I am looking for information on if the Crab Flail mine clearing device was used on a Churchill tank and if so has anyone used the resin conversion kit available for a Sherman to reproduce it?

Also what did the British forces use to retrieve damaged tanks? Did they use the American Sherman based M-31 or M-32?

http://www.armouredengineer.force9.co.uk/toad2.htm

From those pictures I'd have to say this was a post war vehicle..Never heard of a Churchill flail during the war ,but I may very well be wrong about that ..Cool site by the way ..thanks for the link.

Rick

Rick - the british had there own series of ARV's based upon the sherman chassis as well as other vehicles.

This is for example a Churchill ARV MkII:



This is a Sherman ARV MkI:



Ross

Hi Manross ...Oh I know about the funnies and all those strange vehicles that Hobart invented ..Along with others ..I just have never seen a picture of a Churchill crab during the war...and if you look at the link that was given those smoke launchers look post war ...I know the churchill was kept in service late into the 50's so I thought it might be during that period.

all the best
Rick

hi

Armoured Engineers .
after the war units stayed in Germany till 1949 where they did construction work & a few exersices.
in 1949 they formed 32 Armoured Engineer Regiment at perham down until 1959 when 26 Armoured Engineer Squadron went to Hohner. where they still are.

uptill 1955 within the regiment there was the following.
Churchill AVRE mk3 & 4 petards
Churchill AVRE Mk7 6.5inch
Churchill Ark uk MK3 &2
Churchill Italian link Arks
churchill link Arks
Sherman Crab Flails
Churchill Flails
Centaur Dozers
Churchill ARV's
M5,9 fitters half tracks
in 31 Park squadron they had churchill mk 4 & 7 bridgelayers minus bridges these were with the tank troops.

26 at Hohner on there arrival till replaced by Centurion Versions.

Churchill AVRE mk 7 last one leveing the regiment in 1968.
Churchill Link ARK
Churchill Bridgelayer
Churchill ARV
Half tracks


i am about over the next month i will let you know i am updateing the Armoured Engineer Branch REA website with new photographs these are from 1943 to know all unpublished including a Churchill flail actualy flailing.

http://www.armouredengineers.co.uk/photose.htm
hope this helps
ossie

Hey cool Ossie ..so were these churchill flails actually used in combat in Europe? Can't wait to see the new pictures ..

Rick

HI
Churchill Flails never used in combat.
because of teh nature of getting the swing arm over from the rear decks etc it was only used ONCE a year for crew test. when going on exersices supporting the Centurions they were left at Honer
1956 26 had the following flails 37ZR23,34ZR53,36ZR50,37ZR35

HOPE THIS HELPS OSSIE

Ossie,
Then the Churchill crab Fails were developed after the war? I am modeling engineering vehicles and like the look of the Churchill, didn't want to just keep doing Shermans. I guess I'll do a Sherman w/mine rollers being pushed by an early Sherman dozer. Maybe I do a bridgelayer Churchill then Have you seen any conversion kits for the post war flail on the Churchill?

I could not find any reference to a Churchill Crab. I see a lot of carpet layer type Churchills but no flails

hi

many ,many moons ago there was a Military modeling Artical on just how to build one. i will have to see if i still have this artical.
ossie

Darn, thats a massive looking vehicle!!!!!!!

hi

you wanted to see a Churchill Flail. Flailing

I am delighted to say that the Armoured Engineer Branch REA website Photographic pages have been revamped.

You will find pictures from 1944 to NOW.
It covers every type or most types of vehicles in service.

http://www.armouredengineers.co.uk/home.htm

I hope you like them let me know your comments
ossie