Difference between revisions of "Crusader "The Saint""

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{{Specs-Card|code=uk_crusader_mk_2_the_saint}}
 
 
{{About
 
{{About
−
| about = premium British light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
+
| about = British light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
 
| usage = other versions
 
| usage = other versions
 
| link = Crusader (Family)
 
| link = Crusader (Family)
 +
}}
 +
{{Specs-Card
 +
|code=uk_crusader_mk_2_the_saint
 +
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|StoreImage_{{PAGENAME}}_001.jpg|StoreImage_{{PAGENAME}}_002.jpg|StoreImage_{{PAGENAME}}_003.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
 +
|store=9265
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
−
[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
+
The '''Tank, Cruiser Mark VIA, Crusader II "The Saint" (A15)''' was a particular [[Crusader II]] assigned to the 10<sup>th</sup> Royal Hussars regiment, which was part of the 2<sup>nd</sup> Armoured Brigade, 1<sup>st</sup> Armoured Division during the North African Campaign. The 10<sup>th</sup> Royal Hussars (Prince of Wale's Own) was a British Army cavalry regiment formed in 1715. It served for three centuries, during World War I and II, before combining with the 11<sup>th</sup> Hussars (Prince Albert's Own) in October 1969 to form the Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales's Own). When World War II broke out, the 1<sup>st</sup> Armoured Division was sent to France. It fought in northern France and Belgium before returning to England in June 1940 without any vehicles. A group of personnel were transferred in December 1940 to create the cadre of the 23rd Hussars. The regiment moved to North Africa with the 2<sup>nd</sup> Armoured Brigade in November 1941, joining the 7<sup>th</sup> Armoured Division. It saw action in Operation Crusader, the Battle of Alam el Halfa in August 1942, and the Second Battle of El Alamein in October 1942, now armed with Crusader II tanks. The regiment seized General Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma, the German Deputy Commander, at El Alamein. During the Italian Campaign of 1944 and 1945, the regiment fought both as an armoured unit and as dismounted infantry.
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{{Break}}
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium rank {{Specs|rank}} British light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Regia Marina"]].
+
Introduced in [[Update "Regia Marina"]], the Crusader II "The Saint" is a capable short-range light tank. It is the same as the standard [[Crusader II]] used by the British Army's ground forces. It is armed with a fast-firing 40 mm Ordnance QF 2-pounder tank gun, which is suitable for destroying tanks with a crowded interior and crew close to each other. Along with its quick reload, primitive vertical gun stabilizer, and excellent handling, it is a fun light tank to play with. Handling is greatly improved over the [[A13 (Family)|A13 cruiser tanks]] due to improved cross-country performance and the vehicle not sliding during abrupt breaking. Because of its low profile and lack of armour, driving and fighting in the open field should be avoided unless there is enough cover or the terrain is shaped in such a way that the hull-down tactics, which this tank excels at, may be used. The tank also boasts good gun depression and a difficult-to-hit turret.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
 
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
−
''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''
+
Armour protection on the Crusader "The Saint" is the same as the [[Crusader II]], and as a cruiser tank is understandably poor in most areas. The hull is generally very penetrable, only averaging 30-40 mm of equivalent protection. However, the two protrusions for the driver and machine gunner have hatches which can easily block a shot or in some cases reduce spalling, only knocking out 1-2 crew with APCBC. Side and back armour are predictably weak.
 +
 
 +
The turret armour is the thickest on the cheeks, and the angled sides can also block or bounce rounds if correctly angled and baited. The mantlet is a clear weakspot, often resulting in the turret crew being completely wiped out. The armour on the tank is supplemented by the 5 crew members, which can save players from a one-shot. In the case of the mantlet, the three turret crew may be knocked out, but the tank will survive if the driver and machine gunner remain, allowing those positioned away from the enemy a chance to get away. Additionally, the gun, coaxial machine gun, and optics in the mantlet can also block shots, though this shouldn't be relied on.
 +
 
 +
'''Armour type:'''
 +
 
 +
* Rolled Homogeneous Armour (hull, turret)
 +
* Cast Homogeneous Armour (gun mantlet, MG mantlet, driver viewport)
  
