Arctic convoys delivered to the Soviet Union 301 "Churchill" tank (A-22) model Mk I, II, III. Tankers were satisfied with the thick armor of the tank, while they considered, that he is too weak firepower. When transporting was lost 43 tanka. After 1942 , the "Churchill" deliveries were discontinued in the Soviet Union. The decision to develop was taken after, as the British military realized, that in a future war may need a heavy infantry support tank. they suggested, that such a war would be similar to the first world – ie trench warfare.
Churchill tank – video
The first machine – A-20 – It was developed by the superintendent for the design of tanks, firmami Vulvic Xerlend and Vulff '. She was recognized as a low-power, so the company "Vauxhall Motors" has been tasked to develop a tank A-22 and provide it with the engine "Vauxhall Bed-ford". Until now, the most powerful engine, which develops the company "Vauxhall", It was the motor power 72 HP. for "Bedford" truck. Nevertheless, across 89 days designers have developed an experimental engine capacity 350 HP. for the tank A-22. The resulting prototype was much easier, than was planned. With the increasing threat of German invasion of the British Isles in 1940 the work was accelerated. The first tank model ("Churchill I»), which was launched in the 1941 year, tower was cast with a 40 mm cannon mounted on the body and 75 mm howitzer. From it was soon abandoned and replaced with a machine gun. AT 1943 year in the battle of Prokhorovka during the Battle of Kursk 35 "Churchill" were the only heavy tanks as part of the 5th Guards Tank Army.
The performance characteristics of the tank Churchill
Crew, pers.: 5
The layout: classical
developer: Harland and Wolff
Manufacturer: "General Motors"
years of production: 1941—1945
years of operation: 1941—1969
The number of issued, PC.: 5640
Weight Churchill tank
– 37,9 tonnes
The dimensions of the tank Churchill
– body Length, mm: 7442
– housing width, mm: 3251
– Height, mm: 2450
– Clearance, mm: 530
Armor tanks Churchill
– Type broni: rolled steel and cast homogeneous
– housing forehead (top), mm / city.: 102 / 0°
– housing forehead (middle), mm / city.: 57
– housing forehead (through), mm / city.: 102
– body board, mm / city.: 76 / 0°
– housing feed (top), mm / city.: 64 / 0°
– housing feed (through), mm / city.: 19
– Bottom, mm: 19
– corps roof, mm: 16—19
– tower forehead, mm / city.: 88 / 0°
– board towers, mm / city.: 76 / 0°
– tower feed, mm / city.: 76 / 0°
– tower roof, mm: 20
Armament Churchill
– Caliber guns and stamp: in different versions meet: 40-mm QF 2 pounder and 76mm Howitzer OQF Mk I in early versions, and later encountered such variants: 57-mm QF 6 pounder Mk III либо Mk V, or 76 mm gun M3, or 95-mm howitzer, or 75 mm OQF Mk V
– gun type: nareznaya or nareznaya howitzer
– barrel length, calibres: 50 to 57mm QF 6 pounder Mk V
– gun ammunition: 150 × 40 mm, 58 × 76 mm
– sights: Telescopic number 24B Mk.I
– Shotgun: 2 × 7,92 BESA, on the part of the machine 1 × 7,7-мм Bren
Churchill tank engine
– engine's type: 12 horizontally opposed-cylinder liquid-cooled Carburetor
– Engine power, l. from.: 350
Speed Churchill tank
– Road speed, kmh: 25
– Speed over rough terrain, kmh: 17
– Cruising on the highway, km: 250
– Cruising cross country, km: 170
– power density, l. p. / m: 8,85
– suspension type: individual, vertical springs
– Unit ground pressure, kg / cm²: 0,93
– Gradeability, city.: 30°
– to overcome the wall, m: 0,75
– trench, m: 3,65
– fording, m: 1,2
Photo Churchill tank
