Difference between revisions of "A13 Mk II"

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−
{{Specs-Card|code=uk_a_13_mk2}}
 
 
{{About
 
{{About
 
| about = British light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
 
| about = British light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
−
| usage = other uses
+
| usage = other versions
 
| link = A13 (Family)
 
| link = A13 (Family)
 +
}}
 +
{{Specs-Card
 +
|code=uk_a_13_mk2
 +
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
−
<!--''In the description, the first part needs to 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 the screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, they will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it 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_A13 Mk II.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
+
The '''Tank, Cruiser, Mark IVA (A13 Mark II)''' is the late-production second variant of the [[A13 (Family)|A13 cruiser tank family]]. In contrast to the [[A13 Mk II 1939|early-production variant]], which was simply an [[A13 Mk I|A13 Mark I]] with increased turret armour, the A13 Mark II, also known as A13 Mark IIA, was produced with extra hull armour. The tank was utilized in France in 1940 and in the early stages of the war in North Africa before being retired. It was perhaps the greatest light tank Britain had in 1940, as it was a speedy vehicle compared to other British tanks of the early part of the war. There were 955 of these tanks produced in all.
−
{{break}}
 
−
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced along with the initial British tree line in [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]]. Featuring the [[Ordnance QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|QF 2-pounder]] as the main armament coupled with good mobility, this vehicle is a typical light tank and plays as such.
 
−
 
 
−
This tank is a good representative of later rank 2-3 British tanks: good mobility, flat and thin frontal armour, bad reverse speed and minimal post-penetration damage.
 
−
 
 
−
;Driving
 
  
−
Even though the A13 has good mobility, it sometimes feels weird: it loses speed on turns, does not accelerates quite as fast as it's overpowered engine(38.19 HP/ton, stock) should provide it and hill-climbing feels hard. All of these flaws come from the gearbox, which has bad and uneven ratios, resulting in a kick when changing speed. Knowing that you should always keep an eye on the "gear" counter top-left of your screen (activate it in the options menu) since it provides you crucial information on how your tank will react to your commands. With a bit of practice, one should swiftly masters these peculiarities.
+
Introduced in [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]], the A13 Mark II offers small upgrades over the A13 Mark I, most notably in armour protection. However, the armour modifications in the A13 Mark II still do not provide much protection against anything other than heavy machine gun fire. The 40 mm Ordnance QF 2-pounder tank gun is adequate for its rank, capable of dealing with the majority of the adversaries it would encounter. However, the ammunition lacks the penetrating power and accuracy required to cope with stronger adversaries at long ranges.
−
 
 
−
;Shooting
 
−
 
 
−
Since the [[Ordnance QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|QF 2-pounder]] is used on most tanks of Rank 1, it's important to know it well. This cannon has a major disadvantage at distances since it's bullet lose around 20 mm of penetration for every 500 m it travels, which is a lot. As if this was not enough, it has poor accuracy, even with Adjustment of fire, hence, one should target large components (crewmen, engine, transmission), of the enemy or, as distance increases (500m or more), the general centre of the foe. Firing it, you will easily notice it's last but not least flaw: it does almost no post-penetration damage, which means you will need to snipe, crew members, one by one. Combine this difficulty with a bit of distance and this task can prove tricky pretty quick, sometimes leaving the enemy enough time to replenish it's crew before you finish it off.
 
−
 
 
−
On the other hand, this cannon has 5 major advantages: reload speed, close-quarter penetration, a primitive stabilizing system, LOTS of ammo and awesome gun depression. Its fast reloading speed allows it to compensate its poor accuracy: missed a shot? why not take another even before you can reposition ! Close quarter penetration, one of the best at its tier, is also a plus: your enemies will only block you shot if you happen to hit a steep-angled plate of armour. Does this tank have good mobility? nice !, it can fire on the move too, at low speeds and on the relatively flat road though but still, it is much more precise than the comparable [[BT-7]]  with its [[20-K (45 mm)|20-K]]. Last but not least, small bullets means more bullets: the A13 can bring up to 87 bullets into the game, much more than you need to knock out 3-4 tanks, which means you can try to suppress an enemy and keep it into cover by constantly firing near it (at this rank, this tactic can prove effective against new players). Finally, its good gun depression enables it to fire over hills, peeking only it's a small turret, shooting and disappearing swiftly. Use these features cunningly.
 
