Tank – Cruiser – Comet I with General Staff specification A34 was a fast tank with Christie suspension. The Cruiser Tanks were meant to be fast tanks, sometimes referred to as mechanised cavalry tanks, while Infantry tanks were used to support the infantry therefore speed was not the main feature, but armour was. These were little fortresses to fight with the soldiers. The Cruisers mounted the 17 pounder High Velocity 76,2mm gun. This gun was effective against German Tiger and Panther tanks. Unfortunately the Comet came into action in the last months of the war. Therefore it wasn’t a game changer during World War Two, even though it was probably the best British tank of the war.
This Cruiser Comet I was photographed at The Tank Museum in Bovington, England 2017.
British medium tank Cruiser Comet I (A34)
The Cruiser Comet I (A34), also known as the Comet, was a British medium tank that served during the latter stages of World War II. Introduced in 1944, the Comet was developed to address the growing threat of German armor, particularly the heavier tanks like the Tiger and Panther. It was designed to combine mobility, firepower, and armor protection in a more advanced and effective package than earlier cruiser tanks like the Cromwell.
The Comet I was armed with the powerful 77 mm HV (High Velocity) gun, which was capable of penetrating the thick armor of German tanks and other armored vehicles. It was also equipped with a BESA machine gun for anti-infantry and close defense roles.
Powered by a 600-horsepower Rolls-Royce Meteor V12 engine, the Comet had a top speed of about 48 km/h (30 mph) and a range of 200 km (124 miles) on roads. The tank’s armor ranged from 51 mm to 76 mm in thickness, providing good protection against most German anti-tank weapons.
Weighing around 32 tons, the Comet was highly mobile, with good cross-country performance and stability. Its combination of firepower, armor, and mobility made it one of the most effective Allied tanks of the war. The Comet I saw combat in the European theater, including the invasion of Normandy, and was valued for its reliability and effectiveness against German tanks.
