On the positive side, crews liked its relatively high speed and mechanical reliability, especially compared to the Crusader tank,[13][14] which comprised a large portion of the British tank force in Africa up until 1942. The Crusader had similar armament and armor to the Stuart while being slower, less reliable, and several tons heavier. The Stuart also had the advantage of a gun that could deliver high-explosive shells; HE shells were not available for the QF 2 pdr mounted by most Crusaders, severely limiting their use against emplaced anti-tank guns or infantry;.[15][note 2] The main drawback of the Stuart was its low fuel capacity and range; its operational range was only 75 miles (cross country),[7] roughly half that of the Crusader.