Churchill (tank)
| Churchill | |
|---|---|
A MK-IV Churchill |
|
| General properties | |
| crew | 5 (commander, driver, machine gunner, gunner, loader) |
| length | 7.45 m |
| width | 3.25 m |
| height | 2.78 m |
| Dimensions | 40 t |
| Armor and armament | |
| Armor | 16 to 102 mm (from Churchill Mk VII 25 to 152 mm) |
| Main armament | Mk I / II: 40 mm cannon in the turret, 76.2 mm howitzer in the bow Mk III / IV: 57 mm cannon Mk V: 95 mm howitzer from Mk VI: 75 mm cannon |
| Secondary armament | 2 × 7.92 mm BESA MGs |
| agility | |
| drive |
Bedford - "Flat-12" gasoline engine (180 ° - V - twelve cylinder ) |
| Top speed | 20 km / h (road) / 13 km / h (terrain) |
| Power / weight | |
The Churchill or Tank, Infantry, Mk IV (A22) was a heavy British assault tank for infantry support (English "infantry tank"), which was used from 1942 by troops of the Commonwealth and the Soviet Union in World War II . The vehicle type was used until the Korean War . The tank was named after the politician Winston Churchill .
Planning and production
Planning and further development
The first thoughts on the development of the Churchill go back to 1939 when a replacement for the Matilda II infantry tank was sought. Vauxhall , the company commissioned with the development, based the design of the new tank on the requirements of the First World War . The tank should be able to traverse the toughest terrain and withstand the fire of all known enemy anti-tank weapons. The armament was considered to be of secondary importance and should only be appropriate, the speed did not play an important role in the planning, since the tank only had to keep pace with the infantry in the scenario of a trench war . However, the new tank was to be placed on an ordinary railroad car , which limited the width and only allowed the installation of smaller armored turrets and thus also cannons.
Therefore, the structure of the British tanks from the First World War was adapted and the chains were brought over the upper edge of the hull. Considerations to accommodate a main armament, consisting of two 2-pounders (40-mm-L / 52) in bay-like stems on the sides - similar to the arrangement in the Mark I - were discarded and it was decided to use a 2-pounder gun in to position a turret on the top of the hull and place a 3-inch howitzer (76 mm L / 25) in the hull next to the driver's seat. The Battle of Britain had just begun, so the A22 was given the name "Churchill" for reasons of morality.
The crew was increased by one gunner for the 76 mm howitzer in the hull in accordance with the armament in comparison to other vehicles of the time and consisted of the commander, the driver, two guns and a loader. The tub was divided into four areas: the driver, engine, transmission and combat area including the tower. The hull consisted of 12.7 mm thick, normal sheet steel, onto which the individual armor plates were screwed or riveted, so that up to 102 mm of armor was achieved at the best protected area of the Mark I. The hull rested on eleven rollers on each side, but only nine of them carried the armor directly. This high number of rollers ensured that the tank could continue to drive even with a few damaged rollers.
Furthermore, cast towers were increasingly used for the early Churchill variants, because their production required fewer steps and personnel and the result was a tough tower with no risk of chipped rivets flying around inside the vehicle. The high weight remained a disadvantage. When it became necessary to install the heavier 6 pounder (57 mm L / 50) cannon in the turret, welded turrets were used to save weight.
The Churchill was powered by a 350 hp 12-cylinder gasoline engine from Bedford ( GM ) that was originally developed for trucks and reached a top speed of 13 km / h.
production
Production began hastily and on the personal direction of Prime Minister Churchill. He had given the project priority in June 1940, calling for 500 to 600 vehicles by March 1941. The first prototype was completed in November 1940 and an order for 500 units was placed in the same year. A consortium of various companies in the automotive industry, locomotive and wagon builders was formed to process the extensive order. The lead was led by the consortium leader Vauxhall Motors ( GM ), plus: Broom & Wade , Metro Cammell , Charles Roberts & Company , Leyland Motors , Dennis Brothers , Newton, Chambers & Co. , Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company , Harland & Wolff .
In June 1941 the first Churchill Mark I tanks came to the units. They were afflicted with numerous defects, which were initially accepted, but gradually eliminated. Early Churchill variants could only travel around 250 miles before the engine or transmission failed, while, for example, the contemporary Valentine tank could travel just under 950 miles before it failed. A revision of the production in the summer of 1942 improved the quality. The range of the Churchill models increased to around 500 miles.
In the House of Commons asked by parliamentarians in July 1942 in a debate for its approval for the project to immature speech, said Winston Churchill:
"This tank had many defects and teething troubles, and when these became apparent the tank was appropriately re-christend the" Churchill "..."