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
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! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Hull || ___ mm || ___ mm ''Top'' <br> ___ mm ''Bottom'' || ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm
+
| Hull || 9-32 mm (27-81°) ''Frontal plates'' <br> 22.22 + 18 mm (1°) ''Driver's box''  <br> 32 mm ''Driver's viewports'' || colspan="2" | 14 mm || 7-12 mm
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Turret || ___ - ___ mm ''Turret front'' <br> ___ mm ''Gun mantlet'' || ___ - ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm || ___ - ___ mm
+
| Turret || 31.75 mm ''Turret front (9-73°'') <br>30 mm ''Gun mantlet (7-83°)'' || 14 mm || 17 mm || 12.7 mm
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Cupola || ___ mm || ___ mm || ___ mm || ___ mm
+
| Machine gun turret || 30 mm ''Turret Front'' <br> 20 mm ''Mantlet'' || colspan="2" | 30 mm || 9 mm
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
 +
'''Notes:'''
  
−
'''Notes:''' <!-- Any additional notes which the user needs to be aware of -->
+
* Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick.
−
<!-- Example: * Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick, tracks are 30 mm thick, and torsion bars are 60 mm thick. -->
+
* Mudguards, sideskirts and storage boxes are 4 mm thick.
 +
* Belly armour is 6.35 mm thick.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
 
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
−
''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.''
 
  
 
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=527|rbMinHp=301}}
 
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=527|rbMinHp=301}}
 +
 +
=== Modifications and economy ===
 +
{{Specs-Economy}}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
 
=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
 
<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
 
{{main|QF 2-pounder (40 mm)}}
 
{{main|QF 2-pounder (40 mm)}}
−
''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''
 
  
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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|-
 
|-
 
! ''Arcade''
 
! ''Arcade''
−
| rowspan="2" | 110 || rowspan="2" | -15°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Vertical || __.__ || __.__ || __.__ || __.__ || __.__ || rowspan="2" | _.__ || rowspan="2" | _.__ || rowspan="2" | _.__ || rowspan="2" | _.__
+
| rowspan="2" | 110 || rowspan="2" | -15°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Vertical || 34.27 || 47.44 || 57.60 || 63.69 || 67.76 || rowspan="2" | 3.64 || rowspan="2" | 3.22 || rowspan="2" | 2.97 || rowspan="2" | 2.80
 
|-
 
|-
 
! ''Realistic''
 
! ''Realistic''
−
| __.__ || __.__ || __.__ || __.__ || __.__
+
| 21.42 || 25.20 || 30.60 || 33.84 || 36.00
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
==== Ammunition ====
 
==== Ammunition ====
−
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
+
{{:QF 2-pounder (40 mm)/Ammunition|Shot Mk.1 AP/T, Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T, Shot Mk.1 APHV/T, Shell Mk.1 AP/T}}
−
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
 
−
|-
 
−
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
 
−
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''
 
−
|-
 
−
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
 
−
|-
 
−
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 72 || 68 || 52 || 37 || 27 || 19
 
−
|-
 
−
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || APCBC || 88 || 83 || 64 || 46 || 33 || 24
 
−
|-
 
−
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 80 || 78 || 67 || 56 || 47 || 40
 
−
|-
 
−
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 66 || 62 || 49 || 36 || 26 || 20
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
−
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
−
! colspan="10" | Shell details
 
−
|-
 
−
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)
 
−
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
 
−
|-
 
−
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
 
−
|-
 
−
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || 792 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°
 
−
|-
 
−
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T || 792 || 1.24 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°
 
−
|-
 
−
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || 853 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°
 
−
|-
 
−
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 792 || 1.08 || 1.2 || 9.0 || 20.9 || 47° || 60° || 65°
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
  
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
−
<!-- [[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]] -->
+
[[File:Ammoracks_Crusader_II.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
 +
<!-- '''Last updated:''' -->
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
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! 4th<br>rack empty
 
! 4th<br>rack empty
 
! 5th<br>rack empty
 
! 5th<br>rack empty
−
! 6th<br>rack empty
 
 
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 
|-
 
|-
−
| '''110''' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __
+
| '''110''' || 89&nbsp;''(+21)'' || 67&nbsp;''(+43)'' || 45&nbsp;''(+65)'' || 23&nbsp;''(+87)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+109)'' || No
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
 +
'''Notes''':
 +
 +
* Turret & center empty: 45&nbsp;''(+65)'' shells.
 +
* Racks disappear after all shells in the rack have been shot or loaded.
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}
 
<!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' -->
 
{{main|BESA (7.92 mm)}}
 
{{main|BESA (7.92 mm)}}
−
''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.''
 
