Great Britain, the dominant industrial and maritime power of the 19th century, played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two World Wars. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. The UK currently is weighing the degree of its integration with continental Europe. A member of the EU, it chose to remain outside of the EMU for the time being. Constitutional reform is also a significant issue in the UK. Regional assemblies with varying degrees of power opened in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland in 1999. - US CIA World Factbook.

Matilda1 Mark 1 A11---Matilda1 Mark 1 A11E1---Fowler Coulter Plough (anti-mine attachment).

Matilda - motor compartment showing the Ford V8 engine.
Infantry Tank Matilda 1 Mark 1, A11, A11E1

The Infantry Tank came about as a result of a 1934 requirement by the General Staff for a tank that would directly support an infantry attack. Armament would consist of a machine gun and an overall speed of a walking man when moving. Vickers designed an inexpensive (cost was a serious consideration) pilot which was delivered and accepted in 1936. Sadly, the events of 1939 would demonstrate the flaws in this design. Heavy armor with low mobility and firepower were not the keys to success. Most were lost during the Battle of France in 1940. The vehicle was named Matilda for it's duck like gait and appearance.

Specifications
Crew 2
Weight 11 tons
Length 15' 11"
Width 7' 6"
Height 6' 1.5"
Armor 10 - 60mm
Powerplant Ford V8 70hp
Armament 1 x MG
Performance 8mph

A12E1 Prototype---Matilda1 Mark 2---Matilda 3 Mark 2A* (same as the Mark 2 but with Leyland engines).---Upgunned Matilda - A late production hull was modified to accept an A24 style 6pdr gun turret. Note how the turret ring was expanded to a larger diameter.

Matilda 3 C.S. (Close Support)---Matilda Scorpion - See the South Africa Section of TANKS! for more on this model.---Matilda AMRA (Anti Mine Roller Attachment) Mk.1a---Matilda Carrot AMRCR (Anti Mine Reconnaissance Castor Roller Device). Developed in 1942, this device carried a 600 pound explosive charge. The Matilda would push the device to the object to be destroyed, release the device and back away. The charge was exploded by remote control.

Matilda Dozer - New Guinea---Matilda Frog---Matilda Inglis Bridge---Matilda experimental Trench Device

Photo by permission of Rodolfo Torres Vazquez.---Photo by permission of Rodolfo Torres Vazquez.---Photo by permission of Rodolfo Torres Vazquez.---Photo by permission of Rodolfo Torres Vazquez.
Infantry Tank Matilda 2 Mark 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, A12, A12E1

It was quickly seen that the Matilda Mark 1 was inadequate for it's intended role. The Matilda Mark 2 was ordered directly off the drawing board in 1937. During it's production years of 1940 to 1943, 2987 of these sturdy tanks were built. Though small, the tank presented a massive appearance due to it's armored skirts and cast armor. The Matilda 2 totally dominated all Italian armor and could claim title to "Queen of the Desert" until the arrival of German armor in North Africa. Other users included Australia (1942 - 1953) and the USSR (1942 - 1944). Matilda 2 Marks 4 and 5 appeared much the same as earlier Marks, the refinements were mostly internal.

Specifications
Crew 4
Weight 26.5 tons
Length 18' 5"
Width 8' 6"
Height 8'
Armor 20 - 78mm
Powerplant 2 x AEC 174hp Diesel - Marks 1 - 2
2 x Leyland 190hp Diesel - Marks 3 - 5
Armament 1 x 2pdr or 1 x 3", 1 x MG
Performance 15mph

Infantry Tank Mark 3 - Valentine Mark 1---Infantry Tank Mark 3* (Star) - Valentine Mark 2. - An improved moded with sand shields and a AEC diesel engine.---Infantry Tank Mark 3* (Star) - Valentine Mark 3 - Turret enlarged to accept an extra crew member.---Infantry Tank Mark 4 - Valentine Mark 2 - Modified to accept the GMC diesel.

Valentine Flame Thrower (cordite) - 1941 to 1942. This was a test vehicle only.---Valentine Mark 9---Valentine Mark 10 - 1943 - GMC engine---Valentine Mark 11 - Late 1943. Seen here with a 75mm main gun.

