Australian AC Tanks – Part II: AC II Cruiser Tank

March 8, 2017 ~ Sebastianul

By Thomas Anderson
From Tanks-Encyclopedia

The Sentinel that never was

Artist's rendition of a production AC II
Artist’s rendition of a production AC II

Contrary to a popular misconception the AC II was not a design for the installation of an Ordnance 6 pounder gun in the AC I Sentinel cruiser. Such a design did exist, entitled AC IA, but this is covered more appropriately with the AC III Thunderbolt. In reality the AC II was a simplified design intended to expedite production of the tanks Australia so desperately needed.

Due to the lack of progress by mid-1941, doubts were raised about the practicality of Australia attempting to manufacture such a complex tank design as the AC I. As a result, Australian AFV engineer Alan H Chamberlain proposed a competing design in June of 1941. The proposed design, entitled AC II, was intended to overcome the limitations of Australian industry by substituting the complex M3 drivetrain and gearbox for a commercially available Mack truck gearbox and drive, imported from the USA.

Due to the Mack components not being required for US munitions production it was estimated that deliveries could begin in October of 1941 with series production of the AC II beginning in January of 1942 at a rate of 8 tanks per week. Compared to 5 tanks per week in mid-1942 for the AC I. The Mack components however required a reduction in the weight of the vehicle and were limited in the horsepower that could be used to power the tank. It was alternatively mooted that the Mack gearbox could simply be substituted into the AC I design. However concerns that in a 28 tonne tank the Mack gearbox would be overloaded, risking the gear teeth stripping at low gears, put an end to this idea. As proposed, the AC II weighed 19.5 tonnes with a hull armor basis of 2 ¼ inch (57.15 mm) frontal and 1 inch (25.4 mm) side and rear, and 2 ½ inches (63.5 mm) of all around turret armor.

The intended engine was to either be a twin mounting of the same Cadillac V8 engines used in the AC I or a 225 horsepower GM 6-71 diesel engine. A Curtiss aircraft engine was also investigated but found to be overly powerful for the Mack gearbox and thus unsuitable without substantial modification . Despite the decreased weight, the corresponding decrease in engine power resulted in an estimated top speed of 19 mph (30 km/h). The armament was the same as on the AC I.

Line drawing and armour specifications of AC II. Source: National Archives of Australia MP730/13 14

Continue reading “Australian AC Tanks – Part II: AC II Cruiser Tank” →

WoT Console – PAINGOD’s Picks : T23E3 & FV201 (A45)

February 28, 2017 ~ Sebastianul

Australian AC Tanks – Part I: AC I Sentinel

February 26, 2017 ~ Sebastianul

An article by Thomas Anderson
Site: Tanks-Encyclopedia

http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/acone-trails.jpg

The only WWII Australian tank design

Among the Commonwealth nations, Canada probably had the best industrial capacities and helped Allied tank production during the war. Canadian factories built Shermans and Valentines, as well as the Ram or the Sexton, which were indigenous designs.

Australia and New Zealand had more limited industrial capacities, but nevertheless pushed on with their own designs, especially as the Japanese threat grew steadily in early 1942.

If the Bob Semple tank was an oddity, more conceived as a last ditch defensive vehicle than a real frontline tank, the Australian AC I Sentinel was a fully-fledged cruiser tank. First intended for combat in North Africa, the AC I was the first and only domestic production tank in Australia’s history.

Sketches of what would become the Australian Cruiser (AC) tank were first drawn in June 1940, when the situation in Europe was so dire that the Commonwealth was mobilized, and later dramatically escalated when war broke out with Japan in 1941.

To save time, the automotive basis had to be the American M3 Lee but with a British cruiser style low-profile turret and hull, and British armaments. However industrial limitations repeatedly hampered production, by late 1941 no prototype was ready and production only began on a limited basis in mid-1942.

The design was altered at several points along its development resulting in several distinct variations that, while innovative, ultimately did not enter production. While the AC tanks never reached substantial production they did display a remarkably refined design for a country that had no prior history with the production of AFVs, as well as several notable features such as the mostly cast hull, whereas most contemporary British tanks still had welded/riveted plates.

Preserved RAAC Sentinel AC1 Cruiser Mk.1 Australian WW2 Tank in the Australian Armour and Artillery Museum, Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Continue reading “Australian AC Tanks – Part I: AC I Sentinel” →

WoT Console – Fatherland IS-3A

February 22, 2017 ~ Sebastianul

TAA Tank Destroyer: The Romanian Merkava

February 18, 2017 ~ Sebastianul

The Newly Discovered Romanian Tank Destroyer Apex

Ever since the mid-1950’s, Romania was slowly distancing itself from the Communist bloc. All while staying loyal to the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact, but steadily loosening the Soviet grip on Romania’s economy and military. After Nicolae Ceaușescu, the Communist leader of Romania (1965 – 1989), condemned the 20th of August 1968 Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia, relations between the Romanians and the Warsaw Pact were significantly diminished.

TAA Tank Destroyer

A right perspective of the TAA tank destroyer

The Romanian military was no longer under the control of the Soviets and the Warsaw Pact due to the incident, although they were still formally part of the Warsaw Pact. From the 1970’s onwards, Romania was generally free to develop and manufacture whatever equipment they were capable of, while buying some of it from Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union.

Continue reading “TAA Tank Destroyer: The Romanian Merkava” →

New WoT Console Map – Dukla Pass

February 14, 2017 ~ Sebastianul

In the latest update of World of Tanks Console there has been added a new map – “Dukla pass”. This map is exclusive to WoT Console.

* The new map was created based on real battle locations on the border of Poland and Slovakia. A zone with hills and meadows — the perfect place to play agile Czechoslovak tanks.