The exhibition of the Dutch Museum of Military Equipment in Overloon (North Brabant) presents the English tank Cromwell IV hull type F. This vehicle took part in the battles for Overloon in October 1944, was burned by the Germans during them, but later restored. The Cromwell was once the best British tank, with good armament and mobility. At the same time, it is distinguished by obvious archaisms in the design of the turret and the hull, which were assembled on the frame with bolts and corners — this was noted in the results of the tank tests in the USSR as well.
The tank, which is on display at the Military Museum in Overloon, was in service of the 11th Tank Division
During the battles for Overloon, the tank was hit and burned down
The consequences of the fire – no rubber bandages were remained at any skating rink
There's a hole in the stern. It became fatal for the tank
Despite the fire, the tank looks well preserved
As you can easily see, riveting and bolts are used on the tank, released in 1944
The driver hatch consisted of two sections
The BESA course machine gun mount
The tank has an F-type hull. This can be outwardly seen in the hatches of a driver and his assistant
Starting with the Type B hull, the driver's assistant received a side-opening hatch
On the Type F hull, the driver finally got an identical hatch
Mudguards and the track shoulder on the left side
To strengthen the design, a punching was made on the side panel. However, it hardly saved
The tool box on the left side consisted of a single section
And, actually, on the right side – of two sections
A stern part of the track shoulder on the left was filled with tools
The same was on the right
Stern mudguards looked stairs-like
Because of the fire, a part of the motor plate was lost
Engine air intake hood
The same detail sideways
There are also a lot of bolts and rivets in the stern
Aft towing unit
As a result of combat damage, the tank is missing the right idler and the front support roller
The surviving left idler, the rubber on it also burned out
Support roller
The drive wheel has not changed much since the period of Cruiser Tank Mk.III
The tracks, compared to the early «Cruisers», had better traction properties, but remained equally narrow
The tracks, view from the inside
Thanks to the lost support roller, you can take a look at the construction of the balance beam
Like the hull, the turret has a marked rectangular shape
The whole world had switched to welding by that time, but the British tank was assembled on bolts
Turret, left-eye view
The cannon was not bad, but about a year late, like the tank itself
Muzzle brake
The BESA coaxial machine gun mount
The use of an internal mask clearly did not increase protection
The side plates were attached to the frame with 6 bolts
This massive construction is the firing port
On the left side of the turret, you can see the toolbox mount
The exhibition of the Dutch Museum of Military Equipment in Overloon (North Brabant) presents the English tank Cromwell IV hull type F. This vehicle took part in the battles for Overloon in October 1944, was burned by the Germans during them, but later restored. The Cromwell was once the best British tank, with good armament and mobility. At the same time, it is distinguished by obvious archaisms in the design of the turret and the hull, which were assembled on the frame with bolts and corners — this was noted in the results of the tank tests in the USSR as well.
The tank, which is on display at the Military Museum in Overloon, was in service of the 11th Tank Division
During the battles for Overloon, the tank was hit and burned down
The consequences of the fire – no rubber bandages were remained at any skating rink
There's a hole in the stern. It became fatal for the tank
Despite the fire, the tank looks well preserved
As you can easily see, riveting and bolts are used on the tank, released in 1944
The driver hatch consisted of two sections
The BESA course machine gun mount
The tank has an F-type hull. This can be outwardly seen in the hatches of a driver and his assistant
Starting with the Type B hull, the driver's assistant received a side-opening hatch
On the Type F hull, the driver finally got an identical hatch
Mudguards and the track shoulder on the left side
To strengthen the design, a punching was made on the side panel. However, it hardly saved
The tool box on the left side consisted of a single section
And, actually, on the right side – of two sections
A stern part of the track shoulder on the left was filled with tools
The same was on the right
Stern mudguards looked stairs-like
Because of the fire, a part of the motor plate was lost
Engine air intake hood
The same detail sideways
There are also a lot of bolts and rivets in the stern
Aft towing unit
As a result of combat damage, the tank is missing the right idler and the front support roller
The surviving left idler, the rubber on it also burned out
Support roller
The drive wheel has not changed much since the period of Cruiser Tank Mk.III
The tracks, compared to the early «Cruisers», had better traction properties, but remained equally narrow
The tracks, view from the inside
Thanks to the lost support roller, you can take a look at the construction of the balance beam
Like the hull, the turret has a marked rectangular shape
The whole world had switched to welding by that time, but the British tank was assembled on bolts
Turret, left-eye view
The cannon was not bad, but about a year late, like the tank itself
Muzzle brake
The BESA coaxial machine gun mount
The use of an internal mask clearly did not increase protection
The side plates were attached to the frame with 6 bolts
This massive construction is the firing port
On the left side of the turret, you can see the toolbox mount
