Rubicon Models: Weekend Teaser

Rubicon Models präsentieren einen neuen Weekend Teaser auf Facebook.

Our first Weekend Teaser for February is also the disclosure of our first plastic kit project for 2024 in a single image… Have a nice weekend!

With yesterday’s teaser announcing our interest in making a „Churchill“ plastic kit, here is an exploration chart on what we can do with her variant… Long read below:

Churchill Mk I

The first series, 303 was built in 1941. The tracks were entirely unprotected. This series was characterized by an early rounded turret with the 2-pdr QF standard gun, coupled with a 3in (76.2mm) hull howitzer. Plagued by teething problems, they were relegated to training or reconverted into special versions.

Churchill Mk II (Churchill Ia)

The hull howitzer was replaced by a Besa machine gun to gain extra space and simplify production. 1,127 delivered until mid-1942. Many problems had to be overcome until 1943. Also relegated to the second line or reconverted.

Churchill Mk IICS (Close Support)

The turret 2-pdr and the hull 3-in howitzer swapped places. Supplied with smoke rounds. Proved quite unsatisfactory. Only a handful were built.

Churchill Mk III

The first major set of modifications. The turret was welded and housed a 6-pdr gun for the first time. It had a coaxial Besa machine gun, another one replacing the former hull howitzer. Many changes to the engine, transmission and protection were made, including the “catwalk” above the upper tracks. 675 were delivered in 1942.

Churchill Mk III(75)

Field conversion replacing the 6-pdr gun of Mk III Churchills with the 75mm Gun.

Churchill Mk IV

The biggest production of all series, with 1,622 tanks. It was given the cheaper and less labour-intensive cast turret. The early production models had a counterweight to balance their 6 pdr gun, and many were retrofitted with the new long barrel 6 pdr (57mm) Mk V gun.

Churchill Mk V

This was basically a Mk IV for close support, with a 95mm (3.74in) howitzer and 47 rounds. 241 built in all in 1943.

Churchill Mk VI

A minor upgrade of the IV, with the new 6-pdr Mk V gun. 200 was built, but production was quickly swapped for the new VII, and the factory lines were then busy upgrading III/IV versions to the new standard.

Churchill Mk VII

A major modification, which was also called “heavy Churchill”, was two tons heavier, better protected than ever, with 152mm (6in) of frontal armour, and the new QF 75 (75mm) gun. This version was reclassified as the Ordnance A42 in 1945. Production was around 1,400, built until late 1944.

Churchill Mk VIII

This last version was a close support one, fitted with a 95mm (3.74in) howitzer and 47 rounds. Around 200 were built in 1944.

The following marks were not new production vehicles, but completely overhauled and upgraded earlier models, so production figures are irrelevant. Many were also modified as more radical variants and sub-variants.

Churchill Mk IX

Mk III/IV refitted with the new Mk VII turret, transmission and suspension. Some only received the latter improvements and kept their old turret. These were known as Mk IX[LT] (for “light turret”). No upgrades in armour.

Churchill Mk X

Mk VI upgraded to the Mk VII standard.

Churchill Mk XI

Mk V upgraded to the Mk VII standard but also received extra armour.

Churchill NA75

Around 200 Churchill Mk IVs were upgraded to the NA75 version with 75mm (2.95in) guns and mantlets of discarded or destroyed Shermans. To mount the gun, the front turret section had to be cut off and the gun introduced, followed by a mantlet slot, and then the whole package was welded over.

Source: https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/gb/a22_churchill_tank.php

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