Infantry Tank Mk IV Churchill (A22)

History of the infantry tank Mk IV Churchill (A22)

Churchill served with the British and Allied forces during World War II (1939-1945) and was the most important of its kind, even rivaling the famous American M4 Sherman and the legendary Soviet T-34 medium tank . That's what it's worth, so much so that the chassis served as the basis for many variants in direct combat and non-combat, making it one of the more classic tanks ever adopted, despite its resemblance to the WWI (1914-1918) Steel Beast. Only the Valentine infantry tank was produced more than the Churchill tank, although none came close to the Churchill's multi-role capability, which gave it a longer lifespan in the postwar years.

At this point in its military history, the British Army adopted a doctrine centered on the use of light, fast "cruiser tanks" versus slower, better equipped and better armored "infantry tanks" . Infantry tanks will be used to destroy enemy defenses, then cruiser tanks will be sent there to take advantage of enemy flanks. The classic Churchill tank is part of the infantry tank thinking in this configuration, hence its bulk, gross weight and very powerful turret armament.

In September 1939, as the British Empire increasingly faced the immediate threat of an Axis invasion, the "A20" specification emerged as a requirement for a new infantry tank. The original approach was a heavy battlefield tank designed for the trench warfare concept in the bloody battles of World War I, and took a large form to break any potential stalemate on a given battlefield. However, early evaluations of the design approach soon revealed the vehicle's inherent limitations -- especially when it came to the rapidly evolving German battlefield concept.

So it was decided to flesh out a lighter product, which falls under the "A22" specification. Vauxhall Motors was commissioned to design and develop the classic "Churchill" tank, officially known as the "Mk IV Infantry Tank".

Due to time constraints and the ever-evolving war on both sides of the Channel, Vauxhall instituted a strict timetable to force vehicles into Army hands as quickly as possible. This rush then allowed it to be used in the real world to demonstrate the mechanical unreliability of the design, leading to rapid rework.

Around 1,000 tanks were eventually affected by the surge in production, and only later revisions saved the line from total failure.

The original Churchill Marks were armed with a 2-pounder gun, a relatively small 40mm gun found on both the Churchill Mk I and Mk II. The Mk Is also had a 3" howitzer and 7.92mm Besa coaxial machine gun mounted to the front of the hull - the 3" gun was dropped in the Mk II. Subsequent Churchill Mk III and Mk IV were fitted with operational 57mm guns, while Mk VI and Mk VII were fitted with more suitable 75mm guns. Other forms followed, carrying weapons of various calibers, including the 95mm howitzer Aroma intended as a "close support" combat platform.

The final production model was the aforementioned Mk IV with 1,622 produced, followed by the Mk VII (A22F) with 1,600 and the Mk II with 1,127.

Churchill's initial actions were rather unremarkable, especially during the Dieppe landing in 1942, when many failed to come ashore, were pinned to the shore and were doomed. The raid was a concerted effort by 6,000 infantry troops to retake the important French port of Dieppe in a brazen amphibious landing operation. However, the large ship required landing craft to attack and then additional engineering support to get over the beach. The German defenses prevailed, and the Dieppe raid was a complete failure for the Allies.

Most of the destroyed troops consisted of Canadians.

In battles across North Africa, Churchills began to show their worth, providing much-needed protection through their heavy armour and the sheer firepower of their now 6 pdr main guns. Fighting alongside infantry formations as well as other armoured units, their off-road capabilities proved reliable.

If there's one glaring limitation of this big tank, it's its overall speed, which makes it hard to keep up with faster mechanized formations. Numerous improvements have also been made, including riveted and hybrid construction of the original cast turret design, as battlefield experience permitted. Added more improvements to make the tank "tropical" in desert combat.

Ultimately, additional armor was added, and the on-site restoration used additional track sections, wheels, sandbags, and wood to further enhance protection.

Churchill played a vital role in the "Second Battle of El Alamein" in October 1942, a decisive (and much-needed) victory for the Allies. An operation involving Churchill tanks resulted in the capture of the new German heavy tank Tiger I, providing Allied war planners with a complete example of its strengths and weaknesses.

The tank subsequently served further in the Italian campaign against Rome and became a key component of the British and Commonwealth armored advance northwards. In northern France, Churchill was also used in the "D-Day landings" of June 1944, which were critical to Allied success in Europe and beyond. The Lend-Lease agreement allowed Soviet troops to also use British Churchills in operations near Kursk, but this led to a German tactical victory. The Churchill family did not serve in the Pacific theater, but gained more combat experience during the Korean War (1950-1953).

These actions marked the end of Britain's support for their Churchills, as world armament doctrine now centers on the concept of a "main battle tank".

Churchill served in many indirect combat forms, which helped cement its place in the history of tank warfare. Variations include dedicated engineering versions, bridge layers, loading vehicles, demining vehicles (flails), fire pots, and modified armoured personnel carriers (APCs) nicknamed "Kangaroos" - Churchill's offshoots range from practical to bizarre.

Despite her past appearances, Churchill proved to be highly regarded in the battles of World War II and helped to achieve a general Allied victory and end the war in Europe. Churchill tanks served the UK from 1941 to 1952, producing 7,368 tanks of all makes and models.

Operators include (except the UK) Australia, Canada, Iraq (Kingdom), Ireland, Poland and the USSR (via Lend-Lease). It wasn't until 1969, with the arrival of the wartime cruiser tank Comet, that the Irish Churchill tank was retired.

Australia, Canada and Iraq all replaced their Churchills with Centurion MBTs, and the Soviet Churchills were replaced by Joseph Stalin IS-3 and IS-10 series heavy tanks.

Churchill tanks were built by Vauxhall Motors, Woolwich Arsenal and Harland and Wolff in the UK.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

Armor

150 x 40mm projectile or 84 x 57mm projectile or 84 x 75mm projectile or 47 x 95mm projectile.

4,950 - 9,450 x 7.92mm ammo

Changes