Light AA MK2 (Late)
Hello and welcome to my second suggestion, the Light AA MK2 with it’s later armour configuration
- 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. In spite of all this, the same quadruple 7.7m Besa light machine guns were kept.
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 compares the late (top image) with the early (bottom image)
Despite the improvements, the MK2 couldn’t keep itself on the front line as high flying bombers proved to be hard to hit, let alone shoot down with it’s weak armament unlike the dive bombers early in the war. In a short lived lifespan, the light AA MK1 and MK2 were withdrawn sometime in 1942, two years after they entered service.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 and 40 km/h off road
Why should it be in game: While very similar to it’s early version and not very strong, this could easily be a folder vehicle and provide more spaa options at 1.0.
Sources: