| Hobby Master 1/72 Ground Power Series HG3105 - Cromwell Mk. IV, Artillery Observation Post tank |
Authentic Detailing
Pre-Painted by
professionals
Accurate paint colors
Markings Tampo (pad)
applied
Fully Assembled
True to Scale (1:72)
Weathering and insignias
Turret turns
Main gun elevates
Metal turret and main gun
Realistic tracks
Pre-Painted by
professionals
Accurate paint colors
Markings Tampo (pad)
applied
Fully Assembled
True to Scale (1:72)
Weathering and insignias
Turret turns
Main gun elevates
Metal turret and main gun
Realistic tracks
In WWII the British had an armour doctrine that called for two classes of tanks. Infantry tanks
were just that, fairly slow well armoured with the main goal to support the infantry. The
Cruiser tanks were just the opposite they compromised armour for speed and agility. This
was very important during their reconnaissance roles. Using the Meteor engine the Mk. IV
could attain speeds up to 52 km/h while almost gliding across the terrain on the Christie
Suspension. Later models received heavier armor when it was deemed some speed should
be given up for crew protection. Late in WWII there probably were more Cromwell Mk. IV in
operation than any other British tank but the Churchill and the Sherman overshadowed its
importance.
British General Montgomery became aware of an exposed flank of the Panzer Lehr Division.
So in an attempt to circle around them and attack from the rear the British would have to
take and hold the town of Villers-Bocage and the high ground Point 213. On June 13, 1944
as part of or attached to the 22nd Armoured Brigade under Brigadier W. R. N. Hinde the 5th
Royal Horse Artillery was assigned to capture and hold the other exits from the city with a
battery of Sextons assigned to take position to the north of D71 and in the small valley where
the roads to Coudray and Chouquet Bridge run. The British were unaware of the 5 Tiger
tanks and a Panzer IV led by Michael Wittmann who had seized Point 213.The British were
greeted in the streets by the townsfolk who thought they had been liberated. During this
greeting the British completely let down their guard and made every possible error that could
be made.
Wittmann saw his chance to attack with his own Tiger I and catch the British totally by
surprise. During the melee Wittmann single-handedly destroyed 10 half-tracks, 4 Carden-
Loyd Carriers, 2 Bren gun-carriers, 2 anti-tank guns, 4 Cromwells, 2 Sherman Command
tanks, 1 Scout Car. After being hit several times with minimum damage Wittmann’s Tiger was
halted when a shell from a 6-pounder gun struck his left track. Wittmann and crew escaped
on foot and joined up with reinforcements and attacked the town again. There was heavy
fighting because the element of surprise had been lost but in spite of having reinforcements
available not one British commander called for them. As a result the British were forced to
retreat and several officers were relieved of command.
One commanding officer of the British Forces that were never called upon described things
this way; the whole thing was a disgrace. Because of poor execution of a plan a great
opportunity to drive the Germans from this area of France was lost. A second attempt by the
British to take Villers-Bocage also failed and this only added to the great propaganda
opportunities for the Germans who raised Wittmann to hero status and he became a legend.
Wittmann is credited with 27 out of the 30 or so vehicles destroyed during this confrontation.
The British started with 200 armored vehicles and their losses were:
5th Royal Horse Artillery 2 Cromwells, 1 Sherman.
8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars numerous Shermans.
4th County of London Yeomanry 8 Cromwells, 4 Sherman Fireflies, 3 Stuarts, 1 half-track, 3
Scout cars.
Rifle Brigade 9 half-tracks, 2 Bren gun-carriers, 4 Carden-Loyd Carriers.
Throughout the battle the Germans had 25 tanks and their losses were:
6 Tiger Is of which 3 were repaired.
5 Panzer IVs.
were just that, fairly slow well armoured with the main goal to support the infantry. The
Cruiser tanks were just the opposite they compromised armour for speed and agility. This
was very important during their reconnaissance roles. Using the Meteor engine the Mk. IV
could attain speeds up to 52 km/h while almost gliding across the terrain on the Christie
Suspension. Later models received heavier armor when it was deemed some speed should
be given up for crew protection. Late in WWII there probably were more Cromwell Mk. IV in
operation than any other British tank but the Churchill and the Sherman overshadowed its
importance.
British General Montgomery became aware of an exposed flank of the Panzer Lehr Division.
So in an attempt to circle around them and attack from the rear the British would have to
take and hold the town of Villers-Bocage and the high ground Point 213. On June 13, 1944
as part of or attached to the 22nd Armoured Brigade under Brigadier W. R. N. Hinde the 5th
Royal Horse Artillery was assigned to capture and hold the other exits from the city with a
battery of Sextons assigned to take position to the north of D71 and in the small valley where
the roads to Coudray and Chouquet Bridge run. The British were unaware of the 5 Tiger
tanks and a Panzer IV led by Michael Wittmann who had seized Point 213.The British were
greeted in the streets by the townsfolk who thought they had been liberated. During this
greeting the British completely let down their guard and made every possible error that could
be made.
Wittmann saw his chance to attack with his own Tiger I and catch the British totally by
surprise. During the melee Wittmann single-handedly destroyed 10 half-tracks, 4 Carden-
Loyd Carriers, 2 Bren gun-carriers, 2 anti-tank guns, 4 Cromwells, 2 Sherman Command
tanks, 1 Scout Car. After being hit several times with minimum damage Wittmann’s Tiger was
halted when a shell from a 6-pounder gun struck his left track. Wittmann and crew escaped
on foot and joined up with reinforcements and attacked the town again. There was heavy
fighting because the element of surprise had been lost but in spite of having reinforcements
available not one British commander called for them. As a result the British were forced to
retreat and several officers were relieved of command.
One commanding officer of the British Forces that were never called upon described things
this way; the whole thing was a disgrace. Because of poor execution of a plan a great
opportunity to drive the Germans from this area of France was lost. A second attempt by the
British to take Villers-Bocage also failed and this only added to the great propaganda
opportunities for the Germans who raised Wittmann to hero status and he became a legend.
Wittmann is credited with 27 out of the 30 or so vehicles destroyed during this confrontation.
The British started with 200 armored vehicles and their losses were:
5th Royal Horse Artillery 2 Cromwells, 1 Sherman.
8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars numerous Shermans.
4th County of London Yeomanry 8 Cromwells, 4 Sherman Fireflies, 3 Stuarts, 1 half-track, 3
Scout cars.
Rifle Brigade 9 half-tracks, 2 Bren gun-carriers, 4 Carden-Loyd Carriers.
Throughout the battle the Germans had 25 tanks and their losses were:
6 Tiger Is of which 3 were repaired.
5 Panzer IVs.
| Specifications Vehicle Type: Cruiser Mk. VIII (A27M) Cromwell Mk. IV Crew: 5 Dimensions: 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 Performance: 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 Armament: Main: 1 x 75mm ROQF Mk. V or VA cannon with 64 rounds Secondary: 2 x 7.92mm Besa MG (coaxial, bow) with 4,950 rounds Armour: Maximum: 76mm – 2.99 in Minimum: 20 mm - .79 in |
| THESE ARE PRE-PRODUCTION PICTURES, NOT THE FINAL PRODUCT |
