British armored vehicles of the Second World War. British tanks and armored vehicles of the Second World War
As you know, the British began building tanks during the First World War. By its end, they had numerous and organized tank forces - Royal Armored Corps (RAC) - Royal Tank Corps.
In the next 20 years, British tank building was almost at the “freezing point.” There were several reasons for this. First of all, in Great Britain the discussion about the role and place of tanks in modern warfare has dragged on. Uncertainty on this issue among the military slowed down the development of appropriate tactical and technical requirements and the issuance of orders to industry. The geographical feature of the state also played a role - the British did not intend to attack anyone, and for a long time they did not have a real enemy in Europe.
This situation led to the fact that during this period of time the British industry produced only a few hundred tanks, the design of which can hardly be called innovative. The most interesting ideas of their creators were either embodied in prototypes and experimental samples that remained unclaimed, or simply did not find application in their homeland.
The end of the debate in the USSR and Germany about the role of tanks and the subsequent massive deployment of tank troops in these countries forced the British military to come out of hibernation. Beginning around 1934, the development of armored vehicles in Great Britain intensified sharply.
By this time, the views of the military leadership on the tactical use of tanks had largely been determined. In accordance with them, tanks in England were divided into three classes: light, infantry and cruising. Moreover, the concept of cruising tanks was formed later than others. At first, their functions were to be performed by light combat vehicles - fast and maneuverable. The main task of infantry tanks was to directly support infantry on the battlefield. These vehicles had limited speed and heavy armor. Sometimes it reached the point of absurdity: the gearbox of the Matilda infantry tank, for example, had only one speed - it was believed that this was quite enough.
In 1936, the British considered it sufficient to arm tanks only with machine guns. Common sense, however, soon triumphed, and first on cruising and then on infantry vehicles a 2-pounder gun appeared. Its capabilities, however, were very limited - there were no high-explosive fragmentation shells in the ammunition load.
The symbol of British tank building in the years between the two world wars was the five-turret heavy tank A1 Independent. This vehicle became the object of close attention of specialists from many countries and, without a doubt, served as a prototype for the creation of the Soviet T-35 heavy tank and the German Nb.Fz
The disaster at Dunkirk forced the British to reconsider their views somewhat. Light tanks were now assigned only reconnaissance functions, and even then, during the war, they were gradually transferred to armored vehicles. The role of infantry tanks, the only ones that had proven themselves well in battles on the continent, remained virtually unchanged, and efforts to improve them boiled down to increasing the power of weapons and armor protection.
At the same time, the unfolding hostilities in North Africa revealed the army's enormous need for a reliable and complete tank for independent armored formations. HVi, one of the cruising tanks then in service with the British Army, did not fully meet these requirements. One can only be surprised that a country that built beautiful ships, planes and cars could not achieve the required operational reliability of tank engines and chassis elements for several years. The British were able to resolve these issues only by 1944. By this time, the importance of infantry tanks and their share in tank units had significantly decreased. The cruising tank increasingly acquired the features of a universal one. Soon after the end of World War II, the British abandoned the division of tanks into classes according to purpose.
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Leading developer and manufacturer of armored vehicles in Great Britain in 1930 - 1940. was Vickers-Armstrong Ltd. With her participation, almost half of all British tanks that participated in World War II were created. The photo shows one of the variants of the Mk IV light tank in the factory yard
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Assembly of cruiser tanks Mk II in the workshop of the BRCW plant, 1940. In the foreground are stands for assembling turrets
For the 1940s, the design and assembly technology of British tanks cannot be considered progressive. The hulls and turrets (if the latter were not made in one piece) were assembled using bolts on frames or using the frameless method (“Valentine”). Welding was used to an extremely limited extent. Armor plates, as a rule, were located vertically, without any angles of inclination. British tanks, especially in the second half of the war, could not compete with German tanks either in terms of armor protection or firepower.
The pace of tank production on the eve and during the Second World War also lagged behind real needs. For example, by December 1938, the industry was supposed to supply the army with more than 600 cruiser and about 370 infantry tanks. However, only 30 of the former were produced, and 60 of the latter. A year later, only 314 tanks of all types entered the army. As a result, Britain entered the war with just over 600 tanks, more than half of which were light tanks. In total, during the war years the British produced 25,116 tanks, about 4,000 self-propelled guns and self-propelled guns. Moreover, a significant part of the latter were manufactured using the chassis of obsolete and decommissioned vehicles. Speaking about the production of tanks in the United Kingdom, it should be taken into account that a significant part of the combat vehicles produced during the war never reached the front and were used for training purposes.
