cromwell tank korean war us military vehicles

The Cromwell was unsuited for the terrain, it tended to cast tracks and unfortunately, it was never properly tested because of what happened to the whole of the Reconnaissance Troop. We had Centurion tanks plus a number of Cromwells which were lightly armoured and light gunned reconnaissance tanks left over from the war, but the Centurions were brand new and had never been used on active service before.

WHAT KIND OF EQUIPMENT DID YOU TAKE WITH YOU? We left the UK with our tanks in merchant ships, ourselves on the troopship Empire Fowey, and after six weeks we arrived at Pusan the port in the South of Korea. In a period of about two or three weeks Reservists were called up and the Regiment was brought up to strength in both officers and men some of our men and officers were rejected on medical grounds and they had to be replaced. The 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars, now known as the Queen’s Royal Irish Hussars after they amalgamated with the 4th Hussars, were at Tidworth when suddenly we were instructed to mobilise. I started to hand over my duties and though I was not to be Adjutant in Korea I was of course involved with the preparation. I was Adjutant of the Regiment when we moved down to Tidworth about three months before going to Korea. We are very greatly indebted to him and to Clare Cooke, who transcribed the tapes, for this compelling description of an often overlooked and very bloody war. Colonel Peter Ormrod MC was interviewed by the Imperial War Museum.

Cromwell tank korean war us military vehicles