"This tank had a lot of quirks and teething problems, and when these became apparent, the tank was appropriately renamed" Churchill "..."
In 1943 the production was in favor of the successful A27-Cruiser - Panzers be set. However, due to the successful battles in Africa, the Churchill was continued to be produced. A total of 4276 pieces of the standard variants and 917 pieces of the better armored versions were produced.
Vauxhall had been hired to build a better armored and armed Churchill late in the war, the Black Prince . It weighed around 50 tons and was supposed to carry the 17 pounder (76.2 mm L / 55) cannon, but never got past the prototype stage.
Calls
The first combat use of the Churchill tanks took place in August 1942 during the landing near Dieppe . 58 tanks were supposed to be deposited on the beach by LCT boats , but only about half made it to land. Due to inadequate clarification, the rock covering the beach had not been examined and several tanks lost their chains or got stuck through chert chunks . All vehicles that managed to leave the beach were unable to hold their own against concrete bunkers with the armor-piercing ammunition from their 57-mm cannons . Ultimately, they were all lost.
Six Churchill Mk IIIs were shipped to Egypt , where the model first took part in combat operations in October and November 1942 as part of the Battle of El Alamein . The six vehicles were led by Major Norris King, which earned the troop the name "Kingforce". After two skirmishes, the tanks hit 106 hits, but only one of the Churchill tanks was destroyed and two more damaged. During later missions in North Africa to repel the German attack in February 1943 ( company Ochsenkopf ) the psychological effect of the apparently impenetrable armor on the enemy and its own infantry was highlighted in the mission report.
In the later course of the war, the tanks were often used for the landing in Normandy in June 1944 or in the fall of 1944 in Italy for the battle for the position of the Goths . The now available AVRE variant of the tank was also suitable for fighting bunkers, with the vehicle using 290 mm mortar shells from a maximum distance of 80 meters. The good off-road mobility of the vehicles turned out to be decisive in some cases - for example in the battle of Höhe 309 near Caumont in July 1944. Although the Churchill was one of the most heavily armored vehicles in the battles for Normandy, it was still vulnerable to high-impact projectiles from modern 75 and 88 mm cannons, even on the best armored front. In addition, there were the shaped charge warheads of portable anti-tank weapons such as the bazooka . The teams therefore tried to improve the protection of the armor by attaching chain links, rollers and other things. From a scientific point of view, no improved protective effect could be demonstrated, but the measures helped morale and increased the willingness to expose oneself to enemy fire, and it was therefore recommended that such modifications be tolerated.
As part of the lending and leasing law , the Soviet Union received a total of 258 Churchill Mk III and Mk IV with the 6-pounder (57-mm-L / 50) cannon from late summer 1942. The Soviets tested the tank and made a long list of structural and quality defects that required constant repairs. However, the armor appeared good, armament and speed at least sufficient compared to heavy Soviet models. Nevertheless, the tank was not particularly popular and was nicknamed "enemy of the tank soldiers" by the crews. The Churchill's first Soviet missions took place as part of the 21st Army at the Battle of Stalingrad in January 1943, where the tanks were initially involved in the encirclement of the 6th Army and later in the depression of the Gumrak pocket . The vehicles later took part in the tank battle near Kursk in the summer of 1943. The last combat use of Churchill tanks in the Red Army took place as part of the 8th Army during the occupation of Tallinn and the fighting for the Moonsund Islands in September 1944.
In the Korean War , the British sent Cromwell and Centurion tanks as well as a squadron of Churchill tanks in the Crocodile version and the AVR version as part of the troops of the United Nations. They were landed in Pusan in November 1950 and used mainly in the fight against Chinese troops as part of the "C" squadron of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment (7 RTR).
Ireland was the last state to use the Churchill until the late 1960s.
Versions
Churchill I (303)
The original version of the Churchill, armed with a 2-pounder cannon and coaxial machine-gun, as well as a 3-inch howitzer in the hull. This version was mechanically very vulnerable.
Churchill Mk II (1127)
To save costs, the howitzer in the hull was replaced with another machine gun.
Churchill Mk II CS
In this version, which was only built in very small quantities, the howitzer was installed in the tower and the cannon in the hull.
Churchill Mk III (675)
The first major overhaul of the Churchill, from now on with a welded turret and a 6 pounder cannon as armament.
Churchill Mk IV (1622)
The most popular version of the Churchill. The only major difference to the Mk III was a cheaper to manufacture tower.
Churchill Mk V (241)
A Churchill with a 95mm howitzer in the turret for infantry support.
