By David Fletcher MBE

David Fletcher studies the Covenanter and the variants of the Crusader tank, detailing the designs, developments and frustrations of these infamous World War II tanks.

The Covenanter (which never saw active service) and Crusader Cruiser tanks were developed between 1939 and 1940. The Crusader first saw action in North Africa in June 1941: its speed and sleek design made it a hard target to hit, and the tank was well-respected by the Afrikakorps for its velocity in combat. But its hurried development prior to World War II also made it prone to mechanical failure.