The Churchill Crocodile Flame Tank

The Churchill Crocodile was a British flame-throwing tank of late World War II, it was a variant of the Tank, Infantry, Mk VI (A22) Churchill VII, although the Churchill IV was initially chosen to be the base vehicle. Eight hundred were built.


Videos and Photos of Army Special Ops, Navy SEALs, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard in Action - Shock and Awe - Military.com

 

Cheers for the video mate, my grandad used to be a crewman on one of these through out the war, nice to see one in action. Have a look at my website under Bob Newitt.

Donnie

 

MkVII and a few MkVIII (in Australia) were the chosen type for the production Crocodile, a Mk2. was used in the prototype phase.

 

Found this from a Canadian report (CMHQ 184) written about the capture of Le Havre in Sep 44, in which comments about the crocodile were made and I quote

"
Two British divisions, the 49th (West Riding) and the 51st (Highland) Divisions were assigned to its reduction and the 79th Armoured Division under General Hobart was afforded a first large-scale opportunity to practise the armoured assault-team technique which formed part of the inspired conceptions which had led to the setting up of that novel
formation. Flails, mounted in "Crabs" to thresh a path through the 19 Report No. 184 minefields, "Avres" with their bombardment "Petrards" and miscellaneous equipment to bridge and overcome the miscellaneous anti-tank obstacles and "Crocodiles" to bring terror to the hearts of the defenders, constituted a redoubtable trio which carried all before them. Despite very bad going and by virtue of great gallantry by Crab, Crocodile and Avre crews alike, the formidable fortifications were over-run and the lives of many infantrymen were saved. The enemy condemned the "Crocodiles" as unfair and un-British and one officer prisoner reported that a whole platoon caught in the open had been burned to death. A "Crocodile" commander who witnessed this episode, one of the few occasions throughout the campaign when the enemy stood up to flame in the open without instantaneous surrender, has described the horror of the blazing, shrieking, demented Germans. Some of his crew were physically sick at the sight.

(Sir Donald Banks, Flame Over
Britain, p.111"

 

......and some were sickened at the sight of the 300 women and children who were sheltering in the basement of Owen and Owen department store in Coventry when it was bombed.......

As Harris said at one point - " they have sown the wind - they will reap the whirlwind "

We have to balance the Un German atrocities they made - for a longer period

Cheers

 

As Harris said at one point - " they have sown the wind - they will reap the whirlwind "

I haven't made up my mind about what I dislike most about Harris. His pig headed view that area bombing of cities could win the war, in spite of all the evidence to the contrary. Or his seeming complete disregard for human life; be it German civilians or his own aircrews.

 

Flame thowers are nasty pieces of kit.
But all sides used some form of flame throwers and the Germans modified Mk II panzers as flame throwers and also the Sd Kfz 251/16 Halftracks were converted.
There can be no complaints about its use being unfair.

As much as people abhor its use, it was a tool used by the services to achieve their specific aims.

I have to feel sympathy both for the soldiers having to use this method and those on the receiving end.

Regards
Tom

 

Does anyone know if a crew volunteer or 'volunteer' or get picked to use this kit?

I heard that if they were captured, be it using a flame tank or portable thrower it wasn't uncommon for them to be shot due to the enemies dislike of them.

Cheers
Andy

 

Andy I do not know about the British side, but I once read that the American soldiers were all volunteers with the portable Ronson units.

It may have been different with the American Sherman Tank flame throwers.

Regards
Tom

 

It strikes me as a bit of a bullet magnet job and hats off to them if they chose to do it.

 

im sure Ive recomended it before Flame thrower by Andrew Wilson. Dreadfull title and horrid little paperback and written in the third person (PTSD?), but a good read.

I'll dig some of the pics out of it at some point.

Kev

 

Beerhunter -
I am quite sure that we have been all around the Harris saga and have little wish to return to that subject - however his pig headedness did disrupt the War production of the Germans and civilians who were most probably working at producing those munitions did take a beating - as we did in Britain - not necssarily in Hampshire with the docks at both Portsmouth and Southampton to the same degree as other areas such as London - Coventry - Birmingham - Liverpool - Manchester
whose production was also disrupted by German Bombers.

As I understand it most of the "evidence" of wrong headedness came AFTER the war - and yes 55,000 Airmen died - as did many tank crews who could not cope with the better German panzers or the infamous 88mm anti tank gun - or the thousands of Infantrymen who were cut down by the German Spandaus m/c guns and infamous
"Shu" mines - all those munitions were not made in China or Japan - but right there in the very heart of Germany - and anyone who tried to dsrupt that production - got my vote !

Cheers

 

If you look on my website you will find additional info.

Donnie

 

Does anyone know if a crew volunteer or 'volunteer' or get picked to use this kit?

I heard that if they were captured, be it using a flame tank or portable thrower it wasn't uncommon for them to be shot due to the enemies dislike of them.

Cheers
Andy


In Andrews case picked.

Im sure there was plenty of scope to transfer if wanted though???

Kev

 

As far as I am aware the Crocodile Regiments were converted en mass, I've not seen anything about anyone transfering in or out above what is normal for a tank Batalion. It's back to the old Regimental loyalty thing- you don't want leave or let down your mates.

Steve

 

Anyone know whats fitted to the front left side on this Churchill at Dieppe?


Doh...Penny just dropped. Its the wheel with the track blown off, right? (I hate tanks)

http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/Commun/ml-fe/photo-eng.asp?id=1478

 

Come on Drew!!

See ther track trailing out behind it. Sure sign you have well protected tank, Anti tank guns have to target the tracks the hull is good.

 

I know I know...Not a Tank fan you can see

 

Andy,

I think that we are now all aware

Regards
Tom

 

Doh...Penny just dropped. Its the wheel with the track blown off, right? (I hate tanks)



Andy - Adam (von Poop) won't be best pleased to hear you don't like Tanks. Major Rep points about to be deducted I fear!!!