Valentine AMRA Mark 1b---Valentine DD (Duplex Drive). This was the direct forerunner of the Sherman DD. Various marks were converted. Though mostly used for training, a few did see operational service in Italy.---Designed by N. Straussler, the DD Valentine was an invaluable testing tool.---Valentine Mark 7a. Mark 7 and 7a were modified to accept jettisonable fuel tanks and used studded tracks.

Valentine Flame Thrower (gas) - This design proved superior and was applied to the Churchill Crocodile.
Infantry Tank Valentine Mark 1 - 11

Designed using the interior and chassis layout of the experimental A10, the Valentine met an emergency 1938 requirement for a tank to supplement the Matilda. Ordered "off the drawing board" in 1939, the prototype was completed on February 14, 1940 - hence the name Valentine. By the time production ceased in 1944, some 8,275 of these sturdy tanks had been built. Considered stable and reliable by it's crews, the tank was only hampered by it's small size. Unlike the Matilda tanks, this model allowed the fitting of a larger main gun. The initial riveted construction soon was replaced by welding.

Specifications
Crew 3 - 4
Weight 16 - 17 tons
Length 17' 9"
Width 8' 7.5"
Height 7' 5.5"
Armor 8 - 65mm
Powerplant 1 x AEC gasoline Mark 1 only.
1 x AEC or GM Diesel 131 to 165hp
Armament 1 x 2pdr - Mark 1 - 7, 1 x MG
1 x 6pdr - Mark 8 - 10, 1 x MG
1 x 175mm - Mark 11, 1 x MG
Performance 15mph

A20---Churchill 1---Churchill 2---Churchill 2 CS

Churchill 6 - Upgraded to use a 75mm main gun.---Churchill 4 - A cast instead of a welded turret defined this mark.---Churchill 4 NA75 - A local North Africa conversion using 75mm guns and mantlets from wreaked US M4 Shermans.---Churchill 5 CS - Using a 95mm Howitizer.

Churchill 3---Churchill 7 - AKA A22F. Major redesign 1944. Main type used in the post WW2 years.---Churchill 8 CS - 95mm howitzer. Limited production and service.---Churchill 9 LT - Reworked early version so as to bring them to the Mark 7 standard.---Churchill AVRE with British Commandos passing.

Churchill 10 LT - As with the 9 LT, this was a reworked earlier version that brought it to the Mark 7 standard. Other designators that were part of the upgrade were the Mark 9, Mark 9 LT, Mark 10, Mark 11, and the Mark 11 LT.---Churchill AVRE---Churchill Cut Away---51st RTR at the Foglia River in Italy.
Churchill

The army, using WW1 thinking, had this machine designed to meet a possible need for a tank to operate in a "shelled area" on the Western Front which in 1939 was expected to eventually look like 1918. The initial A20 design was not successful which caused Vauxhall to take over from Harland and Wolff. The Vauxhall design was called the A22. The first production vehicles were delivered around the middle of 1941. These early Churchills were wrought with mechanical faults and required many changes before they were considered sound. Eventually, the teething problems were resolved and the tank went on to become one of the best tanks in the army's inventory. The tank was refined into many speciality roles - mostly with the army engineers. The tank had excellent weight distribution and was considered very stable in movement. Other nations to use this tank were: Ireland, The USSR, Jordan, and India.

Specifications
Crew 5
Weight 38.5 tons (Marks 1 - 6)
40 tons (all others)
Length 24' 5"
Width 10' 8"
11' 4" (Mark 7)
Height 8' 2"
9' (Mark 7)
Armor 16 - 102mm
25 -152mm (Marks 7 & 8)
Powerplant Bedford 350hp
Armament 1 x 2pdr - Mark 1* - 2, 1 or 2 x MG
1 x 6pdr - Mark 3 - 4, 1 or 2 x MG
1 x 75mm - Mark 6 - 7, 1 or 2 x MG
1 x 95mm - Mark 5 & 8, 1 or 2 x MG
1 x 3" - Mark 1* - 1CS, 1 or 2 x MG
Performance 15mph
12.5mph (Mark 7)

Churchill - carpet device - Dieppe.---Churchill - carpet device - TLC---Churchill - carpet device - Type A---Churchill - carpet device - Type B Mark 1---Carpet Device Type C Mark 2
Churchill Carpet Layers

These vehicles had a carpet laying device attached in an effort to overcome soft ground. A prime example of an attempt to make a heavy tank mobile in conditions where a vehicle of such weight would normally have floundered.

