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Hello, I’m suggesting one of the heavy tanks Canada could get and the main tank that took part in the Dieppe raid, giving it a bit of history for Canada.
History:
When the Churchill tank was originally designed and entered production it was agreed the 2-pdr would have the 6-pdr replace it as soon as possible, this would lead to the Churchill Mk III being the first Churchill to have the 6-pdr equipped. It would also be the first Churchill to standardize the secondary armament as one coaxial Besa and one hull-mounted Besa machine gun. The Churchill Mk III, like the ones that came before it would have 103mm thick armour which at the time made it one of the most heavily protected tanks. The Churchill Mk would weigh 39 tons and be equipped with a 350-horsepower, 12-cylinder engine.
The Churchill Mk III could enter service with the Canadian army overseas in April of 1942, as on the 5th of April the No. 1 Sub depot of No. 1 Canadian Base Ordnance Depot, Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps began to receive them. The Churchill Mark III which was the latest version of the Churchill Tank, was received in exchange for the Mk I and Mk IIs attached to the 1st Canadian Army Tank Brigade. By the end of June of 1942 the Royal Canadian Tank Brigade would hold 47 Churchill Mk IIIs these would be split as follows, 6 with the Ontario Regiment, 3 with the Three Rivers Regiment and 38 with the Calgary Regiment.
By the time of Operation Jubilee, the Calgary Regiment held 37 Churchill Mk IIIs. It would proceed to lose 18 of them at Dieppe on the 19th of August 1942. The 19 that survived did so because their squadron had not landed and instead returned to England. It would take until the 23rd of October in 1942 for the losses the Calgary Regiment took, to be replaced.
By November 5th of 1942, the Canadian Army Overseas held 33 Churchill Mk IIIs, but starting in December of 1942 and going until the 3rd month of 1943 the 1st Canadian Army Tank Brigade would begin to be issued the Churchill Mark IV tanks. Although this change would be short-lived as on the 19th of March 1943 the Canadian Army had decided to re-equip the 1st Canadian Army tank Brigade with the Canadian-built Ram II tanks. By the 12th of April 1943, the last of the Churchill Mk III tanks would be struck off charge of the Canadian Army Overseas and returned to the British.
More photos
Specs:
- Armament: QF 6 pounder gun
- Armor:
Hull front: 102 mm
Hull side: 76 mm
Hull rear: 51 mm
Turret front: 89 mm
Turret side/rear: 76 mm - Crew: Five people
- Engine: 350 brake horsepower, 12-cylinder, horizontally-opposed engine
- Fuel capacity: 830 liters, with a cruising range of 145–201 km
- Length: 7.7 meters
- Road speed: 25 km/h
- Cross-country speed: 13 km/h
- Weight: Approximately 39 tons
- Width: 3.3 meters
- Height: 2.5 meters
Sources
The Churchill Mark III infantry tank in service with the Canadian Army Overseas, 1942-43 | CSMMI MILART
Churchill tank - Wikipedia
Armour in Canada: Churchill tank
https://royaltankregiment.com/vehicle/churchill/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUk8AUJZGkA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHcBEwhwV9g