−
 
 
−
;Others
 
−
 
 
−
Since the addition of smoke in War Thunder, light tanks have it easier. Use your forward-launching smoke to create a wall of smoke in a strategic place. It can be used to cover your allies, when capturing a point, flanking in a street (urban environment),
 
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and 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?''
+
{{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.'' -->
−
''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''-->
 
 
'''Armour type:'''
 
'''Armour type:'''
  
Line 42: Line 28:
 
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Hull || 14 mm ''Front plate'' <br> 14 mm (0-62°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 14 mm (64°) ''Lower glacis'' || 7 mm || 14 mm (0-62°) || 14 mm
+
| Hull || 30 mm ''Front plate'' <br> 14 mm (62°) ''Upper glacis'' <br> 30 mm ''Front glacis'' <br> 14 mm (64°) ''Lower glacis'' || 7 + 7 mm || 14 mm (0-62°) || 14 mm
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Turret || 14 mm (0-15°) ''Turret front'' <br> 14 mm (1-63°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 14 (40°) + 14 mm (21°) || 14 (21-30°) + 14 mm (2°) || 14 mm
 
| Turret || 14 mm (0-15°) ''Turret front'' <br> 14 mm (1-63°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 14 (40°) + 14 mm (21°) || 14 (21-30°) + 14 mm (2°) || 14 mm
 
|-
 
|-
−
! Armour !! Sides !! Roof
+
| Cupola || 14 mm || 14 mm || 14 mm || 14 mm
−
|-
 
−
| Cupola || 14 mm || 14 mm
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
Line 54: Line 38:
  
 
* Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick.
 
* Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick.
 +
* There is a 14 mm thick firewall between the engine bay and the crew compartment.
  
 
=== 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.'' -->
  
−
{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 527|rbMinHp= 301}}
+
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=527|rbMinHp=301}}
 +
 
 +
Even though the A13 has good mobility, it sometimes feels weird: it loses speed on turns, does not accelerates quite as fast as it's overpowered engine(38.19 HP/ton, stock) should provide it and hill-climbing feels hard. All of these flaws come from the gearbox, which has bad and uneven ratios, resulting in a kick when changing speed. Knowing that you should always keep an eye on the "gear" counter top-left of your screen (activate it in the options menu) since it provides you crucial information on how your tank will react to your commands. With a bit of practice, one should swiftly masters these peculiarities.
 +
 
 +
=== Modifications and economy ===
 +
{{Specs-Economy}}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
 
=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
−
<!--''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.''-->
+
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
−
{{main|Ordnance 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.'' -->
 +
{{main|QF 2-pounder (40 mm)}}
 +
 
 +
Since the QF 2-pounder is used on most tanks of Rank I, it's important to know it well. This cannon has a major disadvantage at distances since its rounds lose around 20 mm of penetration for every 500 m it travels, which is a lot. As if this was not enough, it has poor accuracy, even with Adjustment of fire, hence, one should target large components (crewmen, engine, transmission), of the enemy or, as distance increases (500 m or more), the general centre of the foe. Firing it, you will easily notice its last but not least flaw: it does almost no post-penetration damage, which means you will need to snipe crew members, one by one. Combine this difficulty with a bit of distance and this task can prove tricky pretty quick, sometimes leaving the enemy enough time to replenish its crew before you finish it off.
 +
 
 +
On the other hand, this cannon has 5 major advantages: reload speed, close-quarter penetration, a primitive stabilizing system, LOTS of ammo and awesome gun depression. Its fast reloading speed allows it to compensate its poor accuracy: missed a shot? why not take another even before you can reposition! Close quarter penetration, one of the best at its tier, is also a plus: your enemies will only block you shot if you happen to hit a steep-angled plate of armour. Does this tank have good mobility? nice !, it can fire on the move too, at low speeds and on the relatively flat road though but still, it is much more precise than the comparable [[BT-7]] with its [[20-K (45 mm)|20-K]]. Last but not least, small bullets means more bullets: the A13 can bring up to 87 bullets into the game, much more than you need to knock out 3-4 tanks, which means you can try to suppress an enemy and keep it into cover by constantly firing near it (at this rank, this tactic can prove effective against new players). Finally, its good gun depression enables it to fire over hills, peeking only it's a small turret, shooting and disappearing swiftly. Use these features cunningly.
 +
 
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
|-
 
|-
−
! colspan="5" | [[Ordnance QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|40 mm OQF 2-pounder]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
+
! colspan="5" | [[QF 2-pounder (40 mm)|40 mm QF 2-pounder]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
 
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
Line 73: Line 71:
 
|-
 
|-
 
! ''Arcade''
 
! ''Arcade''
−
| rowspan="2" | 87 || rowspan="2" | -15°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Vertical || 15.23 || 21.08 || 25.60 || 28.31 || 30.12 || rowspan="2" | 3.64 || rowspan="2" | 3.22 || rowspan="2" | 2.97 || rowspan="2" | 2.80
+
| rowspan="2" | 87 || rowspan="2" | -15°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Shoulder|up to 10 km/h}} || 34.3 || 47.4 || 57.6 || 63.7 || 67.8 || rowspan="2" | 3.64 || rowspan="2" | 3.22 || rowspan="2" | 2.97 || rowspan="2" | 2.80
 
|-
 
|-
 
! ''Realistic''
 