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Manufacturing the hull of the cruiser tank Mk V "Covenanter" in the workshop of the LMS plant. 1941
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A prototype of the A43 Black Prince tank, 1945. This vehicle, developed on the basis of the Churchill infantry tank and armed with a 17-pounder gun, is an attempt to create a full-fledged English heavy tank
After the outbreak of the 2nd World War, in 1940, 22 “old” cavalry regiments were supplemented by three “new” regiments (22nd Dragoons, 23rd Hussars, 24th Lancers) and the same number of units in 1941 . (25th Dragoons, 26th Hussars, 27th Lancers).
In addition to these forces, the Reconnaissance Corps was formed in 1940, comprising 23 armored reconnaissance regiments, and then, in 1944, became part of the Royal Armored Corps. In addition, a number of territorial infantry battalions were turned to form tank regiments during the war. A total of 44 such regiments were created, bearing separate numbering from 1st to 44th.
The tank units of the British Expeditionary Force, which arrived in France in September 1939, were consolidated into two light reconnaissance brigades. In addition to them, the 1st Army Tank Brigade, equipped with infantry tanks, was delivered to the mainland. Around this time, the 1st Armored Division was formed in Great Britain. In February 1940, in Egypt, on the basis of units of the so-called Mobile Division, the famous 7th Panzer Division was created, which later fought the entire African campaign; its tankers received the nickname “desert rats”.
In the Far East, the Royal Tank Corps in 1941 was represented by only two tank regiments - the 7th Hussars and the 2nd Royal. Stationed in Singapore, they were transferred to Burma after its capture by the Japanese. Two more tank regiments subsequently arrived there from the metropolis. In addition to the British, Australian and Indian tank units took part in the fighting in Southeast Asia.
During the war, the pace of formation of armored formations increased slightly. By the fall of 1941, 5 armored divisions and 5 separate armored brigades were formed.
By April 1942, Great Britain (together with the dominions) already had 12 armored divisions and 9 separate armored brigades. 6 armored divisions and 9 separate armored brigades (including two Canadian ones) were deployed in the metropolis. 6 armored divisions and 2 armored brigades were located in other theaters of operations: 3 armored divisions and 2 armored brigades in Africa, the Near and Middle East, 2 armored divisions in India and Burma, 1 armored division in Australia. The command of the armed forces reorganized the armored divisions, increasing their power and mobility.
By April 1943, the British army proper consisted of 9 armored divisions and 11 separate tank brigades. Each tank division consisted of 13,235 people. personnel and 230 tanks, in a tank brigade - 202 tanks. Some armored divisions and brigades had up to 430 tanks.
Thus, the basis of the British armored forces in World War 2 were tank brigades and tank divisions. Moreover, there were two types of brigades: tank and army tank. The latter were intended to interact with infantry formations and were equipped with tanks.
In total, during the years of World War 2, 11 tank divisions and 30 brigades were formed in Great Britain. There were no larger tank formations, although in some cases army corps consisted of tank divisions, as was the case at El Alamein and Caen (1942 - 44). In these cases, the 10th and 8th Army Corps each had three tank divisions.
In most cases, when a prepared defense was broken through, tank divisions were in the second echelon of the corps and were brought into battle to complete the breakthrough of the enemy’s main line of defense.
The British command sought to centralize the use of its tank formations. The division, as a rule, operated in two directions in a zone of 4–8 km. In the presence of weak enemy resistance, it could attack in 3–4 directions in a strip of up to 12 kilometers or more. The operational density in some cases reached 100 or more combat vehicles and 1 km of front. It should be emphasized that aviation, interaction with which was well established, actively supported the actions of tank units.
In amphibious landing operations, tank units were used to reinforce the infantry divisions of the 1st and 2nd echelons. For example, during the Normandy landings, each infantry division of the 1st echelon was reinforced by two tank regiments.
During the 2nd World War, British tank formations also carried out defensive combat operations. In this case, the tank divisions were in the 2nd echelon and were used to carry out counterattacks and counterattacks. Sometimes tank formations independently defended important lines. At the same time, in their 1st echelons there were motorized infantry units, reinforced with tanks and self-propelled guns.
