- Yes
- No
History:
The light AA is a conversion done to the Mark VI tank to provide air defence against low flying attacking aircraft. There were around a total of 50 light AA tanks, including both MK1 and MK2. The MK2 was a slight improvement as it provided a fully powered traverse, wider and more accessible turret, and better quality sights, the latter is visible in the image below (I believe this is a late but should be the same for the early). The armament was the same quadruple BESA guns present on the MK1.
(Turret for the light AA MK2)
The main difference between the early and late variants is the chassis as the late variant use a VIB chassis while the early used the VIA. They also had varying placement of the upper box, with the late having a lower placement which increased the vehicles stability.
Below is a comparison of the early (top) and late (bottom)
Later on, the MK2 entered it’s late configuration, moving the upper box to improve stability and changing the hull to a mostly identical VIB.
Despite it’s improvements, high flying aircraft became more prevalent instead of the dive bombers it fought before, meaning it’s weak armament could no longer cope as an effective anti air vehicle. Both the MK1 and MK2 withdrew from service in 1942, after only 2 years of service.
Specifications:
Mass:5 tons
Length:4.0 m
Width:2.08 m
Height:2.35 m
Crew:2 (commander/gunner,driver)
Armour:4 -14 mm
Armament:4 x 7.92 mm Besa light machine gun
Engine:Meadows 6-cylinder petrol-88 hp (66 kW)
Power/weight ratio:16.9 hp/ton
Transmission:Wilson pre-selector gearbox
Suspension:Horstmann inclined springs
Operational range:210 km
Maximum speed:56 km/h on road and40 km/h off road
Why should it be in game: While very similar to it’s late version and pretty weak, this could easily be a folder vehicle and provide more spaa options at 1.0 alongside the Mk1 and MK2 late. This would presumably be slightly worse than the late variant due to the latter having improved stability.
Sources: