Crusader III AA Mk. II

(55)
Crusader III, AA Mk. II tanks
of the South Alberta Regiment in leaguer,
Bergen-op-Zoom, 06 Novmber 1944.

In anticipation of German air resistance during the impending invasion of North-West Europe, Canadian armoured regiments were equipped with Crusader III, AA Mk. II or III tanks for anti-aircraft defence. Based on the outmoded British Cruiser Tank, Mk. VI, Crusader (A15) chassis, this vehicle mounted an enclosed turret with twin 20mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns. A triple Oerlikon mount was developed by the British to equip their armoured regiments, but as the photo above demonstrates, Canadian units evidently used the earlier double mounts. The Crusader was capable of 27 mph and had armour thickness ranging between 7 - 51mm.

In Canadian service, six of these anti-aircraft tanks equipped the Anti-Aircraft Troop in the Headquarters Squadron of a typical armoured regiment. British armoured units apparently disbanded their anti-aircraft troops shortly after the Normandy landings when the anticipated air resistance failed to materialize. As evidenced by the photo above, Canadian units continued to maintain their anti-aircraft Crusaders well into the Fall of 1944. The main difference between the Mk.II and III versions was that the radio equipment was moved from the turret in the Mk. II to the hull in the Mk. III.

(56)
Crusader III, AA Mk. II
of the Polish 1st Armoured Division, which fought
as a part of 1st Canadian Army.

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© Chris Johnson, 1997