Churchill - Great Britain: Books - History, Types and Construction (2/2)

Churchill Crocodile Flamethrower

A fire-breathing monster on the battlefield, the Churchill Crocodile was one of the most awe-inspiring weapons of World War II. Tank expert David Fletcher chronicles the development of the flamethrower tank, examining the dramatic effect of these tanks in battle from use in France to the terrifying attack on the Senio River in Italy, as well as investigating the post-war use of Crocodiles to burn down and sterilise the site of Belsen concentration camp, and their mobilisation for the Korean War.
Researched using the papers of Reginald Fraser - the genius behind the flamethrowers - and dramatically illustrated with detailed artwork and previously unpublished photographs, this book brings to life the true terror of these tanks.

Contents: Introduction - Origins - Operational use - The flame goes out - Conclusion - Bibliography - Colour plate commentary - Index.

Churchill Infantry Tank

This book covers all seven Marks of Churchill gun tank with variations and the curious self-propelled gun of 1941/42, but not the so-called 'Funnies' or the armoured recovery vehicle variants. It begins with the prototype tank A20, which has not been covered in any detail before, then goes on to look at all seven Marks of Churchill, in particular their different guns. This book also looks at the tank's service in Russia and later with the Irish, Jordanian and Australian Armies.

It also features on the disastrous Dieppe raid of August 1942, ending with a brief look at the Black Prince or super Churchill which was only developed up to the prototype stage at the end of World War II. The Churchill is an interesting tank, quite different from any other British tank of World War II, built outside the normal process of British tanks and the Department of Tank Design it was built under the watchful eye of the Prime Minister, after whom it was named, by a firm with no previous experience of tank production.

Despite being condemned as unsuitable and more than once being scheduled to be replaced by a better design this never actually happened. It remained in production and ultimately vindicated itself since, although it was slow and noisy it was found to have superior climbing ability and thicker frontal armour than the vaunted German Tiger.
Its classification as an Infantry Tank has been extensively criticised although recently one or two authors, notably Americans, seem to have revised their views on this and even Field Marshal Montgomery, who advocated a Universal Tank to fulfil all roles, found the Churchill a useful tank on many occasions, particularly considering its ability to absorb punishment.

Churchill Infantry Tank Driver's Handbook

Designed to replace the Matilda II and Valentine, the Churchill tank was renowned for its ability to cross rough terrain and defeat obstacles, and one of the few Allied tanks that could compete with the German Panther and Tiger tanks. The Churchill's design arose from the post-Blitzkrieg chaos of 1940.
The fall of France and the defeat at Dunkirk made clear that mobility was to be of paramount importance to the British Army. An existing design was scrapped, and a new design designated A22 was awarded to Vauxhall, with orders that the tank needed to be in production by 1941.

Powered by twin-six gasoline engines, the A22 / Mk. 1 Churchill used a new gear box that allowed it to be steered by the relative speed of its tracks. Capable of 15 mph, the tank had a range of 56 miles and armor from .63 to four inches thick, and carried a crew of five and a 2-pdr gun. The Mk I Churchill first saw combat at the Dieppe Raid, where its performance underwhelmed.
Subsequent developments led to the introduction of the Mk. III, which featured a welded turret and a 6-pdr gun, and proved their worth at El Alamein. Eventually a Mk. VII would be produced, offering a 75mm gun, wider chassis and thicker armor (up to 6 inches).

Heavily used by the British and Russians in WWII, the Churchill also saw service during the Korean conflict. This driver's handbook was originally issued by Vauxhall Motors for the British Army in 1943. It provides information for the Churchill I, II, III and IV models, and includes operation and maintenance information.

A43 Black Prince Tank - A Technical History

The A43 Black Prince arose from the need for a "Super Churchill", armed with the powerful 17 pounder anti-tank gun that could augment the firepower of the standard Churchills within the tank brigades. The resulting machine would prove to be both durable and reliable during evaluation testing, and promised to be an effective weapon in the hands of users.
However, the war would come to an end before production could commence, and the AFV Division of the Ministry of Supply would instead concentrate on newer designs for the post-war era.

This book provides an in-depth examination of the legendary Black Prince, and its place within the history of British tank design.