In general, the offensive actions of British tank formations and units were characterized by methodicality, a desire for a frontal offensive, and a lack of maneuver. In defense, they launched counterattacks and counterstrikes, and in some cases were used to independently hold important lines and areas. As they gained combat experience, the interaction of tank units with other branches of the military, primarily with infantry and aviation, became increasingly clear and streamlined.
In Great Britain, great importance was attached to the training of tank troops. As a result, the level of combat training of British tank crews was very high, not inferior to German and significantly superior to Italian. Human losses were also relatively low.
During the war, British tank forces acquired a wealth of experience in combat operations in the desert, as well as participation in landing operations. The experience of combat operations in the Central European theater of operations was clearly insufficient.
The British are the pioneers in world tank building, for which we must thank W. Churchill. As you know, it quickly developed into a positional war. To give it at least some dynamics, in October 1914, Secretary of the Defense Committee Colonel E. Swinton made a proposal to create a tracked armored vehicle that could break through defense lines: cross trenches, trenches and wire fences. The Minister of War did not react to the idea, but the First Lord of the Admiralty (Naval Minister) W. Churchill supported the idea, and after some time the Land Ships Committee was created under the Navy Department.
History of the development of British tanks by model
The commander of the British troops in France, General J. French, impressed by the ensuing battles, formulated the basic requirements for the “land dreadnought”:
- Relatively small dimensions.
- Bulletproof armor.
- Crawler mover.
- Ability to overcome craters up to 4 m and wire fences.
- Speed not lower than 4 km/h.
- The presence of a cannon and two machine guns.
In fact, these were the world's first requirements for tank performance. And in January 1916, the committee presented the world's first tank capable of taking part in battles. Thus, with the light hand of Churchill, tank building began in Britain, and a few years later throughout the world.
The first tanks were created solely for breaking through defenses and suppressing enemy machine guns, which was facilitated by the special shape of the hull. It was a parallelogram with tracks along the outer contour for overcoming vertical obstacles. That's how he was.
Even after tangible successes from tanks in battle, the British military leadership considered their use to be of little promise, and only thanks to the real successes of the high-speed French Renaults did the idea of mass production of tanks take possession of the minds of military leaders. J. Fuller, a later famous tank theorist, for example, advocated the mass creation of high-speed tanks.
British tanks of the First World War
There were several tank qualifications in the British forces at the time.
The first is weight: up to 10 tons - light, from 10-20 tons medium and about 30 tons heavy. As is known, preference was given mainly to heavy tanks.
The second qualification concerns weapons: tanks with exclusively machine gun armament were called “females”, those with cannons were called “males”. After the first oncoming battles with German tanks, which showed the inadequacy of machine-gun models, a combined type with cannons and machine guns appeared, such tanks were called “hermaphrodites”.
As for the doctrine of using tanks in battle, military opinions are divided into two halves. One half wanted to create and use purely “infantry” tanks, the other “cruising” ones.
Infantry type - used for direct support of infantry, had low mobility and was well armored.
The cruising type is a kind of “armored cavalry”, quite fast, and in comparison with infantry, lightly armored. On their shoulders, together with the cavalry, fell the tasks of quickly breaking through the defense, enveloping and raiding the enemy’s rear. The armament of both types was the same, mainly machine guns.
The British retained this concept of using tanks until the beginning of World War II. If you delve deeper into it, you will see that tanks play a supporting role, the main tasks are carried out by cavalry and infantry.
Before the end of the First World War in England, after the heavy MK-I, its modifications were produced up to Mk VI and Mk IX and medium ones: Mk A (unofficially “Whippet”), Mk B and Mk C.
Of course, the quality of the first production tanks was quite low.
There are many interesting facts in the diaries of German soldiers and in official reports. For example, due to gas pollution inside the tanks, there were frequent cases of suffocation of the entire crew. Due to the primitiveness of the suspension, the tanks created such a roar that, in order to disguise the movement of tank units, the British accompanied them with artillery cannonade. Due to the narrow tracks, there were cases when tanks became muddy in the ground right in front of the enemy trenches.
One case speaks about security.
In November 1917, in the battles near Cambrai, on the outskirts of the village of Flesquières, one German officer was left with a cannon abandoned by servants; he, slowly, loading himself, pointing and shooting, destroyed 16 British tanks in order.