  
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
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== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
−
''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
 
  
−
=== Modules ===
+
'''Characteristics'''
−
{| class="wikitable"
+
 
−
! Tier
+
Being a light tank, the Crusader features high mobility at the cost of armour.
−
! colspan="2" | Mobility
+
 
−
! Protection
+
The largest downside to the Crusader is the relatively thin armour, even on the front. Most tank guns that the Crusader will face will penetrate the frontal armour, and the side and rear armour can even be penetrated by heavy machine guns. As such the Crusader's armour can not be relied upon, which makes utilization of the gun depression - to reduce the visible and hittable profile of the tank - more important. On the other hand, shots can sometimes ricochet off the frontal armour due to the complex armour scheme with many angles.
−
! colspan="3" | Firepower
+
 
−
|-
+
On the bright side, the Crusader II has sufficient firepower to deal with most enemy tanks that it can face from the front, but there are tanks (especially heavy tanks) that may have too much armour on the frontal arc to penetrate. These tanks must be flanked - which is not too hard to do with the Crusader's mobility - in order to destroy them. The rapid reload of this tank's gun often allows a second shot before the enemy can even get their first shot off. The vertical stabilizer used on the gun also allows accurate firing on the move at low speeds, which can be handy in a frontal engagement.
−
| I
+
 
−
| Tracks
+
Another strength of the Crusader is the above average 15 degrees of gun depression. This allows the Crusader to poke its turret over a hill without exposing the hull, and also allows it to fire over hills that other contemporary tanks could not dream of firing from.
−
|
+
 
−
| Parts
+
The Crusader also features a smoke grenade mortar in the turret. When activated, the mortar launches one smoke grenade in the direction the turret is pointed, allowing for a smoke screen to be made very quickly. The smoke grenades allow the Crusader to hide while repairing, retreat when under heavy attack, or to capture a point without the enemy able to lay accurate fire upon it. Just remember that the smoke grenades fire in the direction the turret is facing so make sure to point the turret in the direction the smoke is needed in.
−
| Horizontal Drive
+
 
−
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T
+
'''Ammunition'''
−
|
+
 
−
|-
+
There are only two out of the four rounds available that are worth taking into battle - Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T (APCBC) and Shell Mk.1 AP/T (APHE). These two shells both have their uses on the field of battle.
−
| II
+
 
−
| Suspension
+
The APHE round is most useful against lightly armoured targets or against the sides of tanks because despite the lesser penetration it has explosive filler which gives it the highest post-penetration damage. If carrying this as the first round loaded just beware that you may have to switch to the APCBC round in order to penetrate the target.
−
| Brake System
+
 
−
| FPE
+
The APCBC round has the highest penetration of all the ammo types which makes it ideal because it gives the highest chance of penetrating the target, and therefore doing damage. The downside of this round is it has no high explosive filler so if it is loaded just make sure to aim so that the shot will penetrate and take out crew members, rather than not aiming well enough and not taking out crucial crew members.
−
| Adjustment of Fire
+
 
−
| Airstrike
+
'''Playstyle'''
−
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T
+
 
−
|-
+
When using "The Saint", many players will perform to the vehicle's best by using it as a point capper and hit-n-runner. The mobility can be used to rush around the battlefield, capturing points and destroying enemy tanks as it goes. This playstyle prevents the enemy from pinpointing your location because you are always moving, but it also means that there is a chance that you overextend and cannot retreat when necessary or that you may run into too many enemies to deal with at once. Additionally, beware that despite your high mobility there are other highly mobile tanks such as the BT-7s or M3/M5 Stuarts that are just as fast or faster than you. These tanks are highly dangerous, so be careful not to rush too far forwards too early. Also make sure to use the gun depression as often as possible because it reduces the surface area of your tank that the enemy can shoot at, making it harder for the enemy to shoot your tank. Remember, in cases where the enemy assault is overwhelming or you are disabled and possibly will be fired upon, use the smoke grenade launcher in order to mask your tanks location.
−
| III
+
 
−
| Filters
+
Note: when facing a tank with armour too heavy to penetrate from the front, use the high mobility to outflank or outturn that tank in order to put shots into its thinner side armour.
−
|
 
−
| Crew Replenishment
 
−
| Elevation Mechanism
 
−
| Improved optics
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| IV
 
−
| Transmission
 
−
| Engine
 
−
|
 
−
| Artillery Support
 
−
| Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T
 
−
| Smoke grenade
 
−
|-
 
−
! colspan="7" | This is a premium vehicle: all modifications are unlocked on purchase
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
 
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
−
''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".''
 
