Ready for El Alamein: ideal British tanks

[stug3]

A Stuart tank is silhouetted against the setting sun as its commander scans the horizon, 1942.

AEC Mk I armoured car equipped with a 2-pdr gun in the Western desert

Bishop 25-pdr self-propelled gun, 1942

Tank crews receiving instruction on the Grant tank, September 1942

Staff officers examine a newly-arrived Sherman tank sitting on a Scammell Pioneer tank transporter, 15 September 1942.

 

[stug3]

42nd Armoured Division Exercise, Near Malton In Yorkshire, 29 September 1942. The Commander in Chief Home Forces, General Sir Bernard Paget, with the Division Commander, Major General M C Dempsey, DSO, MC, watching the exercise from a Crusader tank.

 

[vinnye]

I liked the AEC armoured car photo so had a look for some more info.
In the Wiki article, it said that the early ones had the Valentine turret with 2pdr fitted.
It also said some were modified in the field to take a Crusader turret with 6pdr?
Saw this photo - looks Crusader but not 6pdr?
Redirect Notice

 

[yulzari]

I think you will find that it was the Staghounds that were fitted with Crusader 6 pounder turrets. The Danes used them post war.

The AEC had it's own 6 pounder turret and that ended up being fitted to rebuilt Staghounds post war in Sudan and Lebanon. In the Lebanese case with ROF 75mm guns with ex Sherman 75mm guns and mantlets in the Sudanese case. I believe that AEC still had the turrets to sell but had moved the chassis production facilities to civilian lorries post war so put surplus Staghounds under them with whatever guns they could acquire cheaply.

 

[vinnye]

From the Wiki article ; AEC Armoured Car - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"The Mk I was first used in combat in the North African Campaign late in 1942, where a few vehicles were reportedly fitted with a Crusader tank turret mounting a 6 pounder gun. "