! ''Realistic''
−
| 9.50 || 11.20 || 13.60 || 15.04 || 16.00
+
| 21.4 || 25.2 || 30.6 || 33.8 || 36.0
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
===== 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.1 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%"
+
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
−
! colspan="10" | Shell details
+
[[File:Ammoracks A13 Mk I.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
 +
<!-- '''Last updated: 1.77.2.128''' -->
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
−
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
+
! Full<br>ammo
−
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
+
! 1st<br>rack empty
−
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)
+
! 2nd<br>rack empty
−
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)
+
! 3rd<br>rack empty
−
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)
+
! 4th<br>rack empty
−
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)
+
! 5th<br>rack empty
−
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)
+
! 6th<br>rack empty
−
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
+
! 7th<br>rack empty
 +
! 8th<br>rack empty
 
|-
 
|-
−
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
+
| '''87''' || 78&nbsp;''(+9)'' || 75&nbsp;''(+12)'' || 72&nbsp;''(+15)'' || 69&nbsp;''(+18)'' || 66&nbsp;''(+21)'' || 62&nbsp;''(+25)'' || 60&nbsp;''(+27)'' || 56&nbsp;''(+31)''
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Shot Mk.1 AP/T || AP || 792 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°
+
! 9th<br>rack empty
 +
! 10th<br>rack empty
 +
! 11th<br>rack empty
 +
! 12th<br>rack empty
 +
! 13th<br>rack empty
 +
! 14th<br>rack empty
 +
! 15th<br>rack empty
 +
! 16th<br>rack empty
 +
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Shot Mk.1 APCBC/T || APCBC || 792 || 1.24 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°
+
| 51&nbsp;''(+36)'' || 47&nbsp;''(+40)'' || 43&nbsp;''(+44)'' || 41&nbsp;''(+46)'' || 36&nbsp;''(+51)'' || 31&nbsp;''(+56)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+71)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+86)'' || No
−
|-
 
−
| Shot Mk.1 APHV/T || AP || 853 || 1.08 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°
 
−
|-
 
−
| Shell Mk.1 AP/T || APHE || 792 || 1.08 || 1.2 || 9 || 19 || 47° || 60° || 65°
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
 +
'''Note''':
  
 +
* Centre hull empty: 41&nbsp;''(+46)'' shells.
  
−
===== [[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] =====
+
==== Optics ====
−
'''Last updated: 1.77.2.128'''
 
−
[[File:Ammoracks_A13MkI.png|right|thumbnail|x250px|[[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] of the A13 Mk I.]]
 
−
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
 
−
|-
 
−
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full<br /> ammo
 
−
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st<br />  rack empty
 
−
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd<br />  rack empty
 
−
! class="wikitable unsortable" |3rd<br />  rack empty
 
−
! class="wikitable unsortable" |4th<br />  rack empty
 
−
! class="wikitable unsortable" |5th<br />  rack empty
 
−
! class="wikitable unsortable" |6th<br />  rack empty
 
−
! class="wikitable unsortable" |7th<br />  rack empty
 
−
! class="wikitable unsortable" |8th<br />  rack empty
 
−
! class="wikitable unsortable" |9th<br />  rack empty
 
−
! class="wikitable unsortable" |10th<br />  rack empty
 
−
! class="wikitable unsortable" |11th<br />  rack empty
 
−
! class="wikitable unsortable" |12th<br />  rack empty
 
−
! class="wikitable unsortable" |13th<br />  rack empty
 
−
! class="wikitable unsortable" |14th<br />  rack empty
 
−
! class="wikitable unsortable" |15th<br />  rack empty
 
−
! class="wikitable unsortable" |16th<br />  rack empty
 
−
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual<br /> discrepancy
 
−
|-
 
−
|| '''87''' || 78&nbsp;''(+9)'' || 75&nbsp;''(+12)'' || 72&nbsp;''(+15)'' || 69&nbsp;''(+18)'' || 66&nbsp;''(+21)'' || 62&nbsp;''(+25)'' || 60&nbsp;''(+27)'' || 56&nbsp;''(+31)'' || 51&nbsp;''(+36)'' || 47&nbsp;''(+40)'' || 43&nbsp;''(+44)'' || 41&nbsp;''(+46)'' || 36&nbsp;''(+51)'' || 31&nbsp;''(+56)'' || 16&nbsp;''(+71)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+86)'' || style="text-align:left" | No
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
−
 
 
−
Center hull empty: 41&nbsp;''(+46)''
 
−
 
 
−
===== Optics =====
 
−
 
 
−
''Explain how the optic's status can affect the tank's gameplay in any unique or meaningful way. A comparison to rival tanks of the rank is welcome.''
 
−
 
 
−
''If you are having problems with it, refer to the [[Optics|optics gallery]] page for examples.''
 
