Combat History
The Cruiser Mk IV and MkIVA, in small numbers (40?) saw service in France in 1940 with the 1st Armoured Division of the British Expeditionary Force. Most were abandoned at Calais, and the few tanks that did see action were overwhelmed by the vastly superior German forces. From October 1940 the Cruiser Tank MkIVA was sent to North Africa, where it served alongside the older A9, Cruiser Tank MkI and A10 Cruiser Tank MkII. The A13 was never available in sufficient numbers, and a typical Armoured Brigade would have a mix of slow (10-20 mph) A9 and A10 with faster (30-40 mph) A13 and Light Tank Mk VI (acting as cruiser tanks). This gave tactical and logistical problems. However, the A13 was popular with its crews, and its only real drawback was the lack of a high-explosive shell for the 2-pounder. Like all British tanks of the period, it was vulnerable to anti-tank guns, which it had no way of countering except by short-range machine gun fire. The A13 was generally reliable, and the 2-pounder gun was adequate against all Axis tanks up to late 1941, when the A13 was retired. It was replaced by the A15 Crusader tank, which was in essence an enlarged A13 with thicker armour.
- Battle of France 1st Armoured Division
- Western Desert Campaign (Libya) 1940-1941 7th Armoured Division
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