The new suspension system allowed for a light aircraft engine to be fitted as the powerplant and this became a Nuffield Liberty V12 gasoline-fueled unit of 340 horsepower output. Running gear included four solid road wheels fitted to a hull side with the drive sprocket at rear and the track idler at front. The engine was installed at a compartment to the rear of the hull with the crew and turret forwards of amidships. Operational range reached 90 miles on internal fuel with a road speed of 30 miles per hour possible.
The pilot vehicle arrived in 1937 and two were eventually realized before serial production was undertaken. The British Army originally commissioned for 50 tanks but eventually took on a stock of 65 units with production spanning from 1938 to 1939. The type entered service during 1938 but was ultimately limited in production due to what eventually proved to be light armor protection and a general mechanical unreliability in the field. Pressed into combat action during the European campaigns of 1940, many were lost in action in the defense of France and their value dwindled from then on. Some managed to fight on during the Balkan and Desert campaigns but, on the whole, their design was outclassed by Axis-sponsored offerings and tactics and ultimately replaced by more competent British tank offerings of the war.
The cruiser tank design culminated with the "Cromwell" (A27M) of 1943 with the primary infantry tank counterpart being the famous "Churchill" line. Additionally, large supplies of American M4 "Sherman" Medium Tanks helped to strengthen the British armor corps inventory during the war.
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