History
The Cruiser Tank A10 was developed in the mid-1930s as an evolution of the earlier A9 design, intended to provide additional armour protection while retaining mobility. Entering service with the British Army just before the outbreak of WWII, the A10 Mk.IA was classified as a heavy cruiser, although its armour was soon outclassed by developments on the battlefield. It first saw combat in France during the 1940 campaign and later served in North Africa, where its mechanical reliability and firepower proved valuable despite limitations against more modern German tanks. The A10 represents an important transitional step in British armoured doctrine, influencing later cruiser tank designs such as the Covenanter and Crusader. Its legacy lies in its role as one of the first cruiser tanks deployed in significant numbers during the early stages of the war.
