World War II. It mounted the 17 Pounder gun on a chassis
derived from the Cromwell tank to add heavier anti-tank
firepower to the cruiser tank units.
The design compromises made in fitting the large gun onto
the Cromwell chassis resulted in a tank with a powerful
weapon, but with less armour. The extemporised Sherman
Firefly conversion of the US-supplied Sherman to take the
17 pounder was easier to produce and, combined with delays
in production, meant that only 200 Challengers were built.
However, it was able to keep up with the fast Cromwell tank
and was used alongside them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruiser_Mk_VIII_Challenger
You'd never call it elegant!
ReplyDeleteLike a hunk of cheese on a plate
ReplyDeleteTo be fair to our British cousins
ReplyDeleteno one in the west learned to do sloped armor until the 1970s.
That from an old M60/M48 jock, guess you'd know Bill....)
ReplyDeleteHave to agree with Tim on this one,
ReplyDeletebut it will serve it's purpose.
Yes I would Don!
ReplyDelete