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
−
*
+
 
 +
* Great manoeuvrability and speed, almost as fast as the [[M5 Stuart (Family)|M5 Stuarts]]
 +
* Good cannon with fast reload and adequate penetration
 +
* Amazing -15° gun depression allows hull-down over almost any hill
 +
* Has a low profile, harder to be seen and shot at
 +
* Turret rotation is quite fast
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
−
*
+
 
 +
* Thin armour, easily penetrable by common foes like [[Panzer III (Family)|Pz.III]], [[Chi-Ha]], [[BT-7]]
 +
* Cannon has limited damage especially against large tanks like LVT(A)(1)
 +
* Poor reverse speed won't save it from danger
 +
* Narrow tracks worsens its agility on loose terrain like snow
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
 
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
−
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''
+
'''<big>Crusader "The Saint"</big>'''
 +
 
 +
"The Saint" was a Crusader II cruiser tank of the British A squadron of the 10th regiment of Royal Hussars, 2nd Armoured Brigade of the 1st Armoured Division.
 +
 
 +
'''1st Division'''
 +
 
 +
The 1st Division, understrength at the time, was sent to France as part of the 2nd British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in 1940. It saw combat during the Battle of France, after landing on 14 May 1940, but suffered heavy losses and was forced to evacuate at Dunkirk on 16 June 16. The division then stood in England until August 1941 in anticipation of a German invasion, which never came.
 +
 
 +
The 1st Division shipped out to Egypt in November 1941. In Africa, the 1st Division saw combat against the German Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK) in battles such as Gazala, Mersa Matruh, First El Alamein, Second El Alamein, Tebaga Gap, Mareth Line, Akarit, El Kourzia and Tunis. After the Afrikakorps surrendered in May 1943, the 1st Division remained in Africa until May 1944 when it shipped to Italy. Due to heavy losses among the 2nd Armoured Brigade during the battle of Coriano, the 1st Division ceased operations in October 1944 and was broken up and officially disbanded on 11 January 1945.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
 
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
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{{TankManufacturer Nuffield}}
 
{{Britain light tanks}}
 
{{Britain light tanks}}
 
{{Britain premium ground vehicles}}
 
{{Britain premium ground vehicles}}

Latest revision as of 09:34, 22 October 2023

This page is about the British light tank Crusader "The Saint". For other versions, see Crusader (Family).
Crusader "The Saint"
uk_crusader_mk_2_the_saint.png
GarageImage Crusader "The Saint".jpg
StoreImage Crusader "The Saint" 001.jpg
StoreImage Crusader "The Saint" 002.jpg
StoreImage Crusader "The Saint" 003.jpg
ArtImage Crusader "The Saint".png
Crusader "The Saint"
Britain flag.png Britain
II Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
2.3 2.7 2.7
Class:
PREMIUM
Purchase:700 Specs-Card-Eagle.png
Show in game
STORE

Description

The Tank, Cruiser Mark VIA, Crusader II "The Saint" (A15) was a particular Crusader II assigned to the 10th Royal Hussars regiment, which was part of the 2nd Armoured Brigade, 1st Armoured Division during the North African Campaign. The 10th Royal Hussars (Prince of Wale's Own) was a British Army cavalry regiment formed in 1715. It served for three centuries, during World War I and II, before combining with the 11th Hussars (Prince Albert's Own) in October 1969 to form the Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales's Own). When World War II broke out, the 1st Armoured Division was sent to France. It fought in northern France and Belgium before returning to England in June 1940 without any vehicles. A group of personnel were transferred in December 1940 to create the cadre of the 23rd Hussars. The regiment moved to North Africa with the 2nd Armoured Brigade in November 1941, joining the 7th Armoured Division. It saw action in Operation Crusader, the Battle of Alam el Halfa in August 1942, and the Second Battle of El Alamein in October 1942, now armed with Crusader II tanks. The regiment seized General Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma, the German Deputy Commander, at El Alamein. During the Italian Campaign of 1944 and 1945, the regiment fought both as an armoured unit and as dismounted infantry.

