ALLIED TANKS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 56, 4 September 1944, Page 2

ALLIED TANKS

IDEAL PURSUIT WEAPONS

RUGBY, September 2. The Churchill tank, which achieved considerable success as .an infantry support, weapon in the fighting in the Falaise gap, has for the moment completed its mission in northern France. Fighting and pursuit of the enemy has now been taken over by the Cromwell medium cruiser tank and the Sherman, writes a correspondent at Allied Supreme Headquarters. These tanks have proved ideal for the task of the pursuit and annihilation of the retreating enemy troops. The Cromwells and Shermans are not so heavy as the weighty German armour, but a defence role was not the part they were intended to play. "The great speed and endurance of our tanks is now proving its worth," the correspondent says. "With Tigers and Panthers it would have been impossible to cover anything like the vast areas over which our columns are progressing. The fire-power and armour of the Sherman is well known, but there have been improvements in the Cromwell .since it was first placed into battle. This mobile medium cruiser tank carries a six-pounder, or 75 mm. gun, weighs 27£ tons, and has a speed of 24 m.p.h. while cruising, though it is capable of a much faster pace. It has a Rolls Royce engine."—B.O.W.