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1/6th Scale Military Kits
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 HistoryReliability, Endurance, Speed, Armour, fighting compartment design and a high velocity anti-tank gun, were priorities detailed for the design that resulted in the Cruiser Tank A34 Comet. Based on the Cromwell and mechanically similar, The Comet was heavier with increased armour thickness. The Christie suspension was strengthened to cope with the increased weight and it was necessary to add return rollers to carry the top run of the track. It came very close to meeting the requirement for a Universal tank that was well armoured to support the infantry but still fast enough to be used for rapid exploitation. In order to overcome the problem of accommodating the considerable length of the 17pdr’s breach, Vickers developed a modified version that was a little shorter and known as the 77mm. With similar performance to the 17pdr it used a shorter cartridge case that could be loaded within the limit of the turret ring thus avoiding the need to widen the Comets hull. The turret which was designed around accommodating the new gun was all new with a cast front section, welded sides, top and rear and an external mantlet. With stunning accuracy it could fire high explosive shells and a variety of armour piercing rounds. Another feature not seen in previous tanks was the electric powered turret traverse system . With design work starting in May 1943 it was given the General Staff code A34, the tank was fitted with excellent Rolls Royce Meteor V12 engine as used in the later marks of the Cromwell, giving the combination of an aeroplane engines power and lightness. The gearbox was a 5 speed Merritt Brown Type 5, with reverse. |
By February 1944 the Comet prototype was running and following main armament firing trials at the RAC Gunnery School at Lulwoth in Dorset, and further improvements the tank was put into production. September 1944 saw deliveries begin and the Comet entered service with the 11th Armoured Division where they replaced their Shermans in the spring of 1945. It was put into effect in their sweep of the Baltic ports after crossing the Rhine. It also featured later in the Victory parade in Berlin Only one mark of the Comet was produced although divided into two types Type A being the original war time configuration and Type B the post war version. Despite this all Comets were far from identical with many detail differences including two patterns of idler wheel, two types of top roller and at least five different road wheels and hub variations. Comets were produced in standard the British Olive Drab. Post war, around 1950 they were repainted in semi-gloss Deep Bronze Green. Although these tanks participated in the final actions of World War II they were too late to play a prominent part in the war. The tanks proved to be reliable and the 77mm gun effective. Considered comparable to the German Panther, the Comet was popular with its crews. Post war they remained front line in Berlin and Hong Kong until the late 1950’s and were also deployed in the Korean War. They were used for a further two decades as training aid by the Territorial Army. Finally retiring in 1969, from British Service. Comets were sold to South Africa. Ireland, Finland and Burma where they continued in service until at least 1995. |
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Photos courtesy of the Tank Museum
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Photos courtesy of the Tank Museum
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Unit 22 Flightway Business Park,
Dunkeswell, Nr. Honiton, Devon. EX14 4RD e-mail:  Telephone: +44 (0) 1404 892956 |
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