KING RIDES IN TANK

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 171, 22 July 1941, Page 7

KING RIDES IN TANK

Britain's Most Formidable War Machine IMPRESSIVE ARMAMENT Rec. noon. RUGBY, July 21. ™I he p K ju g rec «i"y took charge of tknk°th^? e neW u "Churchill" heavy tanks that was showing its performance on hilly ground. His Majesty nriJ g - * fa^ tory where these tanks—Britain s latest and most formidable instrument of the kind ar t ,s'!_ ng mass produced. During a half-hour ride in the tank on the testing ground near the factory, he took control of the machine as it charged at high speed up a hill and then turned and thundered downl toward a party of experts, who were watching with interest. TJ} e King, when he climbed out 9 f the turret, said how much he was impressed by the manoeuvrability of the tank and congratulated the directors of the factory on the comfort and speed which the tank incorporated. His Majesty was also interested in its terrific gun power and spent a long time examining the armament of the vehicle. Churchill is the name specially chosen by the Minister of Supply for this new type of heavy infantry tank, stated an earlier cable. The Churchills are probably the most formidable fighting instruments possessed by any army in the world. They are heavily armoured, giving maximum protection to the crews, but in spite of their weight they are able to move over any kind of ground at startling speed. Terrific gunpower is concentrated in the minimum space. It is unlikely tnat many enemy machines exist that could stand up for long to their devastating fire. If for any reason ChurchiUs were brought to a standStill. the thickness of their armour would enable them to be used as small fortresses or strong-points. I