Churchill Mk VI (200)
In addition to some minor improvements, the tank was equipped with a 75mm cannon.
Churchill Mk VII (together with Mk VIII 1600)
The second major overhaul, now with a 75mm gun as standard. The hull became wider and was significantly better armored.
Churchill Mk VIII
Mk VII, equipped with a 95mm howitzer
Churchill Mk IX
This is how Churchill Mk III / IV were called, whose towers were replaced by towers of the Mk VII. In addition, the armor was reinforced and the suspension and transmission modified. If the 6 pounder cannon was retained, the tanks were designated the Churchill Mk IX LT (light turret).
Churchill Mk X
Same as above, with the difference that Mk VI have been upgraded.
Churchill Mk XI
An upgrade of the Mk V with a Mk VIII turret and additional armor.
Churchill AVRE
In the Churchill AVRE (Armored Vehicle Royal Engineers) the gun was replaced by a 290 mm Petard mortar. In addition, many additional devices such as mine flails , fascine rollers and mine layers could be attached. After the war, the petards were replaced by 165 mm guns.
Churchill ARK
A towerless Churchill, with foldable ramps on both sides and ramps on the hull, which was used to improvise crossings and bridges.
Churchill Oke (3)
Churchill II or III equipped with a flame thrower. All three copies built were lost at Dieppe.
Churchill Crocodile (about 800)
Churchill VII, in which the bow MG was replaced by a flamethrower, the fuel was transported in a trailer.
Churchill ARV
Churchill armored recovery vehicles , either as Mk I without a tower with a crane or as Mk II with a fixed body, 7.5-ton and 15-ton crane and 25-ton winch
Churchill NA75 (120)
In this Churchill, the front of the tower was replaced by the tower front of a Sherman with a 75 mm gun.
Churchill Mk I with an additional howitzer next to the driver's seat
Churchill Mk II
Churchill Mk III
Churchill Mk V
Churchill Mk VII (A22F)
AVRE with fascine bundles at the bow and open side hatches
AVRE 290mm petard mortar with ammunition
Churchill Ark Mk II
Churchill bridge-layer
Churchill ARV Mk II
Churchill Crocodile with flame oil trailer
Churchill on a Diamond T armored transporter
Technical specifications
| Churchill Mk. III | Churchill Mk. VII | |||
| 0 General characteristics | ||||
| crew | five men | = | ||
| Combat weight | 39.1 t | 40.1 t | ||
| spec. Ground pressure | 0.92 kg / cm² | 0.94 kg / cm² | ||
| length | 7.35 m | 7.37 m | ||
| width | 3.25 m | 3.33 m | ||
| height | 2.78 m | = | ||
| Ground clearance | 53 cm | = | ||
| Chain width | 55.9 cm | = | ||
| 0 armament | ||||
| Main armament | 57mm cannon | 75mm L / 40 cannon | ||
| Secondary armament | 3 × MG | = | ||
| Combat load HW | 74 floors | 82 floors | ||
| Combat load MG | 7575 rounds | 7125 rounds | ||
| 0 mileage | ||||
| engine | Bedford - "Flat-12" gasoline engine (180 ° V- twelve cylinder) | = | ||
| cooling | water | = | ||
| Displacement | 21.3 l | = | ||
| Bore × stroke | 127 × 140 mm | = | ||
| Max. rotational speed | 2200 min -1 | = | ||
| power | 325 hp | 350 hp | ||
| Displacement | 15.2 hp / l | 16.4 hp / l | ||
| Power / weight | 8.3 hp / t | 8.7 hp / t | ||
| transmission | 4V, 1R (four forward gears, one reverse gear) | = | ||
| Top speed | 26.4 km / h | 21.7 km / h | ||
| Fuel supply | 682 l | = | ||
| Range road | 198 km | 228 km | ||
| Range terrain | ||||
| steering | differential | = | ||
| Rollers | ||||
| suspension | Coil springs | = | ||
| Fording depth | 91 cm | = | ||
| 0 armor | ||||
| Tub bow | 102 mm | 139 to 152 mm | ||
| Tub side | 76 mm | 95 mm | ||
| Tub rear | 50 mm | = | ||
| Tub roof | 19 mm | = | ||
| Tub bottom | 19 mm | 25 mm | ||
| Tower front | 89 mm | 152 mm | ||
| Tower side | 76 mm | 95 mm | ||
| Turret stern | 76 mm | 95 mm | ||
| Tower roof | 19 mm | 20 mm | ||
See also
Web links
- Churchill at www.wwiivehicles.com (English)
- Churchill tank (English)
- Churchill AVRE at d-daytanks.org.uk (English)
Individual evidence
- ^ AJ Smithers: Rude Mechanicals: An account of Tank Maturity during the Second World War. Pen & Sword, 1987, ISBN 0-85052-722-8 , p. 178.