Introduced in Update "Regia Marina", the Crusader II "The Saint" is a capable short-range light tank. It is the same as the standard Crusader II used by the British Army's ground forces. It is armed with a fast-firing 40 mm Ordnance QF 2-pounder tank gun, which is suitable for destroying tanks with a crowded interior and crew close to each other. Along with its quick reload, primitive vertical gun stabilizer, and excellent handling, it is a fun light tank to play with. Handling is greatly improved over the A13 cruiser tanks due to improved cross-country performance and the vehicle not sliding during abrupt breaking. Because of its low profile and lack of armour, driving and fighting in the open field should be avoided unless there is enough cover or the terrain is shaped in such a way that the hull-down tactics, which this tank excels at, may be used. The tank also boasts good gun depression and a difficult-to-hit turret.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
Armourfront / side / back
Hull20 / 28 / 14
Turret52 / 24 / 30
Crew5 people
Visibility76 %

Armour protection on the Crusader "The Saint" is the same as the Crusader II, and as a cruiser tank is understandably poor in most areas. The hull is generally very penetrable, only averaging 30-40 mm of equivalent protection. However, the two protrusions for the driver and machine gunner have hatches which can easily block a shot or in some cases reduce spalling, only knocking out 1-2 crew with APCBC. Side and back armour are predictably weak.

The turret armour is the thickest on the cheeks, and the angled sides can also block or bounce rounds if correctly angled and baited. The mantlet is a clear weakspot, often resulting in the turret crew being completely wiped out. The armour on the tank is supplemented by the 5 crew members, which can save players from a one-shot. In the case of the mantlet, the three turret crew may be knocked out, but the tank will survive if the driver and machine gunner remain, allowing those positioned away from the enemy a chance to get away. Additionally, the gun, coaxial machine gun, and optics in the mantlet can also block shots, though this shouldn't be relied on.

Armour type:

  • Rolled Homogeneous Armour (hull, turret)
  • Cast Homogeneous Armour (gun mantlet, MG mantlet, driver viewport)
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 9-32 mm (27-81°) Frontal plates
22.22 + 18 mm (1°) Driver's box
32 mm Driver's viewports 		14 mm 7-12 mm
Turret 31.75 mm Turret front (9-73°)
30 mm Gun mantlet (7-83°) 		14 mm 17 mm 12.7 mm
Machine gun turret 30 mm Turret Front
20 mm Mantlet 		30 mm 9 mm

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick.
  • Mudguards, sideskirts and storage boxes are 4 mm thick.
  • Belly armour is 6.35 mm thick.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB47 / 8 km/h
RB and SB43 / 7 km/h
Number of gears4 forward
1 back
Weight16.3 t
Engine power
AB649 hp
RB and SB340 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB39.8 hp/t
RB and SB20.9 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 47 8 16.3 527 649 32.33 39.82
Realistic 43 7 301 340 18.47 20.86

Modifications and economy

Repair cost
AB659 Sl icon.png
RB497 Sl icon.png
SB389 Sl icon.png
Crew training2 300 Sl icon.png
Experts15 000 Sl icon.png
Aces115 Ge icon.png
Research Aces320 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
Talisman.png 2 × 40 / 40 / 40 % Sl icon.png
Talisman.png 2 × 112 / 112 / 112 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Mods tank reinforcement uk.png
Crew Replenishment
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Mods tank ammo.png
40mm_uk_2pdr_APHV_ammo_pack
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Mods airstrike.png
Airstrike
Mods tank ammo.png
40mm_uk_2pdr_APHE_ammo_pack
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Mods scouting.png
Improved optics
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Mods tank ammo.png
40mm_uk_2pdr_APCBC_ammo_pack
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade

Armaments

Main armament

40 mm QF 2-pounder cannon
Shoulder stabilizer
Reduces the swing of the gun in one plane while moving
Ammunition110 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
3.6 → 2.8 s
Vertical guidance-15° / 20°
Main article: QF 2-pounder (40 mm)
40 mm QF 2-pounder Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 110 -15°/+20° ±180° Vertical 34.27 47.44 57.60 63.69 67.76 3.64 3.22 2.97 2.80
Realistic 21.42 25.20 30.60 33.84 36.00

