The A-13 was a specification of British
Cruiser tanks produced by the
General Staff
A military staff or general staff (also referred to as army staff, navy staff, or air staff within the individual services) is a group of officers, enlisted and civilian staff who serve the commander of a division or other large military un ...
Directorate of Tank Design before and during the Second World War.
The A13 specification was produced prior to the second world war, calling for the development of a new
cruiser tank. This was the first specification of British cruiser tank to be based on the
Christie suspension design.
The specification was revised over time, and lead to the development of three different vehicles:
*A13 Mark I produced the
Cruiser Mk III
The Tank, Cruiser, Mk III, also known by its General Staff specification number A13 Mark I, was a British cruiser tank of the Second World War. It was the first British cruiser tank to use the Christie suspension system, which gave higher speeds ...
based on the original specification;
*A13 Mark II produced the
Cruiser Mk IV
}
The Cruiser Tank Mk IV ( A13 Mk II) was a British cruiser tank of the Second World War. It followed directly on from the Tank, Cruiser, Mk III (A13 Mk I). The first Mk IVs were Mk IIIs with extra armour fitted to the turret. Later Mk IVAs wer ...
a revision based on up-armouring of the original specification;
*A13 Mark III produced the
Covenanter tank
The Cruiser tank Mk V or A13 Mk III Covenanter was a British cruiser tank of the Second World War. The Covenanter was the first cruiser tank design to be given a name. Designed by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway as a better-armoured rep ...
based on the final version, a complete reworking of the specification.
Tanks of the United Kingdom
World War II tanks of the United Kingdom
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