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RAF Insignia

"This is command; do not engage, I repeat do not engage"

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The A43 Infantry Tank Mk IV Black Prince or 'Super Churchill' was the last of the Infantry tanks to be designed for Great Britain in World War II

Description[]

The A43 Infantry Tank Mk. IV Black Prince, was the last of the infantry tanks to be designed in World War II. It mounted the Ordnance QF 17-pounder gun and had significantly more armor than the A22 Infantry Tank Mk. IV Churchill and variants. Only 6 models were produced. The tank was powered by the weak Bedford engine, cracking out only 350 hp. There were plans to place a Rolls-Royce Meteor Engine (the same one used in the Cromwell, and the Comet) but this variant was not produced. The A43 had a maximum of 152 mm on the front of the hull and turret. It had a crew of 5, Driver, Gunner, Loader, Commander, and Bow gunner/radio operator.

History[]

Design[]

The A43 Infantry Tank Mk. IV Black Prince was designed to have adequate protection while mounting the 17pdr gun, so that is could engage Panzer V Panther and Panzer VI Tiger as the A30 Cruiser Tank Mk. IX Challenger and Sherman VC Firefly did not have adequate protection to safely engage those German tanks listed above. Since the tank had to have the Ordnance QF 17-pounder gun, the turret was modeled around it, with the consideration of a 94 mm gun which had more penetrating power than the Ordnance QF 17-pounder. Also the Black Prince had to use as much components as possible from the A22 Infantry Tank Mk. IV Churchill as possible. Since there was a larger turret on the tank, and they wanted to use the Churchill's hull, the Vauxhall Company, widened the Churchill's hull.

Production[]

The Black Prince was never mass produced, only 6 pilot models exist. It was not mass produced because, the tank was underpowered (even for an Infantry Tank), because the tank was powered by the Bedford engine, which produced 350hp. Plans were made to fit the Rolls Royce Meteor Engine (600 hp) into the tank, but the War Office decided to start producing the Universal Tank, which later became known as the A41 Main Battle Tank Centurion.

Service[]

The Black Prince never saw service with any army.

References[]

  1. George Forty. The Illustrated Guide to Tanks of the World. Lorenz Books. (2011). Page 57


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