−
 
 
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
−
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]  
+
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Which ones
 
! Which ones
Line 169: Line 124:
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Main Gun optics
 
! Main Gun optics
−
| x1.85 || x3.5 <!--Sometimes the actual value may not be known and here it should be referenced if the optic values are an estimate such as with an "X8.3 (estimated)" notation or something else that way the user will then be able to look to the comparable optics section and see a referenced optic which will have actual in-game data to back up the claim.-->
+
| x1.85 || x3.5
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Comparable optics
 
! Comparable optics
−
| colspan="2;" style="text-align:center;" | [[AMR.35 ZT3]]
+
| colspan="2" | [[AMR.35 ZT3]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
−
<!--''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.''-->
+
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
 +
<!-- ''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|Vickers (7.7 mm)}}
 
{{main|Vickers (7.7 mm)}}
  
−
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 
|-
 
|-
−
! colspan="7" | [[Vickers (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Vickers]]
+
! colspan="5" | [[Vickers (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Vickers]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
! colspan="7" | ''Coaxial mount''
+
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 
|-
 
|-
−
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
+
| Coaxial || 3,500 (250) || 390 || - || -
−
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)
 
−
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 
−
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 
−
|-
 
−
| colspan="4" | 3,500 (250) || 390 || N/A || N/A
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
== Usage in the 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 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).'' -->
−
The A13 Mk.II is a Cruiser tank and plays very much like one. The relative lack of armor and high mobility allow the A13 to easily flank the enemy team. While the armor upgrades in the Mk. II do not help against much more than heavy machine gun rounds, the A13 still has its speed as its biggest advantage. The 2 pounder main armament is an excellent weapon, and allows the A13 to engage effectively at any range. Generally the Shell Mk.1 AP/T (APHE) round should be used, as it has the largest post penetration effect, however for tougher foes the solid AP rounds will easily penetrate. A13 commanders should use cover and try to outmaneuver opponents, engaging whenever they see fit.
+
The A13 Mk II is a Cruiser tank and plays very much like one. The relative lack of armour and high mobility allow the A13 to easily flank the enemy team. While the armour upgrades in the Mk II do not help against much more than heavy machine gun rounds, the A13 still has its speed as its biggest advantage. The 2 pounder main armament is an excellent weapon, and allows the A13 to engage effectively at any range. Generally the Shell Mk.1 AP/T (APHE) round should be used, as it has the largest post-penetration effect, however for tougher foes the solid AP rounds will easily penetrate. A13 commanders should use cover and try to outmanoeuvre opponents, engaging whenever they see fit.
  
−
Some notable enemies the A13 might face are German Panzer II tanks. These vehicles have auto cannons that will shred through the A13s armor. Commanders should be extra cautious when facing these. Generally it is advisable to try and bait out their volley with a quick push forward and retreat, and then try to take them out while they reload. The A13 is at a disadvantage against these vehicles, its only real advantage being the fact that the 40mm 2 pounder is shoulder stabilized, meaning it is easier to get the first shot off when slowing down.
+
Some notable enemies the A13 might face are German Panzer II tanks. These vehicles have autocannons that will shred through the A13's armour. Commanders should be extra cautious when facing these. Generally it is advisable to try and bait out their volley with a quick push forward and retreat, and then try to take them out while they reload. The A13 is at a disadvantage against these vehicles, its only real advantage being the fact that the 40 mm 2 pounder is shoulder stabilized, meaning it is easier to get the first shot off when slowing down.
  
−
===Modules===
+
Since the addition of smoke in War Thunder, light tanks have it easier. Use your forward-launching smoke to create a wall of smoke in a strategic place. It can be used to cover your allies, when capturing a point, flanking in a street (urban environment),
−
{| class="wikitable"
 
−
! Tier
 
−
! colspan="2" |Mobility
 
−
! Protection
 
−
! colspan="3" |Firepower
 
−
|-
 
−
| I
 
−
| Tracks||
 
−
| Parts
 
−
| Horizontal Drive||Shot Mk.IXB APCBC/T
 
−
|-
 
−
| II
 
−
| Suspension||Brake System
 
−
| FPE
 
−
| Adjustment of Fire||Shot Mk.1 APHV/T
 
−
|-
 
−
| III
 
−
| Filters||
 
−
| Crew Replenishment
 
−
| Elevation Mechanism||Smoke grenade
 
−
|-
 
−
| IV
 
−
| Transmission||Engine
 
−
|
 
−
| Artillery Support||Shell Mk.1 AP/T
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
−
<!--''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "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:'''
  
−
* Better turret armour than it's predecessor
+
* Decent fast-firing gun against common foes like [[Pz.III (Family)|Pz.III]]
−
* Good gun for its rank
+
* Fast and agile thanks to good HP/ton ratio
−
* Fast
+
* Has a shoulder stabilisation; advantage in CQC
−
* Slim target
+
* Add-on armor on turret, effective against small caliber AP shells
−
* Has a "lock", which is a primitive form of stabilisation
 
