 2 light machine guns which were BESA Machine Gun 7.92mms. Its main armament consisted of an Ordnance Q.F. 6pdr 7cwt MKI-III which could penetrate 73 mm of flat plate at 800 metres

The A24 was a heavy cruiser tank based on the Crusader, the first model armed with the 6pdr gun, and was only used for training. Eventually ending in the Cromwell this version had the 410 Hp Liberty engine, the Cavalier was only used for training.

Armour Details
Turret
Front76mm@(76mm)
Side63mm@(63mm)
Rear57mm@(57mm)
Top20mm@81°(20mm)
Superstructure
Front63mm@(63mm)
Side32mm@(32mm)
Rear32mm@(32mm)
Top20mm@90°(20mm)
Hull
Front57mm@(57mm)
Side32mm@(32mm)
Rear32mm@(32mm)
Top20mm@90°(20mm)
Armour (x)mm @ (y)° (Effective mm @ 0°)
Effective Armour - Maximum 76 mm - Minimum 20 mm



Weapon Details
Flag
BESA Machine Gun 7.92mm
(Machine Gun)
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photo of BESA Machine Gun 7.92mm from Wikipedia
History
Developed by BSA from the Czechoslovak ZB vz.53 heavy machine gun which used the German 7.92×57mm Mauser ammunition. It was mostly used as the main armament of the Light Tank Mk VIC and Armoured cars such as the Humber Mk I to Mk III.

This 7.92mm gun was used in the armoured divisions as their supply lines were separated from the infantry who used .303 bullets. Once the British started capturing German ammunition this could be immediately used in these tank machine guns.
Manufactured1939 - 1966
Calibre7.92mm
LengthL/93
Rate of Fire450 rpm
Number of Rounds 4950
 
 
Ammunition Details
Name/Id Calibre Weight MVelocity Explosive Content
Cartridge SA, 7.92
(AP Standard Small Arms)
7.92mm 0.011Kg 785M/Sec
Quoted Penetration 11mm @ 1000mtr/0°
Range(Mtr)1002004008001200160020002400
Flight Time(Secs) 0.16 0.37 1.1
Penetration(mm@30°) 10 8 5
Penetration(mm@0°) 12 10 6
Hit Probability(%) 98 98 98


 
Cartridge SA, 7.92
(BALL Standard Small Arms)
7.92mm 0.012Kg 785M/Sec
Range(Mtr)1002004008001200160020002400
Flight Time(Secs) 0.15
Penetration(mm@30°) 2
Penetration(mm@0°) 3
Hit Probability(%) 98


Weapon Details
Flag
Ordnance Q.F. 6pdr 7cwt MKI-III
(Anti Tank Gun)
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photo of Ordnance Q.F. 6pdr 7cwt MKI-III from Wikipedia
History
The 6pdr Mk II—differed from the pre-production Mk I in having a shorter L/43 barrel, because of shortage of suitable lathes. The subsequent Mk IV was fitted with an L/50 barrel, with muzzle brake.
Manufactured1942 - 1945
Calibre57mm
LengthL/43
Number of Rounds 64
 
 
Ammunition Details
Name/Id Calibre Weight MVelocity Explosive Content
Shot, AP, Mks 1 to 7
(AP Armor Piercing)
57mm 2.86Kg 853M/Sec
Quoted Penetration 68mm@915m
Range(Mtr)1002004008001200160020002400
Flight Time(Secs) 0.12 0.24 0.5 1.09 1.78 2.61 3.61 4.86
Penetration(mm@30°) 90 83 74 63 53 44 35 28
Penetration(mm@0°) 105 96 86 73 62 51 41 33
Hit Probability(%) 98 98 98 98 77 41 22 8

Hit probability is based on a static 2 x 2.4 metre panel at 0 degrees(vertical) at the range specified.

The data that has been used to create these records has come from Wikipedia, The Lone Sentry, The Bundes Archive and numerous books and websites that have provided the detailed information that has not been available anywhere else. The information we use to calculate the penetration tables, flight times and the hit probability comes from the Gun Calibre, the Shell Mass(Kg) and the muzzle velocity, plus range reductions to allow for gravity and wind resistance. This calculation originally came from a pre-war Krupp calculation which has been modified, and seems to fit the actual test results.

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