- ^ A b Bryan Perrett: Churchill Infantry Tank 1941–51. New Vanguard, 1993, ISBN 1-85532-297-8 , pp. 4, 6.
- ^ A b Bryan Perrett: Churchill Infantry Tank 1941–51. New Vanguard, 1993, ISBN 1-85532-297-8 , p. 6.
- ^ Benjamin Coombs: British Tank Production and the War Economy, 1934-1945. Bloomsbury Academic, 2015, ISBN 978-1-4742-2790-2 , p. 60.
- ^ AJ Smithers: Rude Mechanicals: An account of Tank Maturity during the Second World War. Pen & Sword, 1987, ISBN 0-85052-722-8 , p. 60.
- ↑ a b quoted by John H. Maurer in: Churchill and the Strategic Dilemmas before the World Wars: Essays in Honor of Michael I. Handel. Routledge, 2014, ISBN 978-0-415-76142-0 , p. 144.
- ^ AJ Smithers: Rude Mechanicals: An account of Tank Maturity during the Second World War. Pen & Sword, 1987, ISBN 0-85052-722-8 , p. 97.
- ^ Benjamin Coombs: British Tank Production and the War Economy, 1934-1945. Bloomsbury Academic, 2015, ISBN 978-1-4742-2790-2 , p. 90.
- ^ Benjamin Coombs: British Tank Production and the War Economy, 1934-1945. Bloomsbury Academic, 2015, ISBN 978-1-4742-2790-2 , p. 135.
- ^ AJ Smithers: Rude Mechanicals: An account of Tank Maturity during the Second World War. Pen & Sword, 1987, ISBN 0-85052-722-8 , p. 153.
- ^ Bryan Perrett: Churchill Infantry Tank 1941–51. New Vanguard, 1993, ISBN 1-85532-297-8 , p. 12.
- ↑ Jim Lotz: Disaster at Dieppe: The biggest catastrophe in Canadian military history. Orca, 2012, ISBN 978-1-4594-0172-3 , p. 47.
- ^ Mark Zuehlke: Tragedy at Dieppe: Operation Jubilee, August 19, 1942. Douglas & McIntyre, 2013, ISBN 978-1-55365-835-1 , pp. 290ff.
- ^ Mark Zuehlke: Tragedy at Dieppe: Operation Jubilee, August 19, 1942. Douglas & McIntyre, 2013, ISBN 978-1-55365-835-1 , p. 295ff.
- ^ Bryan Perrett: Churchill Infantry Tank 1941–51. New Vanguard, 1993, ISBN 1-85532-297-8 , pp. 17ff.
- ^ Bryan Perrett: Churchill Infantry Tank 1941–51. New Vanguard, 1993, ISBN 1-85532-297-8 , p. 9.
- ^ John Buckley: Monty's Men: The British Army and the Liberation of Europe. Yale University Press, 2014, ISBN 978-0-300-20534-3 , pp. 161ff.
- ^ John Buckley: British Armor in the Normandy Campaign. Routledge, 2014, ISBN 978-0-415-40773-1 , pp. 114, 188, 189.
- ↑ Steven Zaloga: Armored Champion: The Top Tanks of World War II. Stagpole, 2015, ISBN 978-0-8117-1437-2 , p. 295.
- ↑ Michael Green: Russian Armor in the Second World War: Rare photographs from Wartime Archives. Pen & Sword Military, 2013.
- ↑ a b S. W. Ivanov: Журнал Танк на поле боя №08 - Танки ленд-лиза в Красной Армии (Часть 1).
- ↑ Timothy Johnston: Being Soviet: Identity, Rumor, and Everyday Life Under Stalin 1939-1953. Oxford University Press, 2011, ISBN 978-0-19-960403-6 .
- ↑ Steven Zaloga: Armored Champion: The Top Tanks of World War II. Stagpole, 2015, ISBN 978-0-8117-1437-2 , p. 194.
- ^ A b Bryan Perrett: Churchill Infantry Tank 1941–51. New Vanguard, 1993, ISBN 1-85532-297-8 , p. 39.
- ↑ Thomas L. Jentz : The German Panzer Troop 1943-1945. Podzun-Pallas Verlag, 1999, ISBN 3-7909-0624-7 , p. 278.
- ↑ Thomas L. Jentz: The German Panzer Troop 1943-1945. Podzun-Pallas Verlag, 1999, ISBN 3-7909-0624-7 , p. 278.