−
* Brings lots of ammo
 
 
* Has forward-launching smoke launchers
 
* Has forward-launching smoke launchers
−
* Coaxial MG
+
* -15° gun depression allows it to fight in the most uneven terrains
−
* Good HP/ton ratio
 
−
* Decent turret sewing rate
 
−
* -15° gun depression
 
−
* 4 crewmen
 
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
−
* Thin armour
+
* Thin armour all round, can be penetrated by any cannon
−
* The gun is too small for its own good
+
* Poor reverse speed, can sometimes be fatal
−
* Barely any response from the engine
+
* Loses speed when traversing the hull
−
* Loses speed when turning
 
 
* Wiggles when trying to turn on 5th gear
 
* Wiggles when trying to turn on 5th gear
−
* Regular MGs can penetrate side armour
 
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
−
<!--''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/historical reference" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''-->
+
<!-- ''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).'' -->
 
===Development===
 
===Development===
 
The British development on their cruiser tanks advanced greatly with the implementation of the Christie suspension system, which they acquired from an American firm. The tank underwent a development program under the name ''Cruiser Mk III (A13)'' and the first accepted variant for the military was the ''[[A13 Mk I|A13 Mk.I]]''. The Mk.I featured 15 mm of armour, a 2-pounder cannon, and a Vickers machine gun as its coaxial armament. An order of 65 of these tanks were asked for in 1939 at the Nuffield Mechanization & Auto Limited, but only 30 were made before the a decision was made to upgrade the existing model with more armour and different armament.
 
The British development on their cruiser tanks advanced greatly with the implementation of the Christie suspension system, which they acquired from an American firm. The tank underwent a development program under the name ''Cruiser Mk III (A13)'' and the first accepted variant for the military was the ''[[A13 Mk I|A13 Mk.I]]''. The Mk.I featured 15 mm of armour, a 2-pounder cannon, and a Vickers machine gun as its coaxial armament. An order of 65 of these tanks were asked for in 1939 at the Nuffield Mechanization & Auto Limited, but only 30 were made before the a decision was made to upgrade the existing model with more armour and different armament.
Line 264: Line 181:
  
 
===Combat Usage===
 
===Combat Usage===
−
The A13 first saw combat in the Battle of France under the British Expeditionary Force in 1940. The A13 encountered many trouble during its employment, the crew have little to no training with the new tanks due to their rushed adoption into service, the tanks were in poor condition and some were even missing parts. The A13s were used in the 1st Armoured Division, but many were either destroyed by the superior German armoured forces or abandoned at Calais during the evacuation of Allied troops at Dunkirk, which forced the units to leave behind their heavier equipment.  
+
The A13 first saw combat in the Battle of France under the British Expeditionary Force in 1940. The A13 encountered many trouble during its employment, the crew have little to no training with the new tanks due to their rushed adoption into service, the tanks were in poor condition and some were even missing parts. The A13s were used in the 1st Armoured Division, but many were either destroyed by the superior German armoured forces or abandoned at Calais during the evacuation of Allied troops at Dunkirk, which forced the units to leave behind their heavier equipment.
  
 
After the disaster at France, the A13 were still used to support the war. Some were sent to Greece to support their defense against Germany in the Battle of Greece, but a majority were sent to North Africa as part of the Western Desert Campaign near Libya under the 7th Armoured Division. Compared to the time in France, the A13s in North Africa fared much better, ironing out most of its initial defects, and was even more suited to the environment than other tank designs. The A13 was popular with the crew for its high speed, reliability, and a powerful 2-pounder cannon that could engage a majority of Axis tanks in 1941. However, there was an insufficient number of A13s available for use, so tank units were mixed with the faster cruiser tanks and slower infantry tanks, which caused tactical and logistical difficulties trying to accommodate all of the tanks. Another deficiency with the tank and every other British tank with the 2-pounder was the lack of high-explosive shell issued to the tankers, which made them vulnerable to anti-tank guns, which caused a majority of British tank losses in the North African Campaign. Still, the A13 fared very well with its armour and armament until the late 1941 where better armoured [[Pz.III L|Panzer IIIs]] and [[Pz.IV G|Panzer IVs]] began to appear on the battlefield.
 
