Developed from the Covenanter, The Crusader Mk I saw service between 1941 and 1943 mostly in the North African campaign. The Mk I was armed with a 2 pounder and an auxilliary front machine gun turret. This was sometimes removed in the field leaving the tank with no hull machine gun. The Mk I Close Support was fitted with a 3" (76.2mm) howitzer instead of the 2 pounder to provide close support to the infantry.