Cromwell IV

The Cromwell tank was designed as a replacement to the Crusader and the Cavalier (of which only a few were made). The earlier vehicles used a Rolls-Royce Liberty engine, but the new Cromwell was to be fitted with the new higher performing Rolls-Royce Meteor engine.

Due to the unavailability of the new Meteor engine, the Cromwell was initially fitted with the older Liberty engine. This combination became the Centaur. Many of these underpowered vehicles were later converted to Cromwell standards with the replacement of the Liberty engine by the Meteor engine.

The Centaur IV was equipped with a 95 mm howitzer. A small number of these vehicles earned the distinction of being the only Centaurs used during the D-Day landings.

The Royal Marines Support Group operated them temporarily as fire support vehicles for the first few weeks of the campaign. The vehicles were fitted with wading gear to get them ashore. A 114 were produced.

In the blister pack you will find part to make the Cromwell with either the 75mm gun or 95mm howitzer, or a Centaur with a 95mm howitzer and no hull MG.

The 7th Armoured Division was one of the few British Armoured Divisions fully equipped with Cromwell tanks. The other Armoured Divisions each contain an Armoured Recce Regiment armed with Cromwell tanks.

The Cromwell IV is Fully-tracked and has armour front 6, side 4 and top 1. It is armed with a Co-ax MG, Hull MG and OQF 75mm gun.

As a Light tank it can move 16”/40cm cross-country. It has Protected ammo giving it a re-roll to un-bail and a Tow hook, so it can tow 6pdr and 17pdr guns if required.

The OQF 75mm gun has a Range of 32”/80cm, ROF 2, Anti-tank 10 and FP 3+. It can fire Semi-indirect fire at target at long range and also has a Smoke round.

The Centaur CS 95mm howitzer armed tank was used by the Royal Marines Support Group to support troops coming ashore on Juno and Sword beaches on D-Day, including the Royal Marine Commandos.

The tanks of X battery were later passed on to the Royal Artillery to support the British Airborne.

The Centaur can be used to support British Parachute and Airlanding Companies. It is Fully-tracked, has Armour 6 Front, 4 Side and 1 Top. It is armed with a Co-ax MG and an OQF 95mm howitzer. The howitzer has a Range of 24”/60cm, ROF 2, AT 7, FP 3+ and can fire Smoke. Firing bombardment it has a Range of 48”/120cm, AT 4, FP 5+ and can fire Smoke Bombardments.