THE CHURCHILL TANK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25101, 17 December 1942, Page 5

THE CHURCHILL TANK

LARGE NUMBER AVAILABLE RUGBY, Dec. 15. That Britain had fewer than 100 tanks in the hands of the troops in Britain on June 11, 1941, was disclosed by Mr Churchill in the House of Commons to-day. Answering “mischievous attempts to undermine the confidence of the troops in the Churchill tanks,” he said: ‘‘After the preliminary stages of production the flow of these tanks began in May, 1941, and by the autumn 400 were available for battle. Meanwhile the German armies had been launched against Russia, and the danger of invasion of Britain had lessened, and it became possible to modify the Churchill tank to make it primarily an offensive rather than a defensive tank, as originally designed. “Large numbers of them are now in a fit condition for use in the assault of strong positions, for which their armour fits them. There are now between 1000 and 2000 in the hands of the troops in Britain. Though this tank was never intended for fast-mov-ing, long-range desert warfare, some were sent to the Middle East for trial. Of these a small number participated in the attack on Rommel’s lines at El Alamein. Reports show that they gave a good account of themselves and stood up to very heavy fire.”