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
Shot Mk.1 AP/T AP 72 68 52 37 27 19
Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T APCBC 89 86 77 66 57 50
Shot Mk.1 APHV/T AP 80 75 58 41 30 21
Shell Mk.1 AP/T APHE 66 62 49 36 26 20
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
Shot Mk.1 AP/T AP 792 1.08 - - - 47° 60° 65°
Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T APCBC 792 1.24 - - - 48° 63° 71°
Shot Mk.1 APHV/T AP 853 1.08 - - - 47° 60° 65°
Shell Mk.1 AP/T APHE 792 1.08 1.2 9 20.9 47° 60° 65°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the Crusader "The Saint"
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		4th
rack empty 		5th
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
110 89 (+21) 67 (+43) 45 (+65) 23 (+87) 1 (+109) No

Notes:

  • Turret & center empty: 45 (+65) shells.
  • Racks disappear after all shells in the rack have been shot or loaded.

Machine guns

7.92 mm BESA machine gun (coaxial)
Ammunition3 375 rounds
Belt capacity225 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate600 shots/min
7.92 mm BESA machine gun
Ammunition4 950 rounds
Belt capacity225 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate600 shots/min
Main article: BESA (7.92 mm)
7.92 mm BESA
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 3,375 (225) 600 N/A N/A
Turreted 4,950 (225) 600 ±10° ±50°

Usage in battles

Characteristics

Being a light tank, the Crusader features high mobility at the cost of armour.

The largest downside to the Crusader is the relatively thin armour, even on the front. Most tank guns that the Crusader will face will penetrate the frontal armour, and the side and rear armour can even be penetrated by heavy machine guns. As such the Crusader's armour can not be relied upon, which makes utilization of the gun depression - to reduce the visible and hittable profile of the tank - more important. On the other hand, shots can sometimes ricochet off the frontal armour due to the complex armour scheme with many angles.

On the bright side, the Crusader II has sufficient firepower to deal with most enemy tanks that it can face from the front, but there are tanks (especially heavy tanks) that may have too much armour on the frontal arc to penetrate. These tanks must be flanked - which is not too hard to do with the Crusader's mobility - in order to destroy them. The rapid reload of this tank's gun often allows a second shot before the enemy can even get their first shot off. The vertical stabilizer used on the gun also allows accurate firing on the move at low speeds, which can be handy in a frontal engagement.

Another strength of the Crusader is the above average 15 degrees of gun depression. This allows the Crusader to poke its turret over a hill without exposing the hull, and also allows it to fire over hills that other contemporary tanks could not dream of firing from.

The Crusader also features a smoke grenade mortar in the turret. When activated, the mortar launches one smoke grenade in the direction the turret is pointed, allowing for a smoke screen to be made very quickly. The smoke grenades allow the Crusader to hide while repairing, retreat when under heavy attack, or to capture a point without the enemy able to lay accurate fire upon it. Just remember that the smoke grenades fire in the direction the turret is facing so make sure to point the turret in the direction the smoke is needed in.

Ammunition

There are only two out of the four rounds available that are worth taking into battle - Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T (APCBC) and Shell Mk.1 AP/T (APHE). These two shells both have their uses on the field of battle.

The APHE round is most useful against lightly armoured targets or against the sides of tanks because despite the lesser penetration it has explosive filler which gives it the highest post-penetration damage. If carrying this as the first round loaded just beware that you may have to switch to the APCBC round in order to penetrate the target.

The APCBC round has the highest penetration of all the ammo types which makes it ideal because it gives the highest chance of penetrating the target, and therefore doing damage. The downside of this round is it has no high explosive filler so if it is loaded just make sure to aim so that the shot will penetrate and take out crew members, rather than not aiming well enough and not taking out crucial crew members.

Playstyle

When using "The Saint", many players will perform to the vehicle's best by using it as a point capper and hit-n-runner. The mobility can be used to rush around the battlefield, capturing points and destroying enemy tanks as it goes. This playstyle prevents the enemy from pinpointing your location because you are always moving, but it also means that there is a chance that you overextend and cannot retreat when necessary or that you may run into too many enemies to deal with at once. Additionally, beware that despite your high mobility there are other highly mobile tanks such as the BT-7s or M3/M5 Stuarts that are just as fast or faster than you. These tanks are highly dangerous, so be careful not to rush too far forwards too early. Also make sure to use the gun depression as often as possible because it reduces the surface area of your tank that the enemy can shoot at, making it harder for the enemy to shoot your tank. Remember, in cases where the enemy assault is overwhelming or you are disabled and possibly will be fired upon, use the smoke grenade launcher in order to mask your tanks location.

