any idea of how spare links (seldom used, I know) were attached to the hull and the turret of the churchill tanks for extra protection? welded, hooked or what? photos or diagrams would help me a lot. thank you in advance

Tracks used for armour were almost always welded on, but there are a few exceptions.

Look at photos of specific vehicles for hints on where the welds were, but don't expect a standard application method. These things were done on a regiment by regiment basis at the local depot or even Light Aid Detatchment level with whatever track was easiest at hand.

Take your best stab.

Paul

when mounted vertically, the top link was welded on, sometimes just by the ends of its pin, an the rest just hung from the top one. When mounted horizontally they were all tac welded or the end ones were more solidly welded

Churchill units in the Med theatre of operations knew that, from experience, the added weight of the spare tracks slowed the turret traverse and a possible first shot in a head to head armor engagement. They were forbidden there. Tankers were perplexed that this knowledge was not adhered to by Churchills in NWE.

Chris, when u say vertically, do u mean ie front and back of the link facing up/down?

Here are some examples :



Full size











Full size



Full size

H.P.

Thank you. Great photos. Clear now

I see "Cuckoo" trundling along behind the Churchills in the second pic.

Pete