Australian Cruiser Tank Mk. 3 "Thunderbolt" | |
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![]() The pilot production AC MkIII tank | |
Type | Cruiser tank |
Place of origin | Australia |
Production history | |
Designed | 1942 |
Manufacturer | New South Wales Government Railways Workshops |
Produced | 1943 |
No. built | 1 |
Specifications | |
Mass | 29 long tons (29.5 t)[1] |
Length | 20 feet 9 inches (6.32 m) |
Width | 9 feet 7⁄8 inch (2.77 m) |
Height | 8 feet 4+3⁄4 inches (2.56 m) |
Crew | 4 (Commander, Gunner, Loader/Operator, Driver) |
Armour | Hull front 65 millimetres (2.6 in) sides and rear 45 millimetres (1.8 in) Turret 65 millimetres (2.6 in) all round |
Main armament | 25 pounder tank gun, 120 rounds |
Secondary armament | One .303 (7.7 mm) Vickers machine gun, 2,500 rounds |
Engine | Perrier-Cadillac 397 horsepower (296 kW)[1] |
Power/weight | 13.7 hp/ton |
Suspension | Horizontal Volute Spring |
Operational range | 200 miles (320 km) |
Maximum speed | 35 miles per hour (56 km/h) |
AC3 Thunderbolt (Australian Cruiser III)[2][3] was a cruiser tank designed and built in Australia in World War II as the successor to the AC1 Sentinel. Like the Sentinel the AC3 featured a one piece cast hull and turret. The AC3 featured a much improved design over the AC1 with better armour protection, a more powerful engine, and most importantly increased firepower.
The program was terminated in 1943 before any production vehicles were completed.