page_title: Cromwell tank
section_title: Centaur
hierarchical_section_title: Cromwell tank / Variants / Centaur
caption_attribution_description: English: Centaur IV tank of 'H' Troop, 2nd Battery, Royal Marine Armoured Support Group, 13 June 1944. Centaur IV tank with 95mm howitzer of 'H' Troop, 2nd Battery, Royal Marine Armoured Support Group, 13 June 1944.
context_page_description: The Cromwell tank, officially Tank, Cruiser, Mk VIII, Cromwell, was one of the series of cruiser tanks fielded by Britain in the Second World War. Named after the English Civil War leader Oliver Cromwell, the Cromwell was the first tank put into service by the British to combine high speed from a powerful and reliable engine, and reasonable armour. The intended dual-purpose high velocity gun could not be fitted in the turret and the medium velocity dual purpose gun fitted proved inadequate. An improved version with a high velocity gun became the Comet tank.
  The name "Cromwell" was initially applied to three vehicles during development. Early Cromwell development led to the creation of the A24 Cavalier. Later Cromwell development led to the creation of the competing Tank, Cruiser, Mk VIII, Centaur design. The Centaur tank was closely related to the Cromwell, both vehicles being externally similar. The Cromwell and Centaur tanks differed in the engine used; the Centaur had the 410 hp Liberty engine, the Cromwell had the significantly more powerful 600 hp Meteor.
  The Cromwell first saw action in the Battle of Normandy in June 1944.
context_section_description: Centaur I
  Armed with the Royal Ordnance QF 6 pounder (57 mm) gun (with 64 rounds of ammunition). It was used only for training. 1,059 produced.
  Centaur II
  Mark I with wider tracks and no hull machine gun. Experimental only.
  Centaur III
  Centaur armed with the 75 mm ROQF Mk V gun. In 1943, most Centaur I were converted to IIIs, but a few remained as such. 233 produced.
  Centaur IV
  Centaur armed with a 95 mm howitzer (with 51 rounds of ammunition). This is the only version of the Centaur known to have seen combat, in service with the Royal Marines Armoured Support Group. The vehicles were fitted with wading gear to get them ashore. Trunking waterproofed the engine inlets and covers were fitted to the guns. 114 produced.
  Centaur Bulldozer
  A Centaur tank with the turret removed and installed a simple winch-operated bulldozer blade. Used as armoured obstacle-clearing vehicle. Issued to the 79th Armoured Division in Belgium during the latter part of 1944.
caption: Centaur IV of Royal Marine Armoured Support Group, Normandy 13 June 1944
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