The Tank, Cruiser, Comet I (A34) was a British cruiser tank that first saw use near the end of World War II. It was designed to provide greater anti-tank capability to Cromwell tank squadrons. It was armed with a 77mm HV, a derivative of the 17 pounder, with the result it was one of the few British tanks with the firepower to challenge late war German designs. Seeing post World War II combat during the Korean war, the Comet remained in British service until 1958. Comets sold to other countries continued in some cases to operate into the 70s.

The 11th Armoured Division was the first to receive the new tanks in December 1944 and the only division to be completely refitted by the end of the war. Because of its late arrival, the Comet did not participate in any major battles though it did see combat against the Germans. The Comet was involved in the crossing of the Rhine and the later Berlin Victory Parade in July 1945. The Comet's maximum speed of 32 miles per hour was greatly exploited on the German Autobahns.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a British cruiser tank, A34 Comet Mk. IV Tank that was attached to the Curragh Command in Ireland during the 1960s. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 3-1/2-inches
Width: 1-1/2-inches

Release Date: August 2014

Historical Account: "Curragh Camp" - The Curragh Camp (Irish: Campa an Churraigh) is an army base and military college located in The Curragh, County Kildare, Ireland. It is the main training centre for the Irish Army.

The Curragh has historically been a military assembly area due to the wide expanse of plain. Henry Harvey in 1599, during the Elizabethan wars noted "a better place for the deploying of an Army I never beheld." However, the Curragh's history goes further back being mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters where Laeghaire Lore, the king of Ireland, was slain on the Curragh by Cobhthach Cael Breagh.

Richard Talbot, 1st Earl of Tyrconnel chose the Curragh as a muster point for the cause of James II during the Williamite War in Ireland. In 1783, a review of the Volunteers raised to assist in the defence of the country while England was at war with America held on the Curragh attracted upwards of 50,000 spectators.