The Cromwell Tank was produced from 1943 and was effectively put into service during the operation Overlord in Normandy and used during all the Allied campain in North West of Europe. It was the last of a succession of cruiser designs and the first British tank to combine a dual-purpose gun, high speed, and reasonable armour. It main assets were  its velocity (65 kph/40 mph), maneuverability, low  profile, and large-wheeled Christie suspension with a rear drive sprockets. However, it was constructed with old-fashioned flat armour riveted plates, and only the last Mk VII version was welded. Despite the fact it was faster and had a lower silhouette than the Sherman tank with an equivalent thickness armour, it was less sloped and therefore less effective. The most produced version was the mark IV which fully equipped the 7th armoured division ("desert rats") where it replaced the british version of the Sherman. The Cromwell was also used as the main tank in the reconnaissance battalions of British armoured divisions.