It seemed that even then it was necessary to think about strengthening the armor, but not one of the tank manufacturers did this until the conflict in Spain.
Be that as it may, the British, with their tanks, added a new level to the conduct of wars; they transferred them to other speeds. Before the end of the war, they managed to be the first in the world to create amphibious tanks and communication tanks.
Tanks between the great wars
England ended the First World War as a leader in tank production, but very soon all the advantages disappeared.
Firstly, due to the fact that they strictly separated the types of tanks and their use: the British continued to build “infantry” and “cruising” types.
Secondly, due to its geographical location, the command gave priority to the development of the fleet over the land army.
The implementation of one of the tactical ideas of J. Fuller, by the way, almost all countries “fell ill” with it, was the creation of mechanized infantry. The Carden-Lloyd MkVI wedge was ideal for these purposes. In its entirety, according to the strategist’s plan, it was supposed to play the role of an “armored skirmisher.” Despite the fact that the wedge did not receive recognition in its homeland, although reconnaissance tanks and tractors were built on its basis, it was purchased by 16 countries, and Poland, Italy, France, Czechoslovakia and Japan acquired licenses for their production. In the USSR it was produced as the T-27.
Another tank that was not appreciated by its compatriots was the Vickers 6 tons. In the world tank building it played no less a role than the Renault FT in its time. Light and cheap to manufacture, with a machine gun in one turret and a cannon in the other, it was the embodiment of the idea of World War I tanks: machine gun tanks act against manpower, while cannon tanks support them.
Among the tanks put into service at the end of the 1920s and the beginning of the 1930s were:
- medium Mk I "Vickers-12 tons",
- heavy A1E1 “Independent”,
- various modifications of the Vickers-Carden-Loyd Mk VII and Mk VIII.
In anticipation of a big war, the headquarters of the ground forces, back in the late 20s, insisted on the creation and production of infantry tanks, but due to the economic crisis in the country, funding was not allocated.
After the conflict in Spain and Italy’s attack on Ethiopia, the British leadership, anticipating the approach of a “big conflict” and understanding the inconsistencies of the time of the equipment they had previously created, urgently financed the creation and production of new tanks.
Appear: “cruising Mk I (A9), Mk II (A10), Mk III, Mk IV and Mk VI “Crusader” (A15).
Mk IV and Mk VI were implemented on the famous wheeled-tracked base of the American inventor Christie, but using one propulsion unit.
In 1939, production of the first (!) tank with anti-ballistic armor began - the infantry A11 Mk I "Matilda", later another tank would be named by this name. Its speed of 13 km/h and machine gun armament made it a laughingstock. In general, during the period between the “great” wars, British designers created more than 50 real models of tanks, 10 of which were put into service.
British tanks of World War II
At the time of the start, England's armored vehicles were noticeably outdated. Neither in quality nor in quantity could it compare with the equipment of the USSR and Germany. The total number of all tanks in the British army was about 1000, most of them light. The lion's share of which was lost in the battles for France.
During the war, English manufacturers were never able to satisfy the demands of the army; during the period 1939-1945, only 25 thousand units of armored vehicles were produced, the same number came from the USA and Canada.
All the new technology was rather mediocre, it was one step behind the German and Russian ones.
Mostly cruiser and infantry tanks were produced, and light airborne tanks were produced in small quantities.
After Churchill’s famous post-war phrase, tanks all over the world joined the arms race, and their development, in general, is similar to each other. To counter our IP, Conqueror is being created. After the concept of the main battle tank was accepted in the world, the Chieftain was released. The third generation tank in England is the Challenger.
In addition to the main ones, after a long break, light Scorpion tanks began to be produced in 1972.
