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The AC1 Sentinel was a cruiser tank designed in Australia in World War II in response to the war in Europe, and to the threat of Japan expanding the war to the Pacific or even a feared Japanese invasion of Australia. It was the first tank to be built with a hull cast as a single piece, and the only tank to be produced in quantity in Australia.
The Australian tank program developed and produced two tank designs, a cruiser tank called the Sentinel, and the Thunderbolt. An order was made to build a total of 200 Thunderbolt tanks, [67] [68] and after the pilot model AC3 had been completed, large scale production began. [69]
These inter-war tanks were built to supply the British Army after the First World War. Heavier than most light tanks, they proved to be under-gunned and under-armoured. Some did see action in France and the Low Countries in 1940. They were armed with either the QF 3 pdr or the Vickers machine gun. All were withdrawn from service by 1941.
Light Tank Mk.VIA of the 3rd King's Own Hussars Vickers Light Tank Mk VIC knocked out during an engagement on 27 May 1940 in the Somme sector British Vickers light tanks cross the desert, 1940. The light tanks were for reconnaissance and colonial policing , with cheapness the major design factor.
The new medium tank just entering production in 1940 was the M2 Medium Tank series. This was a poor design with thin armor, a high silhouette, a 37 mm main gun, and seven machine guns. [24] An M2A1 Medium Tank (late production series) From 1940, new tank designs were prepared. The Battle of France had shown the importance of medium tanks. [24]
The Australian Experimental light tank (AELT, and also known as "Chassis 160") was a prototype light tank built by Australia during World War II, using a local pattern carrier hull. It was one of two indigenously developed tank designs, the other being the cruiser Sentinel tank .
A damaged Cruiser Mk I CS abandoned in Calais, 1940. The Mark I cruiser began to be delivered in January 1939. 36 tanks were delivered before the start of the war, 40 in September–December 1939 and 49 in 1940. [4] The Cruiser was an effective tank in the French, Greek and early North African campaigns.
In May 1940 the War Cabinet had been established, and formed the Tank Board to investigate and resolve tank design and production problems. The Director General of Tanks and Transport was replaced (now Geoffrey Burton) [ 8 ] and now led a Director of Armoured Fighting Vehicles (representing the War Office), and separate Director of Design (A.A ...