After the disaster at France, the A13 were still used to support the war. Some were sent to Greece to support their defense against Germany in the Battle of Greece, but a majority were sent to North Africa as part of the Western Desert Campaign near Libya under the 7th Armoured Division. Compared to the time in France, the A13s in North Africa fared much better, ironing out most of its initial defects, and was even more suited to the environment than other tank designs. The A13 was popular with the crew for its high speed, reliability, and a powerful 2-pounder cannon that could engage a majority of Axis tanks in 1941. However, there was an insufficient number of A13s available for use, so tank units were mixed with the faster cruiser tanks and slower infantry tanks, which caused tactical and logistical difficulties trying to accommodate all of the tanks. Another deficiency with the tank and every other British tank with the 2-pounder was the lack of high-explosive shell issued to the tankers, which made them vulnerable to anti-tank guns, which caused a majority of British tank losses in the North African Campaign. Still, the A13 fared very well with its armour and armament until the late 1941 where better armoured [[Pz.III L|Panzer IIIs]] and [[Pz.IV G|Panzer IVs]] began to appear on the battlefield.
  
−
Due to its growing obsolesce on the battlefield, the A13 was replaced in 1941 by the better armoured [[Crusader Mk II|A15 Crusader tank]].
+
Due to its growing obsolescence on the battlefield, the A13 was replaced in 1941 by the better armoured [[Crusader Mk II|A15 Crusader tank]].
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
−
''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
+
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 +
 
 +
;Skins
  
−
===Videos===
+
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_a_13_mk2 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
−
{{Youtube-gallery|mjacUnmi2iY|Bovington Tank Museum Tank Chats: A13 Cruiser}}
 
  
−
== Read also ==
+
;Videos
−
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,''
+
{{Youtube-gallery|4_cJ1CpEatw|'''Best gun depression''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 1:33 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|mjacUnmi2iY|'''David Fletcher's Tank Chats #1: The A13 Cruiser''' - ''The Tank Museum''}}
 +
 
 +
== 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;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
  
−
''ETC.''
+
== External links ==
−
 
 
−
== Sources ==
 
 
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
  
Line 290: Line 209:
 
* ''other literature.''
 
* ''other literature.''
  
 +
{{TankManufacturer Nuffield}}
 
{{Britain light tanks}}
 
{{Britain light tanks}}

Latest revision as of 10:41, 14 April 2024

Rank VI USSR | Premium | Golden Eagles
Su-25K Pack
This page is about the British light tank A13 Mk II. For other versions, see A13 (Family).
A13 Mk II
uk_a_13_mk2.png
GarageImage A13 Mk II.jpg
ArtImage A13 Mk II.png
A13 Mk II
Britain flag.png Britain
I Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
1.3 1.3 1.3
Class:
Research:2 900 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:700 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The Tank, Cruiser, Mark IVA (A13 Mark II) is the late-production second variant of the A13 cruiser tank family. In contrast to the early-production variant, which was simply an A13 Mark I with increased turret armour, the A13 Mark II, also known as A13 Mark IIA, was produced with extra hull armour. The tank was utilized in France in 1940 and in the early stages of the war in North Africa before being retired. It was perhaps the greatest light tank Britain had in 1940, as it was a speedy vehicle compared to other British tanks of the early part of the war. There were 955 of these tanks produced in all.

Introduced in Update 1.55 "Royal Armour", the A13 Mark II offers small upgrades over the A13 Mark I, most notably in armour protection. However, the armour modifications in the A13 Mark II still do not provide much protection against anything other than heavy machine gun fire. The 40 mm Ordnance QF 2-pounder tank gun is adequate for its rank, capable of dealing with the majority of the adversaries it would encounter. However, the ammunition lacks the penetrating power and accuracy required to cope with stronger adversaries at long ranges.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
Armourfront / side / back
Hull30 / 14 / 14
Turret14 / 14 / 14
Crew4 people
Visibility93 %

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour
  • Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)
Armour Front Sides Rear Roof
Hull 30 mm Front plate
14 mm (62°) Upper glacis
30 mm Front glacis
14 mm (64°) Lower glacis 		7 + 7 mm 14 mm (0-62°) 14 mm
Turret 14 mm (0-15°) Turret front
14 mm (1-63°) Gun mantlet 		14 (40°) + 14 mm (21°) 14 (21-30°) + 14 mm (2°) 14 mm
Cupola 14 mm 14 mm 14 mm 14 mm

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick.
  • There is a 14 mm thick firewall between the engine bay and the crew compartment.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB54 / 7 km/h
RB and SB48 / 6 km/h
Number of gears5 forward
1 back
Weight14.5 t
Engine power
AB649 hp
RB and SB340 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB44.8 hp/t
RB and SB23.4 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 54 7 14.5 527 649 36.34 44.76
Realistic 48 6 301 340 20.76 23.45

