A/N Not a chapter, more of an explanation of some of the new tank designs that will be fielded by the British forces thanks to the girls' arrival. Despite the seemingly overpowered nature of many of them, I promise the German forces will, at some point, field their own tanks to counter them. I may even have the Maus be deployed earlier.
Improved British Tank Designs
Light Tanks & Infnatry Tanks
1. Brudenell Tank - Light Tank
Top Speed - 56mph
Armour - 75mm/50mm/50mm
Main Gun - 75mm
Crew - 4
The first tank to be designed using the Senshado engines, the Brudenell tank was designed purely to see how fast the new engines could go. Not designed for combat per se, but for recon purposes.
2. Churchill - Infantry Tank
Top Speed - 24mph
Armour - 150/100/100
Main Gun - 88mm
Crew - 5
Using designs that had already been drawn up, the Churchill tank was improved with a faster engine, and a more powerful main gun. The improved engine allowed for the tank to have a faster top speed whilst not sacrificing armour or firepower. The 88mm was added to allow the Churchill to have viable anti tank capabilites.
Medium Tanks
1. Cromwell Tank
Top Speed - 47mph
Armour - 100/80/80
Main Gun - 17pdr
Crew - 5
Essentially a historical Comet but with a higher top speed, the Cromwell was designed to be the main battle tank of the British forces. The tank was designed with help from Rosehip who wanted to drive a fast tank that actually had some firepower, as much as she liked her Crusader, the 6pdr disappointed her.
2. Comet
Top Speed - 43mph
Armour - 110/85/85
Main Gun - 88mm
Crew - 5
A variation of the Cromwell, the Comet was designed as an up gunned version that would be used to ambush German forces, the increased firepower allowing for most targets to be destroyed in one shot, thereby decreasing the time needed to destroy the same number of tanks as a Cromwell. The increased armour and heavier gun slowed the tanks slightly, but not enough to mean much.
3. Glyndwr Tank
Top Speed - 35mph
Armour - 150/120/120
Main Gun - 88mm
Crew - 5
Designed by a Welsh mechanic, the Glyndwr was designed as a tank suited to mountainous terrain. With experimental suspension and chassis, the tank was designed to go up hills at a credible speed. This would allow for British tanks to take mountainous areas and strike from where the Germans didn't expect it. The tank was essentially designed to cross the Alps.
Heavy Tanks
1. Kitchener Tank
Top Speed - 32mph
Armour - 200/175/175
Main Gun 88mm
Crew - 6
Named after the First World War General, the Kitchener was designed to be a battleship of the land. With its 200mm frontal armour, sloped at a 35 degree angle, the tank was designed to take hits and survive. It was to act as a shield for the lighter tanks, and to approach defensive lines that Infantry would be unable to take without armour support, but the normal armour support was unable to get close. Even the famous German flak 88 anti tank gun would struggle to penetrate the armour.
2. Black Prince
Top Speed - 27mph
Armour - 150/125/125
Main Gun - 17pdr
Crew - 5
A slightly less powerful but faster and more heavily armoured Churchill, the Black Prince was designed to be more tank combat focused than the Churchill whilst still able to escort infantry units.
Tank Destroyers and Self Propelled Guns
1. Victoria Tank Destroyer
Top Speed - 44mph
Armour - 90/75/75
Main Gun - 88mm
Crew - 4
Not designed for front line combat, the Victoria was designed to be an ambush predator. The high top speed and low profile allowed it to race behind enemy lines, lie in wait, and strike supply convoys. The speed allowed the tank to quickly displace itself, whilst the heavily sloped frontal armour ensured that most enemy shots would bounce off.
2. Gloriana Tank Destroyer/Self Propelled Gun
Top Speed - 25mph
Armour - 140/120/120
Main Gun - 152mm
Crew - 7
Designed simply for firepower. The Gloriana tank destroyer was designed solely by Orange Pekoe with minor assistance from members of Leopon team. A slow, cumbersome tank, the Gloriana was designed not for combat, but to sit miles away, and pick off enemy units. The 152mm main gun could be loaded with a variety of shell from the standard armour piercing, to the high explosive, to bunker buster shells. With a gunners sight able to pick out targets over 6 miles away, the tank could be used to destroy defensive lines or attacking forces before the enemy even knew the British were there.
Main Battle Tank
1. Centurion
Top Speed - 52mph
Armour - 150/100/100
Main Gun - 88mm
Crew - 5
Designed during the last few weeks before deployment, the Centurion was more wish fulfilment than anything else. It was designed to be the first of a new breed of tank, with the speed of a light tank, firepower of a medium tank, and armour of a heavy tank. It's design however was too advanced even for the now technologically advanced British engineers construction would have to wait until mechanical technology increased a bit more.