22nd Armored Brigade, Royal Tank Corps WWII.

A27M CS, 5th RTR, Normandy, France, June 1944. CS indicates close support tank. Typically, there would be 2 CS tanks in each Squadron HQ troop. These were armed with a short barreled 95 mm. howitzer for firing smoke rounds and high explosives against unarmored targets.
Kit is Tamiya, Star decals. 

A27M CS, 5th RTR, Normandy, France, June 1944. CS indicates close support tank. Typically, there would be 2 CS tanks in each Squadron HQ troop. These were armed with a short barreled 95 mm. howitzer for firing smoke rounds and high explosives against unarmored targets. 

A27M CS, 5th RTR, Normandy, France, June 1944. CS indicates close support tank. Typically, there would be 2 CS tanks in each Squadron HQ troop. These were armed with a short barreled 95 mm. howitzer for firing smoke rounds and high explosives against unarmored targets. 

A27M CS, 5th RTR, Normandy, France, June 1944. CS indicates close support tank. Typically, there would be 2 CS tanks in each Squadron HQ troop. These were armed with a short barreled 95 mm. howitzer for firing smoke rounds and high explosives against unarmored targets. 

A27M Mk IV, 5th RTR, Holland, September 1944.
The A27 Cromwell was the successor to the Crusader tank of 1941. Development ran throughout 1942 and 1943. The end result was cruiser tank with similar armor and firepower to the Sherman (75mm) but addressed some of the less desirable aspects of the Sherman such as high silhouette and average speed. The mating of the Meteor (Spitfire) engine and Christie suspension produced a tank that could reach 40 mph (Sherman topped out @ 24 mph).
Prior to D-Day, the 3 tank regiments of the brigade were outfitted with new Cromwell tanks and Sherman Firefly (17 pounder retro fit tanks). The 22nd Tank Brigade was the only unit thusly outfitted due to limited supply and the trial status of the new tanks in combat. The speed and low profile were soon appreciated but it was very apparent that the gun and armor were able to cope with the German high velocity tank and AT rounds. 

A27M Mk IV, 5th RTR, Holland, September 1944.
The A27 Cromwell was the successor to the Crusader tank of 1941. Development ran throughout 1942 and 1943. The end result was cruiser tank with similar armor and firepower to the Sherman (75mm) but addressed some of the less desirable aspects of the Sherman such as high silhouette and average speed. The mating of the Meteor (Spitfire) engine and Christie suspension produced a tank that could reach 40 mph (Sherman topped out @ 24 mph).
Prior to D-Day, the 3 tank regiments of the brigade were outfitted with new Cromwell tanks and Sherman Firefly (17 pounder retro fit tanks). The 22nd Tank Brigade was the only unit thusly outfitted due to limited supply and the trial status of the new tanks in combat. The speed and low profile were soon appreciated but it was very apparent that the gun and armor were able to cope with the German high velocity tank and AT rounds. 

A27M Mk IV, 5th RTR, Holland, September 1944.
The A27 Cromwell was the successor to the Crusader tank of 1941. Development ran throughout 1942 and 1943. The end result was cruiser tank with similar armor and firepower to the Sherman (75mm) but addressed some of the less desirable aspects of the Sherman such as high silhouette and average speed. The mating of the Meteor (Spitfire) engine and Christie suspension produced a tank that could reach 40 mph (Sherman topped out @ 24 mph).
Prior to D-Day, the 3 tank regiments of the brigade were outfitted with new Cromwell tanks and Sherman Firefly (17 pounder retro fit tanks). The 22nd Tank Brigade was the only unit thusly outfitted due to limited supply and the trial status of the new tanks in combat. The speed and low profile were soon appreciated but it was very apparent that the gun and armor were able to cope with the German high velocity tank and AT rounds. 

A27M Mk IV, 5th RTR, Holland, September 1944.
The A27 Cromwell was the successor to the Crusader tank of 1941. Development ran throughout 1942 and 1943. The end result was cruiser tank with similar armor and firepower to the Sherman (75mm) but addressed some of the less desirable aspects of the Sherman such as high silhouette and average speed. The mating of the Meteor (Spitfire) engine and Christie suspension produced a tank that could reach 40 mph (Sherman topped out @ 24 mph).
Prior to D-Day, the 3 tank regiments of the brigade were outfitted with new Cromwell tanks and Sherman Firefly (17 pounder retro fit tanks). The 22nd Tank Brigade was the only unit thusly outfitted due to limited supply and the trial status of the new tanks in combat. The speed and low profile were soon appreciated but it was very apparent that the gun and armor were able to cope with the German high velocity tank and AT rounds.