The Crusader (Cruiser VI) was a British, fast cruisertank used in the Second World War, first produced in 1938 and based upon the Christie suspension system. The Crusader first saw action in 1941 at Operation Battleaxe in North Africa. It carried a crew of five, and had a top speed of 28 mph. It was initially armed with a two pounder gun and a coaxial 7.62 mm machine-gun, these were upgraded to the six pounder gun later in the war. It was protected by sloping armour up to 50 mm thick. After 1941 the Crusader was produced in specialist models, rather than being employed as a battle tank, and these included mine-clearance vehicles, artillery observation platforms, anti-aircraft defence - fitted with 40 mm Bofors guns - armoured recovery tanks, anti-tank gun tractors and armoured bulldozers. Research Crusader
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Abbreviations
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