Defeats in Europe and the disaster at Dunkirk
Before the start of the German offensive in the West, the British had 12 divisions and over 500 tanks in France, 9 of these 15 divisions were located in Belgium as part of the joint Anglo-French North-Eastern Front, which was supposed to cover this direction from a possible German attack. The British Expeditionary Force in France was armed with Matilda (Mark II), Cruiser (Mark IIA) and Cruiser (Mark IIIA) tanks, armed with 40mm guns, more than half of which had excellent armor for 1940 and were difficult to hit by German tank guns. In addition, do not forget that many German tanks in the French campaign were still armed only with a machine gun (Pz.I and Pz.II).![](https://i0.wp.com/4tanks.ru/nations/british/pic/churchill(2).jpg)
See also:
British tanks in Africa
Initially, in Africa, the British were opposed by parts of the Italian army, the technical equipment of which left much to be desired - all Italian combat vehicles were inferior to English models. When the first offensive of British troops in Africa against the Italian aggressors began in December 1940, the superiority of the British in technology made itself felt - the Italians retreated until the German command, which decided to help its ally, transferred a corps to Africa under the command of General Rommel. The counterattack of this corps, which at the initial stage had only 120 tanks, drove the British back to the Egyptian border and surrounded their base in Tobruk.![](https://i2.wp.com/4tanks.ru/nations/british/pic/matilda.jpg)
Tank production in England during the war
The rate of tank production in the pre-war years in England was very low. In many sources, this is sometimes explained by the fact that in the British War Ministry there were many opponents of the development of tank forces. Some officials considered the development of tanks a waste of the budget. As a result, the British came to the conclusion that it was necessary to produce two different versions of tanks - infantry and cruising. By 1938, the British industry, according to the plan, was to produce over 600 cruiser and about 370 infantry tanks. However, it was actually possible to produce thirty cruising![](https://i2.wp.com/4tanks.ru/nations/british/pic/archer.jpg)
British self-propelled artillery unit Mk I "Churchill"
British infantry tank Mk IV "Churchill" (A22), A22 CHURCHILL MK VI
Looking back on the experience of warfare with German tank units in 1940, the British War Office realized that the tactics and conditions of fighting the First and Second World Wars would be significantly different. Now the enemy was much stronger and had various anti-tank weapons. The British Tank Corps required the latest infantry tanks that were invulnerable to enemy anti-tank weapons, capable of crossing wide anti-tank ditches, etc.
The British company Harland & Wolff was asked to develop and create a new infantry tank, which was designated A20. After the superintendent of the British Tank Development Directorate approved the tactical and technical requirements for the new A20 tank, its development began. The requirements included the following conditions: armor thickness of the frontal elements up to 80 mm; average speed up to 15 mph; the crew of the tank was supposed to be 7 people; Ability to clear 5-foot vertical obstacles.
British infantry tank Mk IV "Churchill" (A22), A22 CHURCHILL MK VI. View from the right side. British tanks from the Second World War.
The Harland and Wolf company began creating its own tank and, in fact, it was the heir to the “diamond-shaped tanks” of the First World War (for the first time, seeing these tanks in front of them when they went on the attack, the Germans decided that the British wanted to get rid of their outdated tanks , sending them to certain death. This happened in the French port city of Dieppe). The tank's armament was considered differently: a 6-pound French gun; 76 mm howitzer; 2 pound gun. As a result, we chose the option of installing two 2-pounder guns, one in the turret, the other in the hull.
Also, a machine gun was installed in the frontal part of the hull. The first prototypes were ordered from the manufacturer in February 1940. In the early summer of 1940, tests took place and they failed miserably, with the gearbox breaking. It soon became clear that for the tank to be highly maneuverable, it needed to be lightened, and the second 2-pounder gun was removed from the hull.
English infantry tank "Churchill" (A22), A22 CHURCHILL MK VI. British tanks from the Second World War.
During the creation and modernization of the A20 tank, World War II was already raging. The time coincided with Operation Dynamo (the evacuation of Anglo-French troops from Dunkirk), when all the equipment and guns were abandoned in the North of France and about 100 tanks remained on the island for the defense of Great Britain. Looking at these events, Vauxhall was offered to slightly change the A20 tank and simplify the production of this tank. It was planned to start production of the A20 tank within a year, since the danger of a German invasion loomed over the British. The British chose Vauxhall, and this is due to the fact that the A20 tank was equipped with a Vauxhall-Bedford V-engine.
English infantry tank "Churchill" (A22), A22 CHURCHILL MK VI. Front view. British tanks from the Second World War.
As a result, the first experimental A20 tank and all the documentation with drawings were transferred to Vauxhall. The British Mechanization Committee provided the firm with more people to speed up the launch of the A22 tank project (which was now designated as such). The first prototype of the A22 tank was ready in the late autumn of 1940. The very next year, in the summer of 1941, 14 production A22 vehicles were ready (before this there was an order for 500 units of A22 tanks). Due to the rush to create tanks, design defects often led to frequent failures on the first series of tanks. It was finalized and modernized until 1943.
