Churchill Crocodile

[ratch]

Which units operated these on D-Day?

[John Tapsell]

Ratch,

Only one regiment was equipped with Crocodiles at the time of D-Day - 141 Regt RAC (The Buffs). Records indicate that six vehicles were carried in two LCTs, one of which was unable to land its vehicles. Of the three that got ashore, one fell into a waterhole and took no further part in proceedings - there is no clear record that either of the other vehicles took an active part in events on the day.

Also, at the time of D-Day, they were not part of 79th Armoured Division. They belonged to 31st Tank Brigade (Tank Bdes were independent - ie not part of Armoured Divisions - and assigned to provide close support to infantry divisions).

From Sept 44, the whole brigade was re-structured and transferred into 79th Armd Div. Both 1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry and 7 RTR went on to use the Crocodile after this date.

Cheers,
John

[ratch]

Thanks John, most informative

[foxy]

Whats the opinion on the accuracy of the Tamiya Churchill Crocodile Flamethrower Kit.

What would be best to modify it if there are inaccuracies.

I have one and will sometime in the future be having a go at this and others of the same ilk.

Having looked at the one at Bovington Tank Museum but without the armoured trailer it looks ok from the Kit.

[Global Moderator]

Foxy,

Hate to disillusion you but whilst the tank is pretty good, the trailer is seriously underscale according to some recent research myself and colleagues have carried out.

The proportions are good but the whole trailer is 12mm too short and about 4mm too narrow.

Once it's built it looks OK and most people won't notice.

This information is based on measuring the Bovington and Puckapunyal trailers and comparing those measurements to the Tamiya trailer.

I'm planning an article for the magazine shortly which goes into some detail on the trailer (research rather than modelling).

Regards,
John Tapsell

[foxy]

Thanks John for that.

Well seems I will wait abit having lots of other projects on at the mo.

But nice to know, I have not measured the trailer, thinking that was allright, just goe's to show.