Churchill tank

The tank Churchill or more officially, Infantry Tank MkIV or A22 , is a British tank used at the time of the Second world war. It is the sum of money result of the concept of tank of infantry, into force then in the British army. It was famous for its solid shielding, and to have been used as a basis for many special derivatives, the Hobart' S Funnies. After difficult beginnings, it was useful honourably, and produced with nearly 8.400 specimens, been useful in the British army until in 1952. It accepted its name, in the honor of Winston Churchill, which in addition to being the Prime Minister for the time, had taken a big part, at the time of the First World War, with the emergence of the first tanks. That would have declared on this subject: " This tank has even more defects than moi".

History

Its development starts before the release of the war, under the designation of A20, it is then the future one replacing Matilda II and Valentine. He answers the same style of needs as his predecessors, resulting from the experiment of the first world war, to accompany an attack by infantry through a ground upset by artillery, to fulfill role, he must be well protected and have good capacity from crossing, on the other hand one does not seek an high speed, as the progression must be carried out at the rate/rhythm of a man to foot and a powerful armament. The task to develop the new machine is given to Harland and Wolf, which finalizes four prototypes, in June 1940. However, the experiment of BEF during the countryside of France, has just proven that the needs changed, and the specifications of the tank, are re-examined by H.E. Merritt, which entrusts the design of a new model the A22 , with Vauxhall Motors. A German invasion being seen like imminent, the War Office, precise that the tank must be put in production before one year.

Dice July, the design is carried out, and the first prototypes leave in December 1940, and the first specimens of series, in June 1941. However, this speed of development has a cost, the tank suffers from many mechanical problems, of with its under motorization, worsened by the lack of accessibility of its engine. It is also armed out of turret, of a gun of 2 books (40 millimetres) definitely insufficient, in particular against the infantry and the anti-tank guns, because of explosive low power of its shell. The version Mk IICS, will mitigate somewhat this last defect by the displacement of the Obusier of 3 inches, in the turret. Nevertheless, the diseases of youth of Churchill, causes against performance, during its first engagement, of the raid on Dieppe, in August 1942. the production is then with two fingers, to be stopped with the profit of new the Char Cromwell.

Churchill, will be saved by the appearance, in March 1942, of its version Mk III. This one makes many mechanical improvements, and substitutes for the two guns of Mk I, only one of six books (57 mm) assembled in a new turret, assembled by welding. Engaged in October at the time of the Second battle of El Alamein, the tank proves there finally its value. Mk III is followed, by IV, which returns to a run turret, the more economic, it will be the most produced version. A new version of support is also produced, Mk V, which carries an howitzer of 95 mm out of turret. The armament is still increased on Mk VI, by the assembly of a gun of 75 mm Mk V, but very quickly, succeeds an entirely re-examined version to him, with thicknesses of shielding, ranging between 25 and 152 Misters This version will appear protected extremely well, being able even to box shells of 88 mm, nevertheless as its engine remains the same one, its maximum speed, already low, still falls passing from 26 to 20,5 km/h, and because of overload, the tank continues to suffer from many breakdowns. Engaged in Normandy, its role will be nevertheless determining, in particular, at the time of the catch of coast 309, July 30th and 31st 1944.

Alternatives

; alternatives:

Churchill Mk I - 303 specimens - first model, gun of two book out of turret and howitzer of 3 inches in casemate.
Churchill Mk II - 1127 specimens - howitzer of 3 inches, replaced by a Besa machine-gun.
Churchill Mk IICS - gun of two book in casemate and howitzer of 3 inches out of turret.
Churchill Mk III - 675 specimens - improved mechanics, gun of six books in a welded turret.
Churchill Mk IV - 1622 specimens - improved mechanics, gun of six books in a moulded turret.
Churchill Mk V - 241 specimens - version of fire support with an howitzer of 95 mm out of turret.
Churchill Mk VI - 200 specimens - gun of 75 mm Mk V out of turret.
Churchill Mk VII - 1600 specimens - maximum shielding carried from 102 to 152 Misters
Churchill Mk VIII - Mk VII with an howitzer of 95 mm out of turret.
Churchill Mk IX - Mk III or IV, equipped with the turret with additional Mk VII and shieldings, mechanical improvements.
Churchill Mk IX LT - Mk IX keeping the turret and the gun of six original books.
Churchill Mk X - Mk VI profiting from the same improvements as the IX.
Churchill Mk XI - Mk V with additional shieldings and turret of Mk VIII.

; special derivatives:

Churchill Oke - 3 specimens -
Churchill NA75 - 120 specimens -
Churchill AVRE -
Churchill ARV -
Churchill ARK -
Churchill Crocodile - 800 specimens -
Churchill Flail or FV3902
Churchill Goat -
Churchill Kangaroo

Random links: