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Cruiser Tank Mk V Covenanter (A13)

1940 WORLD WAR 2

History of the cruiser tank Mk V Covenanter (A13)

With the Cruiser Tank Mk IV, the British Army has found a replacement for their limited Mk III range. However, the Mk IV was nothing more than an upgraded Mk III and did little to help the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) defend France.

It continued to increase its combat reserves in the subsequent North African theater campaigns, but production remained limited, as did its overall combat value as World War II (1939-1945) unfolded.

A new direction was found for the successor "Cruiser Tank Mk V Covenanter (A13 Mk III)" when implementing a new hull and turret design. The Nuffield Liberty gasoline engine was replaced by a 340 hp Henry Meadows D.A.V. "Flat-12" engine. The radiator is mounted in the front of the fuselage and the engine is in the rear (a rather unfavorable design aspect).

The engine is connected to a Meadows transmission with Wilson planetary steering. The Christie suspension was retained, along with the four large steel wheels inside the "track wheel" chassis. Armor protection increased from 30mm on the Mk IV to 40mm on the thickest side of the Mk V. The main armament is still the QF 2-pdr (40mm) main gun and the coaxial 7.92mm Besa machine gun. Total range is 100 miles at road speeds over 30 mph. While the Mk IV weighed 16.5 tons (shorter), the newer Mk V vehicle proved to be a much heavier combat platform, weighing 20 tons.

The crew consisted of four people - driver, commander, gunner and loader.

Design work on the vehicle began in 1939 by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMSR), a heavy industry group founded in 1923 (dissolved in 1947). Britain is not yet fully at war, but has taken steps to prepare. Before building a prototype, the tank was approved and accepted for production, with 100 cars on order. It is worth noting that the LMRS has no experience in the design and manufacture of main battle tanks.

LMSR tanks have many sloping surfaces for basic ballistic protection, as well as a low profile for more difficult-to-hit targets. Welding is applied to the hull structure (as opposed to riveting). The British Army expects to have two pilot vehicles for testing while production begins in earnest.

During the design, development, and eventual production of the Covenant, several notable factors were identified that contributed to its demise as a viable combat system. The manufacturer persuaded the authorities to revert to the simpler method of riveting the fuselage and replaced the lighter aluminum wheels that were intended to be used (aluminum is now planned for aircraft production) with heavier steel wheels. The low-slung design of the Covenanter meant a low-slung engine, which in turn forced the radiator to be mounted at the front of the vehicle, reducing engine cooling performance and limiting the utility of the fuel tank in hot climates due to the constant overheating of the engine sex.

The overall weight of the combat vehicle was eventually increased due to additional features, heavier wheels and armor protection, which put a standard load on the suspension system.

Testing continued until 1940 with two promised pilot vehicles. The hull appeared as expected, albeit with delays in receiving the completed tower. As a result, Covenanters were deferred, and those who showed up were handed over to the British Home Guard and relegated to training roles.

A total of 1,700 prototypes were eventually produced, but none actually entered combat. By 1943, the line was considered obsolete due to its armor protection and small-caliber weapons, especially compared to emerging variants of German tanks.

As it stands, the Covenant never fully addressed its engine cooling issues, and as the war progresses, it's now an under- and under-equipped main battle tank with little to no battlefield value. Second-line models remained in service until 1945, and some even served with Australian armour during the Pacific campaign.

Despite its rather non-existent combat career, the Covenant has seen a number of notable variants during its service. Covenanter Mk Is is the original production brand, Covenanter Mk I CS as a close support model with a 3" howitzer. The Covenanter Mk II is the Mk I with an additional radiator mounted radiator, and the Covenanter Mk II CS is a tightly braced version of it. An OP ("Observation Station") variant is equipped with additional communications equipment and a "virtual" main gun armament.

Similar command vehicles also appeared. The Covenanter Mk III introduced some clutch changes, and the two oil coolers for the engine and muffler were moved to the rear. The Covenanter Mk III CS is its tightly supported form.

The Covenanter Mk IV borrows some clutch changes from the Mk III, and the Covenanter Mk IV CS is its tight-braced variant. The Covenant ARV Mk I was an armored rescue vehicle without the Covenant turret, although only one pilot vehicle was completed in 1942.

The Covenanter AMRA Mk IC is an "Anti-Mine Roller Attachment", a minesweeper vehicle. The Covenanter Bridgelayer is just that, a variation on building bridges with a 34-foot span bridge hinged in half. These managed extended wartime service even after the main Mk V combat form was retired.

The Mk V became the first British cruiser tank to be named (others were simply called Mk I, Mk II, etc. by their "brands"). The name "Covenant" comes from the Scots of the British Isles they met in the "Three Kingdoms War", a conflict involving the nations of England, Ireland and Scotland.

The war lasted from 1639 to 1651.