Be on the Lookout for an Australian Cruiser

Commanders!

The Australian Cruiser Tank Mk. 1, or as it is more commonly known, the Sentinel, was one of the first efforts by Australia to create their own kind of tanks. With very little experience in tank development, missions were sent to the US to study their tank design, and specialists from the UK were hired to support the effort. The result was a multi-national hybrid based on the lower hull of the American M3 tank and an upper hull and turret modeled after the British Crusader with added modifications in order to keep up with German tank developments.

Wherever possible, already existing parts and designs were reused to simplify the production. However, both the hull and the turret were cast as single pieces. An unprecedented technique for the time. The result was the IV AC 1 Sentinel and a total of 65 tanks were produced from 1942 through 1943. However, they never actually saw active service and were only used for training purposes.

A prototype Australian AC 1 Sentinel Cruiser Tank Mk I negotiating a gully during trials at the Villawood test track in Sydney.

Prototype Australian AC 1 Sentinel

The final assembly shop for AC1 Sentinel tanks at the Government Annexe, New South Wales Government Railway workshops, Chullora.

AC 1 Sentinel under construction

Add this unique piece of Australian tank history to your collection and see for yourself how this fast Tier IV medium tank with quick reload time, decent armor, and good view range performs on the battlefields of World of Tanks.

AC 1 Sentinel Offers

Available from July 13 at 07:00 CEST through July 15 at 07:00 CEST (UTC+2)