Note: when facing a tank with armour too heavy to penetrate from the front, use the high mobility to outflank or outturn that tank in order to put shots into its thinner side armour.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Great manoeuvrability and speed, almost as fast as the M5 Stuarts
  • Good cannon with fast reload and adequate penetration
  • Amazing -15° gun depression allows hull-down over almost any hill
  • Has a low profile, harder to be seen and shot at
  • Turret rotation is quite fast

Cons:

  • Thin armour, easily penetrable by common foes like Pz.III, Chi-Ha, BT-7
  • Cannon has limited damage especially against large tanks like LVT(A)(1)
  • Poor reverse speed won't save it from danger
  • Narrow tracks worsens its agility on loose terrain like snow

History

Crusader "The Saint"

"The Saint" was a Crusader II cruiser tank of the British A squadron of the 10th regiment of Royal Hussars, 2nd Armoured Brigade of the 1st Armoured Division.

1st Division

The 1st Division, understrength at the time, was sent to France as part of the 2nd British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in 1940. It saw combat during the Battle of France, after landing on 14 May 1940, but suffered heavy losses and was forced to evacuate at Dunkirk on 16 June 16. The division then stood in England until August 1941 in anticipation of a German invasion, which never came.

The 1st Division shipped out to Egypt in November 1941. In Africa, the 1st Division saw combat against the German Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK) in battles such as Gazala, Mersa Matruh, First El Alamein, Second El Alamein, Tebaga Gap, Mareth Line, Akarit, El Kourzia and Tunis. After the Afrikakorps surrendered in May 1943, the 1st Division remained in Africa until May 1944 when it shipped to Italy. Due to heavy losses among the 2nd Armoured Brigade during the battle of Coriano, the 1st Division ceased operations in October 1944 and was broken up and officially disbanded on 11 January 1945.

Media

Skins
Videos
Best gun depression discusses the Crusader "The Saint" at 1:33 - War Thunder Official Channel

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

  • reference to the series of the vehicles;
  • links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

  • topic on the official game forum;
  • other literature.


Nuffield Mechanizations and Aero Limited
Cruiser Tanks 
Tank, Cruiser, Mk III (A13 Mk I)  A13 Mk I · A13 Mk I (3rd R.T.R.)
Tank, Cruiser, Mk IV (A13 Mk II)  A13 Mk II · A13 Mk II 1939
Tank, Cruiser, Mk VI, Crusader (A15)  Crusader II · Crusader "The Saint" · Crusader III
Tank Destroyers  Tortoise
SPAAs  Crusader AA Mk I · Crusader AA Mk II
Export  ▄Crusader Mk.II

Britain light tanks
A13  A13 Mk I · A13 Mk I (3rd R.T.R.) · A13 Mk II · A13 Mk II 1939
A15  Crusader II · Crusader "The Saint" · Crusader III
A17  Tetrarch I
IFV  Warrior · Desert Warrior (Kuwait)
Wheeled  Daimler Mk II · AEC Mk II · Fox · Vickers Mk.11
Other  VFM5
South Africa 
SARC  SARC MkIVa · SARC MkVI (2pdr) · SARC MkVI (6pdr)
Ratel  Ratel 90 · Ratel 20
Rooikat  Rooikat Mk.1D · Rooikat 105 · Rooikat MTTD
Other  Concept 3 · Eland 90 Mk.7
USA  Stuart I · Stuart III

Britain premium ground vehicles
Light tanks  A13 Mk I (3rd R.T.R.) · A13 Mk II 1939 · AEC Mk II · Crusader "The Saint" · Rooikat 105
Medium tanks  A.C.I · Grant I · Cromwell V (RP-3) · Sherman IC "Trzyniec" · A.C.IV · Comet I "Iron Duke IV"
  Centurion Mk.2 · ▄Strv 81 (RB 52) · Centurion Mk.5 AVRE · Centurion Mk.5/1 · ▄Sho't Kal Dalet · Centurion Action X
  Vijayanta · Khalid · Challenger DS · Challenger 2 OES
Heavy tanks  Independent · Matilda Hedgehog · Excelsior · TOG II · Churchill Crocodile · Black Prince
Tank destroyers  Alecto I · Achilles (65 Rg.) · QF 3.7 Ram

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