| CATMAN2 | 03 May 2013 7:07 a.m. PST |
Plastic Soldier Company here Got a news item scheduled but couldn't contain myself! We've got 2 eye-wateringly good new 1/72nd S Model kits on their way: British A13 Cruiser Tank German Kfz 13 Adler Armoured Car Should be us end of next week but you can pre-order in the Plastic Soldier Company webstore |
| kustenjaeger | 03 May 2013 7:49 a.m. PST |
Greetings I see it's an A13 Mk I (Cruiser III) rather than an A13 Mk II (Cruiser IV). The former is only usable for France 1940(or possibly Sealion) while the A13 Mk II was used in France, North and (briefly) East Africa and numbers of Mk I were upgraded to this standard. Maybe a Mk II will come later. I'm sure a couple could be used to support French infantry on the Somme in May 1940 :-) Regards Edward |
| skippy0001 | 03 May 2013 1:38 p.m. PST |
Don't forget these early vehicles are good for '30's/40's ImagiNation, weird War conversions and InterWar campaigns. |
| Sparker | 03 May 2013 2:31 p.m. PST |
I think we're headed in the right direction now – 1:100 Crusaders can't be too far off….. |
| Stavka | 03 May 2013 7:01 p.m. PST |
While not present in any great numbers, Some A-13 cruiser III's were certainly used in the Western Desert, and in Greece.
link |
| kustenjaeger | 03 May 2013 11:35 p.m. PST |
Greetings I'd love to have some evidence of the presence of non-upgraded A13 Mk I in the desert. I've not been able to find any apart from unsubstantiated references on Wikipedia etc. The picture is of a 3 RTR A13 Mk I when the regiment was in 1 Armoured Division – presumably at Calais in 1940. As far as I am aware 3 RTR went to Greece with all A10s. Regards Edward |
| kustenjaeger | 04 May 2013 12:02 a.m. PST |
Greetings Of course I've now come across a reference to a comment by a Lt Norman Plough of 2 RTR that they had Mk I and Mk II A13 at Beda Fomm – first I've heard of this so will have to investigate. Regards Edward |
| Stavka | 04 May 2013 5:06 a.m. PST |
That's usually the way things go! The picture was the only one I could find of a Cruiser III on the front lines, so thanks for the clarification. Wonder if the kit includes the smoke dischargers? At any rate, this model is a much welcome release of a very much ignored vehicle for early war British armour. I look forward to S Model's forthcoming Vickers light tank. |
| skinkmasterreturns | 04 May 2013 5:42 a.m. PST |
I want one of these eventually.Call me a heretic,but for the meantime,I've got a Crusader thats going to do a stand in for my BA Brits,until I can afford one.Since I have no shame,I've got several 10mm Jagdpanthers doing a stand in for Polish tankettes until I can get those.:) |
| kustenjaeger | 04 May 2013 7:47 a.m. PST |
Greetings A bit more digging on the A13 front. Jentz 'Tank combat in North Africa' asserts that only Cruiser IVA ( ie A13 Mk IIA) saw combat and lists available British armour at 1 March 1941 in the Middle East as Light
Mk VI – 36
Mk VIA – 55
Mk VIB – 276
Mk VIC – 1 Cruiser
I (ie A9) – 66
IIA (ie A10 Besa) – 89
IVA (ie A13 Mk II Besa) – 85
ICS – 6
IIACS – 12 Infantry tanks (Matilda)
IIA – 30
IIA* – 35 War wastage to date (presumably permanent losses?) reported as 5 Mk I cruiser, 13 light tanks and 1 infantry tank. 6 MkVIC, 8 cruisers and 38 Matilda IiA in transit (mainly RHQ and A and C sqns 4 RTR). Incidentally of the tanks that went to Greece there were apparently a total of 7 A13 (all Cruiser IVA) in the HQ of 1st Armoured Brigade. My digging around on Norman Plough's reported comment re 2 RTR has dredged up that 2 RTR was re-equipped with Cruiser IV after France. There were slightly different versions of Cruiser IV present in the desert – the key obvious difference being a different mantlet. Perrett's Wavell's offensive has a picture of a cruiser troop in what appears to be the desert and in Caunter camouflage with differing mantlets – similarly Jentz has pictures of both types that he refers to without differentiation as Cruiser IVA. I had assumed the difference was the replacement of the Vickers co-ax with the Besa but will have to dig further. Regards Edward |
| kustenjaeger | 04 May 2013 8:03 a.m. PST |
Greetings The best pictorial web resource I can come up with so far on A13s is link – this indicates mantlet changes within A13 MkIIA (Cruiser IVA) production (the main one being a block mantlet) while the earlier A13 MkII had a different mantlet again as well as the co-ax Vickers. Regards Edward |
| Grumble87106 | 04 Sep 2013 11:31 a.m. PST |
A plastic model of the A13 Mk II (Cruiser IV) would certainly be a boon to those of us who like to work primarily with plastic vehicles. The fact that it would be a quick-build only add to its attraction! :-) |
| Von Miligan | 05 Sep 2013 3:44 p.m. PST |
Grumble87106,
you will find details of our new plastic resin and white metal A13 in 3 varients at :
TMP link with lots of nice pictures. Take a look. |