Chirchill Crocodile flamethrower tank
The A22 infantry tank was named "Churchill" (to please the then minister Winston Churchill) and was produced in large quantities by the following companies: Broome and Wade, Birmingham Carriage and Wagon, Metropolitan Cammel, Charles Roberts, Newton Chambers ", "Holchester Railway Carriage", "Harland and Wolf", "Dennis" and "Leyland". Throughout the war, Vauxhall had the status of the main supplier of A22 Churchill tanks.
British infantry tanks "Churchill" (A22), A22 CHURCHILL on the march. British tanks from the Second World War.
In terms of design, the hull of the A22 Churchill tank CHURCHILL had a number of interesting solutions. The hull of the tank was combined; the main armor plates were secured to the inner sheets of soft steel with bolted joints (less often with rivets). Initially, the tank was equipped with a cast turret (later tanks had cast, welded or combined turrets). The driving wheels were rear (like Soviet tanks). The suspension of the A22 Churchill tank CHURCHILL MK VI was an individual spring track roller. The tracks covered the entire body. There was a large distance between the upper and lower parts of the suspension, in which there were niches for ammunition and spare parts, thanks to which the crew had space inside the tank. There were escape hatches on the sides of the tank. The A22 Churchill tank CHURCHILL became the first British tank to have the new Merritt-Brown four-axle gearbox interlocked with control differentials.
British infantry tank Mk IV "Churchill" (A22), A22 CHURCHILL MK VI. British tanks from the Second World War.
Like all British tanks, the A22 Churchill CHURCHILL MK had a lot of modifications. The first modification included a 40 mm cannon located in the turret and a 76 mm howitzer in the front plate of the tank hull. Later, an enlarged turret with a 57 mm gun was installed in 1942 (Modification III). After the battles in North Africa with German troops, the British military found out that heavy armor is not as important as the speed of the tank and its reliability. As a result, in 1943 the A22 Churchill CHURCHILL tank was discontinued (the cessation of production of the A22 Churchill CHURCHILL tank coincides with the start of production of the A27 tank). During the battle of the 1st British Army in Tunisia with German armored units
, where the A22 Churchill tank CHURCHILL showed its best side, overturned the verdict on the tank. After these events, it was decided to again produce the A22 Churchill tank CHURCHILL but with a 75-mm cannon (modification VIII).
English infantry tank Mk IV "Churchill" (A22), A22 CHURCHILL MK VI with external apron screens for protection against.
British tanks from the Second World War.
Since all British tanks were designed with the British railways in mind (to be able to transport these vehicles properly by rail), the tank hull was too narrow for a turret with a 17-pounder gun. For the period 1944-1945, the A22 Churchill tank CHURCHILL MK was one of the most heavily armored vehicles in Great Britain, although the tank was inferior in firepower to many German tanks (for example:
, ). The weapon of the A22 Churchill tank CHURCHILL often could not withstand German tanks.
English infantry tank Mk IV "Churchill" (A22), A22 CHURCHILL MK VI move along the bridge using the Churchill Ark. British tanks from the Second World War.
There was another distinctive feature of this infantry tank: its universal chassis. For the invasion of Europe in 1944, the Allies needed a large number of special armored vehicles. On its basis, a large number of engineering vehicles, bridge laying vehicles, armored repair and recovery vehicles, etc. were created.
Unsuccessful Allied raid on the German-occupied French port of Dieppe. All equipment was destroyed and the paratroopers were captured. Churchill tanks took part in this operation for the first time.
Performance characteristics:
Designation……………….. British infantry tank Mk IV “Churchill” (A22), A22 CHURCHILL MK IV;
Tank crew………………….. 5 people (tank commander, driver, gunner, loader, assistant driver, also a machine gunner);
Tank weight……………………………. £87,360;
Length………………………. 24 feet 5 inches;
Height………………….. 10 feet, 8 inches;
Width………………… 9 feet;
Tank armament…………………depending on modifications (see below);
Range………………………… 90 miles;
Fording depth………………….3 feet 4 inches;
Maximum speed……………………….. 15 mph;
Suspension type………………….. blocked, bogies of three rollers with spring suspension and Newton-type hydraulic shock absorbers;
Engine system……………………… “Bedford” 12-cylinder, power 350 hp;
Reservation………………from 16 to 102 mm.
