Military Model Scene

Title: Churchill Infantry Tank

Author: David Fletcher

Publisher: Osprey

ISBN: 978-1-4728-3734-9

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Number 272 in the New Vanguard series from Osprey takes on the subject of the Churchill Infantry tank, and is written by one of our best expert on British tanks, David Fletcher. The story also supported by more of the excellent artwork from Henry Morshead, as well as plenty of archive photos.

The book starts off with the A20 prototype, of which only two were made. It still bears a resemblance to British tanks in that the crew compartment was in the middle, with the track units on either side and exposed track runs all round. It was developed into the A22, which is better known as the Churchill. A new tank supported by the Prime Minister and hence the name, we get to read the story of the development of it, from the early Mk 1 with the heavier 3in gun in the hull and a smaller 2 pounder in the turret. The supply of that 3in gun was running out so next we get a welded turret mounting a 6pounder gun. We get on to the Mk7, when the turret was changed again and the hull side doors were circular rather than square. Plenty of other detail changes and it does make for interesting reading on the development of the gyn tanks, and not the specialist conversions of the 'Funnies'. It is rounded off with coverage of the later development of the A43, the 'Black Prince'.

As I thnk we might expect from David, this is an excellent book and a useful addition to the story of one of the best British tanks of WW2, the Churchill.

 

Thanks to Osprey Publishing for this review copy.

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Robin