I have just read a reference that in 1945 150 British Cromwells were supplied to the French. Anyone know anything about this? were they ever used in action? Possible Indochina after the war?

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Thoughts on Military History
Cornish Scale Modellers
Ross' Military Modelling and Art

Here´s the best site on the net I found on Cromwell tank`s history...

http://freespace.virgin.net/shermanic.firefly/a27m.html

according to it :

It only served in North West Europe (at least in WW2) and was not used in Italy, nor in the Middle or Far East, baring a few test vehicles, until after WW2. Post war it saw action in Korea and soldiered on as a training tank, until at least 1960. Exports seem few and baring use by the Poles and Czech's under British leadership it was not used by foreign nations, except for the odd test vehicle, like the one shipped to the US for comparative trials. The one exception would seem to have been the single one captured in Korea from the British and then used against them, until the Cromwells grandson (the Centurion) took it out with a well placed 20 Pdr shot.

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Although I can't help with Mahross' query, I had to chip in as my Dad served on Cromwells at the end of the war.

Here's a nice piccy : -

http://www.fmdinning.freeserve.co.uk/index.htm

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

I too find the Cromwell a really interesting tank second only to the Comet in my affections

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Ain't no rocket scientists in the firehall

I'll bump this up, I'm sure Von Poop or one of his tank-nerd mates will know.

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The FFI do seem to have had Cromwells and a handful of Cavaliers.
Not something I know much about as decent books in English on French Armour seem to be all but non-existent.
I'm very interested though as this is not unlike my longstanding quest for more info on postwar French Panthers, something's also nagging at the back of my mind that some of the Centaurs & Cromwells used by Greece postwar may have come via France?? Really not sure without a bit more checking though .

As Ross's query is so old I guess he might have found more by now.

Cheers,
Adam.

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"Wars cannot be fought with dream stuff" - Sir Percy Hobart.

Of topic but, Didn't the Israelis 'acquire' two Cromwells from the British Army in Palestine in 1948?

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