British infantry tank Mk IV "Churchill" (A22), A22 CHURCHILL MK VI. Top, side, front, back views. British tanks from the Second World War.
Modifications of the Mk IV Churchill tank (A22), A22 CHURCHILL MK VI:
1. Tank "Churchill" I (A22), A22 CHURCHILL I. This is the first production tank since 1941. The turret was equipped with a 2-pounder cannon and a coaxial 7.92-mm BESA machine gun. The tower was cast. A 76 mm howitzer was installed in the front hull. The tank's ammunition load was 150 shells for a 2-pounder gun and 56 shells for a 76-mm howitzer. It was these tanks that were sent on a raid to the French city of Dieppe on August 19, 1942, where they were all lost and the landing party was captured.
2. Tank "Churchill" II (A22), A22 CHURCHILL II. The same tank, but with the 76-mm howitzer in the hull replaced with a BESA machine gun.
3. Churchill tank IICS (A22), A22 CHURCHILL IICS. The same tank as the Churchill I, but the armament was changed: a 3-inch howitzer was installed in the turret and a 2-pounder gun was installed in the front hull plate. The weapons were swapped. It was built in small numbers.
Beginning in the late spring of 1942, track covers and steel gussets began to be installed on A22 Churchill tanks CHURCHILL (they reinforced the front protrusions of the tracks). Additionally, they installed casings for the side air intakes with the louvres open upward (to prevent water from entering). Some modifications had protective boxes on the air intakes to overcome fords with water.
4. Tank "Churchill" III (A22), A22 CHURCHILL III. This modification of the tank was armed with a 57-mm cannon installed in a welded turret, which had significant differences from the riveted one. The first vehicles of this modification, until May 1942, had front air intake casings and an open track. Several tanks of modifications I and II are being upgraded to modification III by installing a new turret and gun.
5. Tank "Churchill" IV (A22), A22 CHURCHILL III. The tank had a cast turret with a 6-pounder gun and improved armor protection. The tank's ammunition consisted of 84 shells. Basically, tanks of this modification were armed with a 6-pounder Mk 3 cannon, but the first vehicles had a Mk cannon (a long-barreled gun with a counterbalanced muzzle load).
6. Tank "Churchill" IV (NA75), CHURCHILL (NA75). After the entry into the war in Africa, American medium tanks M3 and M4 first appeared in this theater of operations, which were armed with guns that were able to fire both fragmentation and armor-piercing shells (the British by that time could fire either fragmentation or armor-piercing shells). armor-piercing). As a result, the need arose to introduce tanks with a 75-mm universal cannon into service with the British tank formations. The British 1st Army, located in North Africa (Tunisia, January 1943), on its own initiative, began developing a similar gun based on the Churchill tank. The result of the work was 120 converted Churchill tanks with a 75-mm cannon (the guns were borrowed from the American M3 Sherman tanks, the British removed the gun mantlets from M3 tanks destroyed by the Germans). Churchill IV (NA75), CHURCHILL (NA - North Afrika, North Africa) tanks were the first British tanks to receive 75 mm guns. The Churchill IV (NA75) tank was used with great success in the Italian and Sicilian campaigns. These tanks remained in service with the British Army until 1945 and the end of the war.
7. British self-propelled artillery unit Mk I "Churchill". The success of self-propelled guns used by the Germans when attacking infantry was obvious. As a result, in the fall of 1941, the British General Staff sent a request to the British Tank Committee for the development of British self-propelled guns based on existing cruiser and infantry tanks. It was planned to install a large-caliber gun with a high initial projectile velocity on the tank chassis. Initially, a crude version of the Challenger cruiser tank with a 17-pounder gun was developed. But the project did not satisfy the requirements of the British General Staff. After that, more than a hundred vehicles were reviewed in order to find a chassis for a new self-propelled gun. The result of the research was as follows: at the end of 1941, it was decided that the chassis of the Churchill tank was best suited for installing a 6-pounder gun on it. The first experimental self-propelled guns appeared in February 1942. An order followed for 24 units of Mk I Churchill self-propelled guns. These vehicles were never used in battle. Most of the Mk I Churchill self-propelled guns were converted into carriers of extended Snake charges. These machines were later used for training in 1943-1944. This machine was designated A22D.
