Mk.IV Churchill Heavy Tank

Written by Евгений Болдырев

Published on Saturday, 24 September 2005 23:24

Last Updated on

Read 15200 times

Heavy infantry tank Mk.IV «Churchill» is known on a phrase ostensibly told English prime-minister W. Churchill: «This tank carrying my name has more drawbacks than me». Yes, it had obsolete design: to increase room for the tank crew, the designers of the «Vauxhall Motors» corporation have mounted some elements of transmission under the hull so the track was bent around it, as a tanks of the World War One. The tank had a 12-cylinder petrol engine of 350 h.p. that provided it with 27 km/h speed. First models (Churchill I and Churchill II) were armed with 40 mm gun — too weak for a heavy tank. Further tanks were armed with either 76 mm gun or 57 mm gun. The tank had 152 mm frontal armor.

Tank's transmission was quite reliable, however tank had two major disadvantages: first, the tracks were too vulnerable from shells and shell's fragments because they were too high. And second — the track often jammed the tank's turret. However, 5400 vehicles (all models) have been built and in British Army this tank served to 1952.

Western Allies delivered to the Soviet Union 301 of both Churchill Mk.III and Mk.IV. These two models were very similar and distinguished only a minimal changes — some changes in turret design. Probably USSR had received some flamethrower Churchills VII (one of those tank showing in Kubinka museum). Interesting fact — during the Kursk battle, the 5th Guard Tank Army had 35 Churchills. They were the only heavy tanks in this army.

Parameter	Value
Crew, men	5
Combat weight, kg	39 574
Armor, mm	19-152
Armament	1×6 pdr 2×7,92 mm «Besa» 1 x.303 (7,71mm) «Bren» AAMG
Ammo	6 pdr: 84 roundsBR> 7,92 mm: 4950 rounds 7,7 mm: 600 rounds
Engine	Bedford «Twin-Six», 12-cylinder gasoline, 350 h.p.
Range, km	144
Max speed, km/h	27