Churchill tank

[ketelone]

Were Churchill tanks used in the North African campaign in WWII? I've googled this and can't get an answer. For some reason I believe they were but I can't locate any historical information to confirm or deny. Help would be appreciated.

[cjg476]

North Africa

A few Churchills were in use for the Second Battle of El Alamein in October 1942. The six Mk III tanks (with the 6 pounder gun) of "KingForce" went into battle in support of the 7th Motor Brigade. Although all were heavily shelled by German anti-tank guns, only one received more than light damage; one tank was said to have been hit up to 80 times.[9][10]

Kingforce was disbanded afterwards - the Churchills had been sent to Africa to see if they could operate there - but a Tank Brigade ( three tank regiments[note 3]) was sent to Africa going into action in February.

In one encounter a Churchill tank got the better of a German heavy tank, Tiger I, when a shot lodged between the Tiger's turret and turret ring. The crew abandoned the Tiger, which was subsequently captured by the British. As the first Tiger captured by the Western Allies it was particularly useful, and is now on display at Bovington Tank Museum in the United Kingdom.

[cjg476]

Historical Account: "Kingforce" - In October 1942, El Alamein in Egyot was adecisive allied victory. The famed German General Rommel's advancing Afrika Korps were outmanned and outgunned by the British General Montgomery's 8th Army who had a two-to-one advantage in tanks enabling their forces to push back the Germans to Tunisia. There was a felling that the Churchill's cooling system was inadequate for desert warfare, so in order to find out, six Mk. III's were shipped to Egypt in order to take part in the Second Battle of El Alamein. These were to be manned by a small unit known as 'Kingforce' and commanded by Major Norris King of the Royal Gloucester Hussars. Under the direct command of 1st Armoured Division, 'Kingforce' went into action twice, first near Kidney Ridge on October 27th and the second at the major tank battle of Tel el Aqqaqir on November 3rd. In these two actions, the six vehicles absorbed 106 hits resulting in one tank destroyed, one immobilized and one with a jammed turret, resulting in seven men being killed and eight wounded. In response, 'Kingforce' claimed five enemy tanks and three anti-tank guns. As a direct consequence of this seeming success, two Churchill tank brigades were dispatched to Tunisia to support the 1st Army, although 'Kingforce' was immediately disbanded.

[ketelone]

Thanks CJG

[cjg476]

No problem...I love when I get the chance to help find info...I ask all kinds of stuff on here...and some of these guys know stuff...that you could only be like wow how could anyone know that...and then they give you the link to figure it out...