Churchill: British Infantry Tank in View

A Churchill tank fitted with a Crocodile flamethrower in action. This flamethrower could produce a jet of flame exceeding 150 yards in length. August 1944. (Imperial War Museum TR 2313)

Churchill tanks of A and B Squadrons, 43rd Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment, 33rd Brigade negotiate obstacles during training, October 1942.

A Churchill tank of the North Irish Horse crossing the Senio in Italy on two stacked Churchill ARKs, Italy. April 1945.

Churchill Crocodile training in England.

Churchill infantry tank and crew.

Churchill AVRE (Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers) close-support vehicle.

Churchill Crocodile with its flamethrower fuel trailer that carried 400 gallons.

The 290mm Petard spigot mortar on a Churchill AVRE of 79th Squadron, 5th Assault Regiment, Royal Engineers, under command of 3rd Infantry Division, 29 April 1944. A 40lb bomb can be seen on the right.

Churchill Ark Mk II. A turretless Churchill with ramps at either end and along the body to form a mobile bridge. The Mark 1 had trackways over the tracks for vehicles to drive along. The Mark 2 was an improvised version and crossing vehicles drove directly on the Churchill’s tracks.

Churchill tanks of 'B' squadron, 51st (Leeds Rifles) Royal Tank Regiment, 25th Tank Brigade, in Italy in July 1944. 25th Brigade first saw action in Italy in May 1944 when its three regiments supported the Canadian 1st Division's attack on the 'Hitler Line'.

Churchill tank in Italy.

Churchill Crocodile flamethrower tanks move forward near Imola, Italy, 12 April 1945.

The Crocodile’s flamethrower system.

A Churchill Crocodile sends some 'love' down range.

Churchill Crocodile flamethrower tank, 79th Armoured Division, 13 February 1944.

Churchill Crocodile flamethrower on trials, Eastwell Park, Ashford, Kent, 26 April 1944.

Churchill Crocodile flamethrower in action during trials at Eastwell Park, Ashford, Kent, 26 April 1944.

Churchill Crocodile flamethrowers in action during trials at Eastwell Park, Ashford, Kent, 26 Apr 1944.

Churchill Crocodile flamethrower in action during trials at Eastwell Park, Ashford, Kent, 26 April 1944.

Churchill Crocodile flamethrowing tank during a demonstration, 25 August 1944.

Churchill Crocodile flame-throwing tank during a demonstration, 25 August 1944.

A Churchill Crocodile flamethrowing tank during a demonstration, 25 August 1944. Close-up of the fuel trailer.

Churchill Crocodile flamethrowing tanks in action during a demonstration, 25 August 1944.

Churchill Crocodile flamethrower tank, 25 August 1944.

Crocodiles of B Squadron, 141st Royal Armored Corps, which took part in the American attack on Brest.

Allied assault force with British Churchill Crocodiles moving on Fort Montbarey. September 1944.

Churchill Crocodile in action near Fort Montbarey. Brest, France, September 1944.

Churchill Crocodile in action near Fort Montbarey. Brest, France, September 1944.

Churchill Crocodile tanks move into position during the attack towards Hertogenbosch, 23 October 1944.

Churchill Mk VII Crocodiles and Mk V CS tanks of the 1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry. Germany, November 1944.

A Churchill Crocodile flamethrower in action during a demonstration near Faenza, Italy, 30 December 1944.

Churchill Crocodile flamethrowers in action against the village of St Joost, north of Schilberg, during an attack by 1st Rifle Brigade, 20 January 1945.

A Churchill Crocodile flamethrower tank of 31st Armoured Brigade, 79th Armoured Division, moves past a church at Oberhausen in the Ruhr, Germany, April 1945. Smoke from the burning Ruhrchemie AG synthetic oil plant (Sterkrade/Holten) fills the sky behind.

A Churchill VII tank of the North Irish Horse carrying troops of the 21st Infantry Division, north of Castel Borsetti, March 2, 1945. Note the white tape indicating the edge of a cleared enemy minefield.

A Churchill Crocodile flame tank supports the crossing of the Senio River in northern Italy by two New Zealand infantry divisions on April 9, 1945.

Churchill NA 75 infantry tank. The NA 75 was created by British Captain Percy H. Morrell in 1944. Morrell took a standard Churchill Mk IV infantry tank and equipped it with an American 75 mm M3 cannon in a slightly modified turret. The goal behind this conversion was to enable the Churchill tank to fire capable HE rounds (which its original QF 2-pounder and QF 6-pounder armaments could not do), as well as equip the tank with more turret armor. When converted, the NA 75 could effectively take out fortified targets in support of friendly infantry, which the Churchill was mostly designed to do (hence the designation of "infantry tank"). A total of 200 Churchill NA 75s were converted, equipped with the 75 mm gun, a new armored gun mantlet, and a gun counterweight in the rear of the turret. The tanks were first deployed in Italy with great success, working hand in hand with M4 Sherman medium tanks. They would remain in that particular campaign until the end of the war.