Hobby Master 1/72 Ground Power Series
HG3103 - Cromwell Mk.IV  King's Own Hussars
7th Armoured Division "Operation Blackcock", Jan. 1945
"Desert Rats" 7th
Armoured Division
        insignia
In 1943 a decision was made to improve the Cromwell’s firepower so a 75mm cannon became the
standard. The 75mm was designed so ammunition could be interchanged with U.S. Army shells. As a
result the Mk. IV appeared in October 1943. With speed and agility the Cromwell now had greater
firepower and became more lethal. It had great success helping to drive the Germans out of France,
Belgium and the Netherlands. The Cromwell led to the design of the arguably best WWII British tank, the
Comet.


Even with fierce battles little is known about Operation Blackcock (a Scottish black male grouse) that
occurred between January 14 & 26 1945. The purpose of the operation was to drive the Germans back
across the rivers Rur and Wurm. The 7th Armoured Division, the “Desert Rats” applied a field coating of
whitewash camouflage to their Cromwells obscuring its markings. The 7th was charged with liberating
Montfort and capturing the bridge in Sint Odiliënberg. This operation was successful and opened the way
for the invasion of the Rhineland.
Specifications

Vehicle Type:
Cruiser Mk. VIII (A27M) Cromwell Mk. IVc

Manufacturers & Production:
BRCW Co. Ltd – (riveted models) 256  (welded models) 123
English-Electric – (riveted models) 803  (welded models) 1
John Fowler & Co. - (riveted models) 274  (welded models) 0
Leyland Motors - (riveted models) 735  (welded models) 0
Metro-Cammell - (riveted models) 300  (welded models) 0
Vauxhall Motors - (riveted models) 0  (welded models) 2
Total – (riveted) 2368 (welded) 126  the Mk. IV being the most numerous

Crew:
5
Length:
6.35 m – 20.8 ft
Width:
2.91 m – 9.55 ft
Height:
2.49 m – 8.17 ft
Weight:
27,500 kg – 60,627 lb –   27.06 (British long tons)  30.13 (US short tons)
Ground pressure:
14.7 lb/sq. in
Powerplant:
Rolls Royce Meteor V-12 26.9 liters 600 hp@2550 rpm
Power to weight ratio:
21.4 hp/t
Fuel:
Gasoline capacity  527 liters – 139 US gallons
Speed:
On road  52 kph – 32 mph
Off road  29 kph – 18 mph
Range:
On road  265 km – 164.66 miles
Off road  134 km – 83 miles
Main armament:
1 x 75mm ROQF Mk. V or VA cannon with 64 rounds
Secondary armament:
2 x 7.92mm Besa MG (coaxial, bow) with 4,950 rounds
Maximum armour:
76mm – 2.99 in
Minimum armour:
20 mm - .79 in
Authentic Detailing
Pre-Painted by professionals
Accurate paint colors
Markings Tampo (pad) applied
Fully Assembled
Die-Cast Model
True to Scale (1:72)
Weathering and insignias
Turret turns
Main gun elevates
Metal chassis, turret and main
gun
Realistic tracks
Tracks replicate real track
droop
Has a Normandy Cowling on
rear
THESE ARE PRE-PRODUCTION PICTURES
THE RETAIL VERSION WILL BE MORE REFINED