Category: Historical Articles

The History of the Cavalier

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Source: ASIA Portal

The Cavalier became one of the many cruiser tank designs adopted by the British Army during World War II. The specification for what would eventually become the A24 tank also evolved to include two other wartime designs, the Centaur and the Cromwell.

Introduction

Cavalier prototype

Cruiser tanks were developed as part of British Army doctrine, which called for light and fast vehicles to exploit breaks in the enemy lines created by heavier, better-armed infantry tanks like the Churchill.

The Cavalier eventually ended up serving as an interim combat tank design that fulfilled some battlefield needs, but never quite delivered the levels of tactical value that its counterparts in the war did.

Nuffield’s Cruiser Tanks

In the mid-1940s, the Ministry of Defence tasked the Directorate of Tanks and Transport to issue design specifications for several types of tanks which would be developed around the new Royal Ordnance QF 6 Pdr AT gun. These included the A23 Cruiser, a version of Vauxhall’s Churchill tank, and the A24 Cruiser, based on plans to replace the Crusader.

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The Curious Case of the Missing USS Scorpion (SSN-589)

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Fifty-two years ago, the USS Scorpion disappeared without a trace. The missing skipjack-class nuclear-powered submarine inspired several theories, books, songs, and even movie references. Was the crew involved in a skirmish with Soviet forces? Or was it just a tragic accident? The true reason for the submarine’s loss may never be known for sure.

What we do know is that the crew never made their scheduled arrival in Norfolk, Virginia on May 27, 1968. The method used to locate this sub is both eerie and fascinating and could be used to boost online gaming wins, to bet on sporting events, or to gain an advantage in stock and derivatives trading.

The Case of the Missing USS Scorpion

On February 15th, 1968, the sub and its crew of 99 US soldiers departed from Norfolk. Over the next few months, the crew participated in several exercises with the US Navy and NATO forces and collected information about Soviet naval units in the Meditteranean.

After its primary mission, the crew enjoyed exploring ports in Italy and Sicily before embarking for their homeward journey in May.

For several days, the sub’s journey seemed to be proceeding as normal. On May 22nd, Commander Francis A. Slattery radioed that the sub would arrive back in port at 1 pm on May 27th.

They never made it home.

When the arrival time came and went, family and officials knew something was amiss. Later reports suggested that officials knew something was likely wrong earlier when the crew failed to respond to routine messages, though that information was not shared with families of the missing soldiers.

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