An Alternative Take on British Cruiser Tanks:
The final installment…
The development of the Comet A34 Cruiser Tank’s horizontal volute spring suspension (HVSS) was to be the final fling of the successful collaboration between Sidney Horstmann and Harry Knox.
The HVSS was undoubtedly a significant improvement over the earlier vertical volute spring system, however, it did still have certain limitations and had, clearly, come to the logical end of its evolutionary tree. Furthermore, the development of the next generation of armoured vehicles on either side of The Pond would see a different set of requirements, necessitating different potential solutions. Britain was already heavily committed to the Centurion Universal Tank concept and favoured Horstmann’s big-wheel suspension units whilst the US would in its development of the M26 Pershing adopt a torsion bar suspension system.
Nevertheless, the HVSS Comet proved to be highly versatile and was, undoubtedly, Britain’s best tank of the war.
The model depicts a vehicle of the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment, 29th Armoured Brigade of 11th Armored Division and is made from a Tamiya Comet kit, with AFV Club HVSS and tracks.
