GBR - Crusader Gun Tractor

------in order to increase the mobility of artillery and especially the ability of anti-tank guns (towed artillery divisions and brigades) to accompany the vševojskové departments in the field prior to the start of the allied invasion of Europe being developed for the artillery services of the British armed forces and armies of the Commonwealth, new artillery tractor. To the fact were utilized in part the chassis of tanks that have already been discarded from service due to a lack of armor and or ineffective (cannon) armament.

------On the chassis of the tank, the Crusader (Tank, Cruiser Mk.(VI) so were (in addition to e.g. dozerů and other special vehicles) being built also bezvěžové wheeled anti-tank 17 pdr works, introduced into the armament under the designation of the Crusader Gun Tractor.

------Vehicle had a top open fighting compartment, in the event of inclement weather an indoor tent, of the parties, then the indoor straight armored plates (the front slightly inclined and the other vertical).

------the Vehicle was without arms (some sources indicate the armament of a machine gun 7,92 mm BESA and a .303 BREN, machine gun BESA could probably be lafetován in the open gap of the commander of the towing vehicles), in addition to transportation of the crew of the cannon to ensure also the transport of palebného diameter ammo (outside of the space crew, in the pit beyond the front parts of the casing of the engine) and with the necessary connecting means allowing the connections (command and fire control) under the battery section.

The selected TTD:
Vehicle weight: 15 500 kg
Powerplant/performance: Nuffield Liberty/340 BHP (KS)
Max.speed
------communication: 43 km/h
------in the field: 24 km/h
Transport capacity:
------8 persons (including the driver and commander vehicles)
------40 pieces of ammunition caliber 76,2 mm (17 pdr)
------1000 pieces of ammunition 7,92 mm (for machine gun BESA)------600 pieces of ammunition .303 mm (for machine gun BREN)

------Vehicle in the second screenshot is equipped with the (increased) extension for deep wading, the first slide is the dividing plane nástavného armor is highlighted in red and the extensions mailbox on the ammo caliber 76,2 mm blue....

Another modification of the Crusader tank to the Gun Tractor was the addition of a hydraulically operated plow.

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Oorlogsmuseum Overloon, my own photo



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Oorlogsmuseum Overloon, own photo.