22nd Armored Brigade, Royal Tank Corps WWII.

A27M CS, 5th RTR, Normandy, France, June 1944. CS indicates close support tank. Typically, there would be 2 CS tanks in each Squadron HQ troop. These were armed with a short barreled 95 mm. howitzer for firing smoke rounds and high explosives against unarmored targets.
Kit is Tamiya, Star decals. 

A27M CS, 5th RTR, Normandy, France, June 1944. CS indicates close support tank. Typically, there would be 2 CS tanks in each Squadron HQ troop. These were armed with a short barreled 95 mm. howitzer for firing smoke rounds and high explosives against unarmored targets. 

A27M CS, 5th RTR, Normandy, France, June 1944. CS indicates close support tank. Typically, there would be 2 CS tanks in each Squadron HQ troop. These were armed with a short barreled 95 mm. howitzer for firing smoke rounds and high explosives against unarmored targets. 

A27M CS, 5th RTR, Normandy, France, June 1944. CS indicates close support tank. Typically, there would be 2 CS tanks in each Squadron HQ troop. These were armed with a short barreled 95 mm. howitzer for firing smoke rounds and high explosives against unarmored targets. 

A27M Mk IV, 5th RTR, Holland, September 1944.
The A27 Cromwell was the successor to the Crusader tank of 1941. Development ran throughout 1942 and 1943. The end result was cruiser tank with similar armor and firepower to the Sherman (75mm) but addressed some of the less desirable aspects of the Sherman such as high silhouette and average speed. The mating of the Meteor (Spitfire) engine and Christie suspension produced a tank that could reach 40 mph (Sherman topped out @ 24 mph).
Prior to D-Day, the 3 tank regiments of the brigade were outfitted with new Cromwell tanks and Sherman Firefly (17 pounder retro fit tanks). The 22nd Tank Brigade was the only unit thusly outfitted due to limited supply and the trial status of the new tanks in combat. The speed and low profile were soon appreciated but it was very apparent that the gun and armor were able to cope with the German high velocity tank and AT rounds. 

A27M Mk IV, 5th RTR, Holland, September 1944.
The A27 Cromwell was the successor to the Crusader tank of 1941. Development ran throughout 1942 and 1943. The end result was cruiser tank with similar armor and firepower to the Sherman (75mm) but addressed some of the less desirable aspects of the Sherman such as high silhouette and average speed. The mating of the Meteor (Spitfire) engine and Christie suspension produced a tank that could reach 40 mph (Sherman topped out @ 24 mph).
Prior to D-Day, the 3 tank regiments of the brigade were outfitted with new Cromwell tanks and Sherman Firefly (17 pounder retro fit tanks). The 22nd Tank Brigade was the only unit thusly outfitted due to limited supply and the trial status of the new tanks in combat. The speed and low profile were soon appreciated but it was very apparent that the gun and armor were able to cope with the German high velocity tank and AT rounds. 

A27M Mk IV, 5th RTR, Holland, September 1944.
The A27 Cromwell was the successor to the Crusader tank of 1941. Development ran throughout 1942 and 1943. The end result was cruiser tank with similar armor and firepower to the Sherman (75mm) but addressed some of the less desirable aspects of the Sherman such as high silhouette and average speed. The mating of the Meteor (Spitfire) engine and Christie suspension produced a tank that could reach 40 mph (Sherman topped out @ 24 mph).
Prior to D-Day, the 3 tank regiments of the brigade were outfitted with new Cromwell tanks and Sherman Firefly (17 pounder retro fit tanks). The 22nd Tank Brigade was the only unit thusly outfitted due to limited supply and the trial status of the new tanks in combat. The speed and low profile were soon appreciated but it was very apparent that the gun and armor were able to cope with the German high velocity tank and AT rounds. 

A27M Mk IV, 5th RTR, Holland, September 1944.
The A27 Cromwell was the successor to the Crusader tank of 1941. Development ran throughout 1942 and 1943. The end result was cruiser tank with similar armor and firepower to the Sherman (75mm) but addressed some of the less desirable aspects of the Sherman such as high silhouette and average speed. The mating of the Meteor (Spitfire) engine and Christie suspension produced a tank that could reach 40 mph (Sherman topped out @ 24 mph).
Prior to D-Day, the 3 tank regiments of the brigade were outfitted with new Cromwell tanks and Sherman Firefly (17 pounder retro fit tanks). The 22nd Tank Brigade was the only unit thusly outfitted due to limited supply and the trial status of the new tanks in combat. The speed and low profile were soon appreciated but it was very apparent that the gun and armor were able to cope with the German high velocity tank and AT rounds. 

Staghound Armored Car, 7th Armored Division HQ, Holland, September 1944. The T17E1 was a 4 wheeled armored car designed by Chevrolet (USA) in 1941 and an order was placed for 2000 to be built in 1942, with 300 allotted to British lend lease. US Army Ordinance then decided it would not need the Staghound as it had selected the M8 Greyhound instead and most of production was earmarked for British lend-lease. at 15 tons, the Staghound was rather heavy armored car and was a welcome replacement for older lighter models in service upon its arrival in Italy, 1943. The Staghound saw service in Italy and NW Europe until the end of WWII. 

Staghound Armored Car, 7th Armored Division HQ, Holland, September 1944.  

Heavy Cruiser Tank, A41 Mk I, Centurion (pilot production model), "Operation Sentry" Germany, June 1945. Development began in 1943 of this heavy cruiser tank. The specifications included sufficient armor to withstand an 88mm shell, 17 pounder main gun, and Merlin V12 powerplant (Spitfire. P-51). By late Spring of 1945 a batch of pilot models underwent trials and crew training in England. Operation Sentry was an attempt to get 6 Centurions into combat trials in Germany. The tanks and crews arrived in Antwerp on 19th May 1945, by which time the war in Europe had ended. Although actual combat was no longer possible, simulated war operations were and the tanks were put through road and off-road marches. The tanks covered 2300 miles through Holland, Germany, and France, ending at Calais from which they were shipped back to England. Aside from 2 transmission failures (manufacturer defect) the trials went very well with little more than routine maintenance. The Crews were drawn from the 5th Inniskilling Dragoon Guards Regiment and the 5th RTR and were placed under command of the 22nd Armored Brigade, 7th Armored Division. 

Heavy Cruiser Tank, A41 Mk I, Centurion (pilot production model), "Operation Sentry" Germany, June 1945. Development began in 1943 of this heavy cruiser tank. The specifications included sufficient armor to withstand an 88mm shell, 17 pounder main gun, and Merlin V12 powerplant (Spitfire. P-51). By late Spring of 1945 a batch of pilot models underwent trials and crew training in England. Operation Sentry was an attempt to get 6 Centurions into combat trials in Germany. The tanks and crews arrived in Antwerp on 19th May 1945, by which time the war in Europe had ended. Although actual combat was no longer possible, simulated war operations were and the tanks were put through road and off-road marches. The tanks covered 2300 miles through Holland, Germany, and France, ending at Calais from which they were shipped back to England. Aside from 2 transmission failures (manufacturer defect) the trials went very well with little more than routine maintenance. The Crews were drawn from the 5th Inniskilling Dragoon Guards Regiment and the 5th RTR and were placed under command of the 22nd Armored Brigade, 7th Armored Division. 

A27 Cromwell MkIV late production. 

 

A15 Crusader Mk II Cruiser Tank. El Alamein, October 1942