SD:Cromwell V (Pol)

 is a Polish Tank unit.

Overview
Finally the British forces possessed a medium tank that could measure up to other medium tanks of the period, though it was still outclassed by the later German tanks, such as the Panther, by the time it arrived. Its significance was also diminished because large quantities of the similarly performing Sherman tanks had become available thanks to US industrial might, and for reasons of logistical simplicity the British chose the Sherman over the Cromwell tank. Nonetheless, the Cromwell would see much action in Normandy and its chassis would serve as the basis for the Challenger tank and the Comet tank.

Like most British based Armored Divisions, 1. Pancerna had the 10th Polish Mounted Rifle Regiment servings as the Armored Reconnaissance Regiment equipped with Cromwell tanks.

Strategy
The Cromwell tank is in most respects a mediocre tank. Its gun is very similar to the gun mounted on Sherman tanks, but the tank itself is rather poorly armoured. Limited numbers can be fielded in phase A by some Commonwealth divisions, where they can let their presence be felt. But in phase B, the cromwell tank faces more powerful enemy units, most of whom can reliably turn the Cromwell into a smoldering wreck if improperly managed. A slightly up-armoured variant, the Cromwell VII tank, is available to the Guards Armoured division.

The Cromwell tank plays somewhat like the Panzer IV tank. It acts as a good infantry support tank and deters enemy halftracks, but is more vulnerable to enemy tank & anti-tank units than its American counterpart, the Sherman tank. The Cromwell should best be employed in a supporting role alongside more beefy tank units.

Cromwell versus Sherman
Players can usually opt for either the Sherman tank or the Cromwell tank in phase B. Whereas the Sherman is better armoured, the Cromwell enjoys a higher road & off-road speed. The British medium tank is also cheaper with its cost of 120 points.