History, technical details and pictures

Mark IV Churchill Bobbins history

When the British declared war in 1939 to Germany, they decided to strengthen their armored fleet, considered too old. But in 1940, while the English engineers were studying a new model, the French and British troops had left Dunkirk: most British tanks were in the hands of the Germans.

To deal with this problem, studies of a new weapon project have began rapidly and soon the first model was available. But in the rush, all the early models of the new tank, called Cromwell, suffered from many defects.

The particular shape of the Mark IV tank (A22 and originally known as "Churchill"), was designed by engineers of the Vauxhall Motors company. This char has the same structure as the initial model, Mark I, designed for the First World War.

This structural basis of that tank was used for many other versions (flamethrowers, anti-personnel mines, bridges layer...) used by the British forces during the Normandy Landing and known as the "funnies".

In 1942, the Allies prepared the landing at Dieppe (Operation Jubilee) and they had to deal with a serious problem: the beach of Dieppe is covered with pebbles, therefore the infantry and the vehicles could not move easily.

The Churchill Bobbins version was one solution to the problem, because it was the model designated for the "crossing". Indeed, the tank had a bobin (hence the name "Bobbins"), which deployed on the front of the machine a solid carpet on which the infantry and vehicles could progress more easily and therefore faster.

This mat could also indicate a route cleared by tanks and antimines vehicles.

Mark IV Churchill Bobbins sheet

Country creator/user: Great-Britain
Name: Mark IV Churchill Bobbins

Rate of fire: 7,65 m
Width: 3,25 m
Height: 2,45 m
Weigth: 39 600 kg
Maximum speed: 27 km/h
Range: 144 km

Engine: Bedford Twin-Six, 350 hp
Consumption: 334 L for 100 km

Front shield: 152 mm
Back shield: 35 mm

Speciality: installation of a "carpet" to facilitate the progression of light vehicles and infantry on the ground