8. Tank "Churchill" V CHURCHILL V. This tank was produced simultaneously with the Churchill tank IV, instead of a 6-pounder gun, a 95-mm howitzer was installed on it, designed to support infantry in the attack. The tank's ammunition load was relatively small, only 47 rounds. Only 10% of all Churchill tanks produced received the 95 mm howitzer.
9. Tank "Churchill" VI CHURCHILL VI. Just as the Americans installed 75-mm cannons on their M3 Sherman tanks (which could withstand German tanks), the British, by the winter of 1943-1944, decided to arm their Churchill tanks with 75-mm cannons (the British have this gun appeared very late, the cannon was developed by the Vickers company, the cannon used shells from the American 75-mm cannon). Modification IV tanks released in November 1943 were decided to be upgraded to modification VII with the installation of a commander's turret, a new 75-mm gun and a new periscope sight. Modernized tanks (designated VI) were used in military campaigns in Europe in 1944-1945.
10. Tank "Churchill"VII CHURCHILL VII. This Churchill tank has received many modifications. The tank received a more improved gearbox, the suspension was strengthened, and the evacuation hatches were made round instead of rectangular. The tank's armor was also increased by adding armor. Also, a new welded-cast turret was installed with the latest 75 mm gun and commander's turret. These tanks were used (under the designation A22F) in the military campaign in Europe after the Allied landings. A22 tanks were used for some time after the war. Subsequently, these tanks changed their designation to A42.
11. Tank "Churchill" VIII CHURCHILL VIII. Same as the Churchill VII tank but with a 95mm howitzer.
12. Tank "Churchill" IX CHURCHILL XI. Churchill tanks III or IV, but brought to modification VII. The tanks were equipped with a welded-cast turret with a 6-pounder gun. The tank's armor was reinforced with armor plates on the sides and frontal elements of the tank.
13. Tank "Churchill" IX LT CHURCHILL XI LT. Modified tanks following the example above, but with an old turret (designation LT - light turret, light turret).
14. Tank "Churchill" X CHURCHILL X. Modified modification of tank VI, modified as IX, but with a 75 mm cannon.
15. Tank "Churchill" X LT, CHURCHILL X LT. Modification of tank VI, modified as XI, but the tank had an old turret.
16. Tank "Churchill" XI, CHURCHILL XI. A variant of the Churchill tank, modification V, with a heavy turret and padded armor.
17. Flamethrower tank "Churchill OKE" CHURCHILL OKE. The tank was created by the British Oil War Directorate in 1942. The flamethrower tank was planned to be tested in combat conditions during the landing in Dieppe, France. A flamethrower manufactured by Ronson was installed on the Churchill II CHURCHILL II tank. A container with fire mixture was installed at the stern. The pipeline for the fire mixture to the fire hose was laid on the left side. The fire hose was installed on the front part of the hull. During the Allied raid in the French city of Dieppe, three Churchill OUK flamethrower tanks were used, which were destroyed before the start of the battle by German coastal artillery. The firing range of the OUK flamethrower was 40-50 yards.
18. Chirchill Crocodile flamethrower tank. One of the most famous flamethrower tanks in the world, the Churchill Crocodile, was a tank with a flamethrower on board and a trailer for fire mixture. This flamethrower was first tested on the Valentine tank in 1942. After testing several types of flamethrowers, differing in their operating principle, it was decided to adopt a pneumatic flamethrower system using nitrogen pressure as standard. In 1943, 250 Chirchill Crocodile flamethrowers with armored trailers for fire mixture were ordered. The Churchill tank was chosen as the carrier of the flamethrower. In October 1943, the first modification of the flamethrower tank appeared, which was designated VII. In this modification, the flamethrower's fire hose was installed in place of the frontal machine gun, and the fire mixture was supplied through a flexible hose. The last manufactured Churchill tanks, modification VII, could be converted into flamethrower tanks if necessary. The firing range of the Crocodile flamethrower was 80-120 yards. The flamethrower could fire 8 times in one second. If an armored trailer containing a fire mixture was hit and it started to burn, it could be disconnected remotely. Also, these armored trailers were unhooked when emptying (it weighed seriously - 6.5 tons). The Chirchill Crocodile flamethrower tank was used during the military campaign in Northern Europe in 1944-1945. At the end of the war, the troops had 800 units of flamethrower tanks with the Crocodile system. 250 units were sent to the Eastern Front in the USSR.