I don't think there ever was a "Universal Tank" though, and can't find any reference to it.
The British tank programme for 1945 was that the A43 Black Prince was due to start production in 2nd Quarter 1945, for service in the 3rd Quarter, and A41 Centurion was to start production in 3rd Quarter 1945 for service in the 4th Quarter 1945 or early 1946, presuming that the war was ongoing. There would then be the next Infantry tank, the A45, which was to be based on the Centurion. The A30 Avenger and Alecto were also intended to be significant programmes.
As far as I can tell, it was the end of the war that curtailed the development of everything but the Centurion, so it became a kind of universal tank by default, not by intention. So my feeling, based on the information I have, is that Fletcher's idea of the British groping towards an ideal "Universal Tank" that was manifested as the Centurion seems to be a kind of retrospective fiction.
But if anyone has any better info that can correct me.....
The British tank programme for 1945 was that the A43 Black Prince was due to start production in 2nd Quarter 1945, for service in the 3rd Quarter, and A41 Centurion was to start production in 3rd Quarter 1945 for service in the 4th Quarter 1945 or early 1946, presuming that the war was ongoing. There would then be the next Infantry tank, the A45, which was to be based on the Centurion. The A30 Avenger and Alecto were also intended to be significant programmes.
As far as I can tell, it was the end of the war that curtailed the development of everything but the Centurion, so it became a kind of universal tank by default, not by intention. So my feeling, based on the information I have, is that Fletcher's idea of the British groping towards an ideal "Universal Tank" that was manifested as the Centurion seems to be a kind of retrospective fiction.
But if anyone has any better info that can correct me.....
Comment