It was in the fighting across North Africa that Churchills began to showcase their worth, providing much needed protection through their thick armor and strong firepower through their now 6-pdr main guns. They operated alongside infantry formations as well as other tank elements and cross-country capabilities proved sound. If the large tank suffered one noticeable limitation it was in its overall speed which made it hard to keep up with faster mechanized formations. Many improvements were also being made as battlefield experience allowed including riveted and hybrid construction of the original cast turret designs. Other improvements were added to help "tropicalize" the tank in the desert fighting. Additional armor was also eventually added and in-the-field fixes saw extra track sections, wheels, sandbags and lumber used to further bolster protection.
Churchills played a crucial role in the October 1942 "Second Battle of El Alamein" which claimed a decisive (and much-needed) Allied victory. One action involving a Churchill tank led to the capture of the new German "Tiger I" heavy tank, allowing Allied warplanners a complete example from which to learn its strengths and weaknesses.
The tank was then pressed into further service during the Italian campaign in the march to Rome and made up a major component of the British and Commonwealth armor push northwards. Throughout northern France, Churchills were also used during the June 1944 "D-Day" landings at Normandy ,which proved critical to Allied success in Europe, and beyond. Through Lend-Lease, the Soviet Army was also able to utilize British Churchills during its actions near Kursk, though this resulted in a German tactical victory. Churchills did not see combat service in the Pacific Theater but did go on to earn more combat experience during the Korean War (1950-1953). These actions marked the end of British support for its Churchills as world-wide armor doctrine now focused on the "Main Battle Tank" concept.
The Churchill served in many non-direct combat forms which helped to solidify its place in armored warfare history. Variants included dedicated engineering versions, bridgelayers, charge-layers, mine clearance vehicles (flails), flame tanks and converted Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) under the "Kangaroo" name - Churchill offshoots ranged from the purposeful to the odd.
Despite its bygone appearance, the Churchill proved highly valued in the fighting of World War 2, helping to bring about complete Allied victory and an end to the war in Europe. Churchill tanks served the British from 1941 to 1952 with 7,368 produced of all marks and variants. Operators included (beyond the British) Australia, Canada, Iraq (Kingdom of), Ireland, Poland and the Soviet Union (via Lend-Lease). Irish Churchills were not retired until 1969 and the arrival of wartime Cruiser Tank Comets. Australia, Canada and Iraq all replaced their Churchills with Centurion Main Battle Tanks and Soviet Churchills were replaced by incoming stocks of Josef Stalin IS-3 and IS-10 series heavy tanks.
Churchill tanks were manufactured by Vauxhall Motors, Woolwich Arsenal and Harland and Wolff of the U.K.
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