Churchill Ardeer Aggie
Churchill Ardeer Aggie

Tests began in September 1943. An experimental prototype designed with the view to improve the Petard Mortar found in the AVRE. The Ardeer was a recoilless gun. The design was found to be impractable and abandoned.

Churchill AMRCR Number1 Mark1---Churchill CIRD
Churchill Rolling Mine Clearing Devices

The Churchill AMRA (Anti Mine Rolling Attachment) Mark 2e (NEED A PICTURE PLEASE) differed from the Mark 1 in that it had double rollers designed for the wider track of the Churchill. The Churchill AMRCR Number 1 Mark 1 (pictured above) was a 1943 upgrade to the AMRA (more heavy duty). The Churchill CIRD (Canadian Indestructable Roller Device) was a Canadian design that even tougher.

Churchill Bullshorn Mark3 plough---Churchill Farmer Deck---Churchill Farmer Track plough

Churchill Jeffries plough---Churchill OAC Mark 1 plough---Churchill OAC Mark 2 plough
Churchill Plough Mine Clearing Devices

These devices all worked and were used with success throughout WW2.

Churchill Light Carrot - the charge was from 12 to 25lbs. The project was abandoned in 1943.---Churchill Jones Onion - Much like the carrot. The project was started in 1942. A smaller device was also tested and known as the "Single Onion".---Churchill Goat Mark 3 - A further development of the Carrot and Onion and carried 1800lbs of explosive charges.

Churchill Elevatable Goat - Designed for use against high walls.---Churchill with Bangalore Torpedoes - Designed for light uses and against barbed wire.
Churchill Mechanical Charge Placers

Developed for placing explosive charges against buildings and bunkers.

Churchill Oke---Churchill Oke---Churchill Crocodile of the 79th Armored Division at the Belsen Prison cleanup.

Churchill Crocodile---Churchill Crocodile
Churchill Flame Throwers

The Churchill Oke has the honor of being the first Churchill fitted with flame equipment - it was also a unofficial version designed for the raid on Dieppe. The Oke was in no way related to the Crocodile or it's design. The projector had a fixed elevation, and the fuel was carried on the back of the tank. Three Churchill 2s were so equipped and used at Dieppe in August 1942. The 1943 Crocodile was a converted Churchill Mark 7 that still retained it's co-axial Besa MG and the 75mm main gun in the turret. The flame projector had a favorable range of about 120 yards but in general 80 was considered tops. The fuel was carried in a armored 2 wheel trailer and contained 400 gallons plus 5 nitrogen bottles that supplied pressure. If the trailer was hit, there was a quick release available.

Black Prince---Black Prince
Black Prince, Super Churchill, A43

Designed by Vauxhall between 1943-45. This was an enlarged Churchill with a 17pounder as the main gun. Unofficially known as the Super Churchill. Six pilot models were completed in 1945 - too late to enter the war. No production.

Specifications
Crew 5
Weight 50 tons
Length 28' 11"
Width 11' 3.5"
Height 9'
Armor 25 -152mm
Powerplant Bedford 350hp
Armament 1 x 17pounder, 2 x MG
Performance 11mph

Valiant
Valiant, A33

Designed by Vickers using Valentine components. The pilot was ready mid 1944. The design was considered outdated by the standards of the day the the design was dropped.

Specifications
Crew 4
Weight 27 tons
Length 17' 7"
Width 9' 3"
Height 7'
Armor 10 -114mm
Powerplant GM 210hp diesel
Armament 1 6pdr or 75mm, 1 x MG
Performance 12mph

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Last Update: Thursday, February 13, 2003