Even though the A13 has good mobility, it sometimes feels weird: it loses speed on turns, does not accelerates quite as fast as it's overpowered engine(38.19 HP/ton, stock) should provide it and hill-climbing feels hard. All of these flaws come from the gearbox, which has bad and uneven ratios, resulting in a kick when changing speed. Knowing that you should always keep an eye on the "gear" counter top-left of your screen (activate it in the options menu) since it provides you crucial information on how your tank will react to your commands. With a bit of practice, one should swiftly masters these peculiarities.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB95 → 128 Sl icon.png
RB91 → 123 Sl icon.png
SB107 → 144 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications2 975 Rp icon.png
900 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost190 Ge icon.png
Crew training200 Sl icon.png
Experts1 000 Sl icon.png
Aces20 Ge icon.png
Research Aces96 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
10 / 10 / 20 % Sl icon.png
100 / 100 / 100 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
150 Rp icon.png
Cost:
45 Sl icon.png
50 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
135 Rp icon.png
Cost:
40 Sl icon.png
45 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
135 Rp icon.png
Cost:
40 Sl icon.png
45 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
185 Rp icon.png
Cost:
55 Sl icon.png
60 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
240 Rp icon.png
Cost:
75 Sl icon.png
80 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
240 Rp icon.png
Cost:
75 Sl icon.png
80 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
150 Rp icon.png
Cost:
45 Sl icon.png
50 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
135 Rp icon.png
Cost:
40 Sl icon.png
45 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement uk.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
185 Rp icon.png
Cost:
55 Sl icon.png
60 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
150 Rp icon.png
Cost:
45 Sl icon.png
50 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
40mm_uk_2pdr_APHV_ammo_pack
Research:
150 Rp icon.png
Cost:
45 Sl icon.png
50 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
135 Rp icon.png
Cost:
40 Sl icon.png
45 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
40mm_uk_2pdr_APHE_ammo_pack
Research:
135 Rp icon.png
Cost:
40 Sl icon.png
45 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
185 Rp icon.png
Cost:
55 Sl icon.png
60 Ge icon.png
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade
Research:
185 Rp icon.png
Cost:
55 Sl icon.png
60 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
240 Rp icon.png
Cost:
75 Sl icon.png
80 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
40mm_uk_2pdr_APCBC_ammo_pack
Research:
240 Rp icon.png
Cost:
75 Sl icon.png
80 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Main armament

40 mm QF 2-pounder cannon
Shoulder stabilizer
Reduces the swing of the gun in one plane while moving
Ammunition87 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
3.6 → 2.8 s
Vertical guidance-15° / 20°
Main article: QF 2-pounder (40 mm)

Since the QF 2-pounder is used on most tanks of Rank I, it's important to know it well. This cannon has a major disadvantage at distances since its rounds lose around 20 mm of penetration for every 500 m it travels, which is a lot. As if this was not enough, it has poor accuracy, even with Adjustment of fire, hence, one should target large components (crewmen, engine, transmission), of the enemy or, as distance increases (500 m or more), the general centre of the foe. Firing it, you will easily notice its last but not least flaw: it does almost no post-penetration damage, which means you will need to snipe crew members, one by one. Combine this difficulty with a bit of distance and this task can prove tricky pretty quick, sometimes leaving the enemy enough time to replenish its crew before you finish it off.

On the other hand, this cannon has 5 major advantages: reload speed, close-quarter penetration, a primitive stabilizing system, LOTS of ammo and awesome gun depression. Its fast reloading speed allows it to compensate its poor accuracy: missed a shot? why not take another even before you can reposition! Close quarter penetration, one of the best at its tier, is also a plus: your enemies will only block you shot if you happen to hit a steep-angled plate of armour. Does this tank have good mobility? nice !, it can fire on the move too, at low speeds and on the relatively flat road though but still, it is much more precise than the comparable BT-7 with its 20-K. Last but not least, small bullets means more bullets: the A13 can bring up to 87 bullets into the game, much more than you need to knock out 3-4 tanks, which means you can try to suppress an enemy and keep it into cover by constantly firing near it (at this rank, this tactic can prove effective against new players). Finally, its good gun depression enables it to fire over hills, peeking only it's a small turret, shooting and disappearing swiftly. Use these features cunningly.

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 87 -15°/+20° ±180° Shoulder 34.3 47.4 57.6 63.7 67.8 3.64 3.22 2.97 2.80
Realistic 21.4 25.2 30.6 33.8 36.0

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 A13 Mk II
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		4th
rack empty 		5th
rack empty 		6th
rack empty 		7th
rack empty 		8th
rack empty
87 78 (+9) 75 (+12) 72 (+15) 69 (+18) 66 (+21) 62 (+25) 60 (+27) 56 (+31)
9th
rack empty 		10th
rack empty 		11th
rack empty 		12th
rack empty 		13th
rack empty 		14th
rack empty 		15th
rack empty 		16th
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
51 (+36) 47 (+40) 43 (+44) 41 (+46) 36 (+51) 31 (+56) 16 (+71) 1 (+86) No

Note:

  • Centre hull empty: 41 (+46) shells.

