Cromwell Mk IV Type E ARV

Cromwell Mk IV Type E Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV)

This Class A restored Cromwell Mk IV Type E ARV is an exceptionally rare example of Britain’s finest WWII cruiser tank. Built in January 1944 and later converted to Charioteer, it has now been painstakingly returned to authentic Cromwell ARV configuration for a Polish Museum.

Global timeline

Story of the Cromwell Mk IV Type E Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV)

The Cromwell was Britain’s fastest WWII tank, powered by the Rolls-Royce Meteor and Merritt-Brown transmission, capable of around 40 mph. The Type E ARV variant replaced the turret with recovery equipment, towing gear and stowage, using its power and mobility to rescue disabled tanks under fire and keep armoured formations moving.
1944

Wartime Use / Deployment

Cromwell ARVs supported British and Allied armoured units, including the 1st Polish Armoured Division, during late-war operations in Northwest Europe.

2011

Condition When Discovered

Found in Finland as a Charioteer: structurally sound, highly complete interior, original WWII hull, ideal for reconversion.

3.2023

Start of the Restoration

Restoration began in March 2023. Returning a heavily modified Charioteer to Cromwell ARV configuration proved challenging.

5.2025

Condition After Restoration

Fully operational Cromwell ARV hull, Class A restored, museum-grade accuracy and finish, ready for display and running demonstrations.

Highlights

Using an original WWII Cromwell / Charioteer hull, the team reversed extensive post-war modifications, rebuilt the drivetrain and hull structure, and recreated Cromwell-specific ARV features.
Over 5,200 hours of specialist work produced a fully operational, historically accurate vehicle worthy of its prominent place in Polish armoured history.

Highlight 1

Reconversion from Charioteer back to correct 1944 Cromwell ARV configuration, including restored bow gunner’s position and deck layout.

Highlight 2

Complete overhaul and repeated alignment of engine bay and driveline to achieve smooth, reliable running performance.

Highlight 3

Original upper deck abandoned, and a new Cromwell-spec deck and fittings fabricated to precise historical standards.

Restoration captured in photos

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Background Story

This vehicle began life in January 1944 as Cromwell Mk IV T189932, built by Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon.

After distinguished wartime service, it was converted in the early 1950s into a Charioteer tank destroyer, armed with a 20-pounder gun and fitted with a new turret. As Charioteer PS 251-13 it served with the Finnish Army until retirement in 1979, then remained carefully stored and remarkably complete.

In 2011, Ivo Rigter Sr. and Jr. discovered the tank in Finland, literally under a meter of snow. Its originality, intact interior and uncut hull made it an ideal candidate for a long-desired Cromwell project.
After years of careful negotiations, BAIV secured the vehicle in 2021 and transported it to the Netherlands in 2022.

For the Muzeum Pierwszej Dywizji Pancernej im. Gen. Stanisława Maczka, this hull offered the perfect foundation to recreate a historically accurate Cromwell ARV, strongly linked to the wartime legacy of General Maczek’s division.

Restoration began in March 2023. Returning a heavily modified Charioteer to Cromwell ARV configuration proved challenging. The engine bay required extensive realignment, with the complete driveline removed and refitted multiple times. The original Charioteer top deck could not be reused, as its cut-outs and structures no longer matched factory Cromwell specifications. Instead, a new deck and Cromwell specific fittings were fabricated to match the vehicle’s January 1944 configuration.

Over 5,206 hours were invested by a dedicated team led by Vincent Kooijman and Ben Williams. They fully overhauled and restored the Meteor engine and transmission, reconstructed Cromwell ARV details, and ensured that every visible and hidden feature met Class A museum standards.
The result is a fully operational Cromwell Mk IV Type E ARV hull, faithful to its wartime appearance and performance.

Today, this vehicle represents far more than a rare British cruiser tank. It is a tribute to the 1st Polish Armoured Division, whose Cromwells fought from Normandy through Belgium and the Netherlands to Wilhelmshaven. As a centerpiece of the Polish Maczek Museum, this Cromwell ARV preserves the story of Polish armoured forces and honors the shared Polish Dutch history of liberation and remembrance.

Help keep our shared story alive

Historic military vehicles are more than just a hunk of steel. They represent engineering, craftsmanship, emotion, and an important chapter of our history. Step into the world of historic military vehicles and help us keep this heritage running.
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