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Introduction
Established in early 1943, the 6th South African Armoured division was a mechanised division representing the bulk of South Africa’s heavy armour during WW2. The division was composed of South African volunteers and integrated Allied forces. Under the command of Major General W.H.E. Poole, the division was trained in Egypt for much of 1943, before being deployed into the invasion of Italy alongside the British, Americans, and other Allies.
Over the course of the campaign, the 6th South African Armoured Division distinguished itself highly, including during the liberation of Florence and battles in the Apennine Mountains. It played a vital role in disrupting German defensive lines, utilising its tanks effectively, despite often being significantly outmatched by Axis armour. The Italian campaign was an absolute hellish slog, against well entrenched German forces, but the South Africans consistently managed to do more with less. By the end of the war, the division had a well-earned reputation as an effective fighting force, leaving a lasting legacy in South African military history.
This suggestion will cover the use of the Crusader tank, specifically the Mk II, in South African service. Introduced in 1940, the Crusader was designed as a fast, lightly armored cruiser tank intended to exploit breakthroughs and outmaneuver enemy forces. Despite its mobility, the Crusader was plagued by mechanical reliability issues, stemming from its antique engine, and relatively thin armor, leaving it vulnerable to the more heavily armed and armoured German tanks. It saw extensive use during the North African Campaign.
The 6th South African Armoured Division employed Crusader tanks during its training and early operational phases in World War II. Following its formation in 1943, the 6th was equipped with a mix of British-supplied tanks, including the Crusader, as they mustered in Egypt for deployment to the Italian Campaign. While the division transitioned to newer and better tanks such as Shermans for front-line combat, the Crusader remained in use for crew training, preparing South African tankers for front line combat.
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