THE COMET-BRITAIN'S LATEST TANK
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NEWS has just been released that it was the' Comet—Britain's latest Tank—that formed the spearhead of the Allied' advance across Germany from the west. This heavy, cruiser Tank was designed. and built by Leyland Motors, Ltd., in collaboration with the M.O.S. by which it was appointed the design and production " parent" for this vehicle. Whilst being a successor to the Cromwell, also built by -the company, its design was at least 60. per cent, new, involving an all-welded hull, an allwelded turret, an entirely new gun and a relayout of many of the major units to cater for the increased weight which the larger gun and the heavier-armour basis necessitated. Thus the changeover from the Cromwell to the Comet was in every sense a major change, entailing an entirely new technique which involved the training of hundreds of welders. Yet, in spite of this, the first production model was ready for delivery in August, 1944—only 13 months after the company's designers had started work on it.
It is, therefore, with justifiable pride and satisfaction' that the'company has heard that, from the Rhine to the Elbe and beyond, it was a Leyland product which played a prominent part in the final disintegration of the German armed forces.