The A-13 was a specification of British
Cruiser tanks produced by the
General Staff 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
The Christie suspension is a suspension system developed by American engineer J. Walter Christie for his tank designs. It allowed considerably longer movement than conventional leaf spring systems then in common use, which allowed his tanks to ...
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 speed ...
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 we ...
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 r ...
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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