Tankopedia
WW2MediumMedium TankUnited Kingdom

Comet

In service 1944 - 1960s

The best British tank of the war: Cromwell speed with a gun that could fight Panthers.

Built byLeyland Motors

Comet
Comet tank at Tankfest 2023 — Geni, via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Development history

The Comet refined the Cromwell with a new turret, thicker armour and the 77 mm HV - a shortened 17-pounder that fitted a practical turret while retaining most of its punch. It reached units only in late 1944 but was fast, reliable and well liked, and served with Britain, Finland, Ireland and South Africa into the 1960s.

Variants

One canonical record, 2 recorded variants.

  1. Comet Mk I Type A

    1944

    First production batch, without a fume extractor on the barrel.

  2. Comet Mk I Type B

    1945

    Fume extractor fitted and detail improvements to the turret.

Notable actions

  • Rhine crossing 1945
  • North West Europe 1945