20230422 (113)_Comet
Last of the cruiser line in British Army service before the Centurion ushered in the new concept of the Main Battle Tank, the Comet sought to correct the deficiencies of the earlier Cromwell with new tracks and suspension capable of exploiting the great power of the Rolls Royce Meteor engine derived from the Merlin by removing air-specific requirements such as the supercharger. It also gained a new and more powerful gun in a redesigned turret, though the stepped frontal armour was retained to facilitate retention of a hull Besa machine gun. Arriving late in the war it participated in the last operations of the defeat of Germany but not in numbers at any large-scale battles. It was retained in service for years post-war and exported to several countries.
20230422 (113)_Comet
Last of the cruiser line in British Army service before the Centurion ushered in the new concept of the Main Battle Tank, the Comet sought to correct the deficiencies of the earlier Cromwell with new tracks and suspension capable of exploiting the great power of the Rolls Royce Meteor engine derived from the Merlin by removing air-specific requirements such as the supercharger. It also gained a new and more powerful gun in a redesigned turret, though the stepped frontal armour was retained to facilitate retention of a hull Besa machine gun. Arriving late in the war it participated in the last operations of the defeat of Germany but not in numbers at any large-scale battles. It was retained in service for years post-war and exported to several countries.