No British Cruiser Tanks?

What if on January 1 1944, the British military ordered all production of Cromwells and other cruiser tanks to be halted, and that production of "infantry tanks" like the Churchill to be given priority?

So British tanks in France have better armor but half the speed. How would that affect the rest of the war?
 
Britain would still have all of the cruiser tanks built in 1943 plus the Shermans that they were supplied with by the US.
 
The survivability of the British Tank Corps crewman increases considerably. Also, infantry-tank operations are more effective as the tanks do not get blown up so easily.
 
The Churchill's major fault was that it was difficult to up gun it so as to have a weapon capable of knocking out German tanks. And firing a useful high explosive round.

A better idea might be to take all those half completed cruiser hulls and fit them up like tank destroyers with 17 pounder ATguns in fixed mounts.
 
The Churchill's major fault was that it was difficult to up gun it so as to have a weapon capable of knocking out German tanks. And firing a useful high explosive round.

A better idea might be to take all those half completed cruiser hulls and fit them up like tank destroyers with 17 pounder ATguns in fixed mounts.

Like a British STUG? I likey...
 

Sior

Banned
_.gif

Valentine Archer 17pdr S.P.
Britain’s most promising anti-tank gun was the excellent 17 pdr., and in 1942 a chassis for a self-propelled version was needed. At that time, the Valentine was the only suitable candidate available. Simply installing the gun in a new turret proved unfeasible due to the gun’s length, so modification of the chassis was undertaken. The result was the Archer, basically an open-topped Valentine with the 17 pdr. mounted pointing to the rear. An unconventional arrangement, but the only solution to the design challenge. This arrangement gave the vehicle a compact and low silhouette. Eventually the Archer proved to be an effective SP gun. The 17 pdr. was later mounted in the Sherman Firefly and - in modified form - Comet battle tanks.
The first of 665 production models were completed in 1944, and the Archer served in Europe from October 44 to war’s end. It remained in British service until the 50s, and some were supplied to the Egyptian Army.
 
The infantry tanks had the same major flaw that the cruisers did: inability to support a good enough gun to take on the likes of Panthers, at least until too late to have much impact on the war. Light a fire under one of the projects to get a 17 pounder or equivalent on a reasonable tank. The Brits had what? Four? five? projects to get a 17 pounder or near equivalent on a British tank. Black Prince, whatever they called the 17 pounder Valentine project, Centurian, Comet, and Challenger. And that doesn't even count the Sherman Firefly. Huge, and unnecessary dispersion of resources. Choose a couple to make sure you're not left with one lemon and get at least one out the door in decent numbers by mid-1944. Centurian would be the best option, but it might be a little too ambitious for the time-frame.
 
I think the trouble with the post, is that the is no explanation i.e. plausible reason 'why'!?

The problem with British tanks throughout WW2 was being under-gunned, and unreliable.
The 2 pdr gun was used for too long, before the 6 pdr., the 6 pdr., was used too long before the 75 mm, and the 75mm was used too long before the 17 pdr!
The Comet, could have been developed earlier, and even if the Black Prince had been started at the same time as the OTL Comet, it should have seen service. Moreover there is the Cruiser/infantry cross of the A.33 with 114 mm armour, with speed of 24 mph - it was completed in '43 - now there's a WI - though designed for 75 mm gun, expect a 17 pdr could be accommodated - it did weigh 45 tons.
 
I think the trouble with the post, is that the is no explanation i.e. plausible reason 'why'!?

Change in British tank theory, such as belief that the terrain of France is unsuited to large, fast tank operations; therefore, slower, heavier tanks are built instead.
 
The Crusader tank was noted for unreliability. It was powered by the Nuffield Liberty engine designed in 1917, and the engine air intake was located next to where all the sand clouds kicked up by the treads were thickest. It was ordered off the drawing board. Churchill was very upset. And he didn't have to go to North Africa to find out what the problem was.
 
Top