Optics

A13 Mk II Optics
Which ones Default magnification Maximum magnification
Main Gun optics x1.85 x3.5
Comparable optics AMR.35 ZT3

Machine guns

7.7 mm Vickers machine gun (coaxial)
Ammunition3 500 rounds
Belt capacity250 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate390 shots/min
Main article: Vickers (7.7 mm)
7.7 mm Vickers
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 3,500 (250) 390 - -

Usage in battles

The A13 Mk II is a Cruiser tank and plays very much like one. The relative lack of armour and high mobility allow the A13 to easily flank the enemy team. While the armour upgrades in the Mk II do not help against much more than heavy machine gun rounds, the A13 still has its speed as its biggest advantage. The 2 pounder main armament is an excellent weapon, and allows the A13 to engage effectively at any range. Generally the Shell Mk.1 AP/T (APHE) round should be used, as it has the largest post-penetration effect, however for tougher foes the solid AP rounds will easily penetrate. A13 commanders should use cover and try to outmanoeuvre opponents, engaging whenever they see fit.

Some notable enemies the A13 might face are German Panzer II tanks. These vehicles have autocannons that will shred through the A13's armour. Commanders should be extra cautious when facing these. Generally it is advisable to try and bait out their volley with a quick push forward and retreat, and then try to take them out while they reload. The A13 is at a disadvantage against these vehicles, its only real advantage being the fact that the 40 mm 2 pounder is shoulder stabilized, meaning it is easier to get the first shot off when slowing down.

Since the addition of smoke in War Thunder, light tanks have it easier. Use your forward-launching smoke to create a wall of smoke in a strategic place. It can be used to cover your allies, when capturing a point, flanking in a street (urban environment),

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Decent fast-firing gun against common foes like Pz.III
  • Fast and agile thanks to good HP/ton ratio
  • Has a shoulder stabilisation; advantage in CQC
  • Add-on armor on turret, effective against small caliber AP shells
  • Has forward-launching smoke launchers
  • -15° gun depression allows it to fight in the most uneven terrains

Cons:

  • Thin armour all round, can be penetrated by any cannon
  • Poor reverse speed, can sometimes be fatal
  • Loses speed when traversing the hull
  • Wiggles when trying to turn on 5th gear

History

Development

The British development on their cruiser tanks advanced greatly with the implementation of the Christie suspension system, which they acquired from an American firm. The tank underwent a development program under the name Cruiser Mk III (A13) and the first accepted variant for the military was the A13 Mk.I. The Mk.I featured 15 mm of armour, a 2-pounder cannon, and a Vickers machine gun as its coaxial armament. An order of 65 of these tanks were asked for in 1939 at the Nuffield Mechanization & Auto Limited, but only 30 were made before the a decision was made to upgrade the existing model with more armour and different armament.

The redesigned cruiser tank, the A13 Mk.II, Cruiser Tank Mk IV, had a new armour thickness of 30 mm and additional sloping armour was put onto the sides and rear of the turret. The Vickers machine gun used as the coaxial armament was also replaced by the BESA machine gun, a licensed Czech ZB-53 machine gun, due to issues with the Vickers gun. Around 225 to 665 A13 Mk.II tanks were produced from 1940 until late 1941.

Combat Usage

The A13 first saw combat in the Battle of France under the British Expeditionary Force in 1940. The A13 encountered many trouble during its employment, the crew have little to no training with the new tanks due to their rushed adoption into service, the tanks were in poor condition and some were even missing parts. The A13s were used in the 1st Armoured Division, but many were either destroyed by the superior German armoured forces or abandoned at Calais during the evacuation of Allied troops at Dunkirk, which forced the units to leave behind their heavier equipment.

After the disaster at France, the A13 were still used to support the war. Some were sent to Greece to support their defense against Germany in the Battle of Greece, but a majority were sent to North Africa as part of the Western Desert Campaign near Libya under the 7th Armoured Division. Compared to the time in France, the A13s in North Africa fared much better, ironing out most of its initial defects, and was even more suited to the environment than other tank designs. The A13 was popular with the crew for its high speed, reliability, and a powerful 2-pounder cannon that could engage a majority of Axis tanks in 1941. However, there was an insufficient number of A13s available for use, so tank units were mixed with the faster cruiser tanks and slower infantry tanks, which caused tactical and logistical difficulties trying to accommodate all of the tanks. Another deficiency with the tank and every other British tank with the 2-pounder was the lack of high-explosive shell issued to the tankers, which made them vulnerable to anti-tank guns, which caused a majority of British tank losses in the North African Campaign. Still, the A13 fared very well with its armour and armament until the late 1941 where better armoured Panzer IIIs and Panzer IVs began to appear on the battlefield.

Due to its growing obsolescence on the battlefield, the A13 was replaced in 1941 by the better armoured A15 Crusader tank.

Media

Skins
Videos
Best gun depression discusses the A13 Mk II at 1:33 - War Thunder Official Channel
David Fletcher's Tank Chats #1: The A13 Cruiser - The Tank Museum

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
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

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