Churchill Upgrade

[Old Wombat]

Well, apart from not using the hull sides as part of the armour, you've gone for my suggested side structure, so I'm happy.


What size gun have you gone for, again? The 105mm L7 (& variants) are rifled; the L30 120mm rifle has replaced the smooth-bore L11A5 on British tanks; Cockerill Mk.III 90mm Low Pressure weapon is also rifled.

I'd highly recommend not going for the L30, unless you want to see your tank rolling away from the battle if it fires to its flank.

[Weaver]

What size gun have you gone for, again? The 105mm L7 (& variants) are rifled; the L30 120mm rifle has replaced the smooth-bore L11A5 on British tanks; Cockerill Mk.III 90mm Low Pressure weapon is also rifled.

The L11 was rifled. The L30 is basically just an update on it.

[Old Wombat]

What size gun have you gone for, again? The 105mm L7 (& variants) are rifled; the L30 120mm rifle has replaced the smooth-bore L11A5 on British tanks; Cockerill Mk.III 90mm Low Pressure weapon is also rifled.

The L11 was rifled. The L30 is basically just an update on it.

My apologies, I mis-read my source material.

[Scotaidh]

Well, apart from not using the hull sides as part of the armour, you've gone for my suggested side structure, so I'm happy.


What size gun have you gone for, again? The 105mm L7 (& variants) are rifled; the L30 120mm rifle has replaced the smooth-bore L11A5 on British tanks; Cockerill Mk.III 90mm Low Pressure weapon is also rifled.

I'd highly recommend not going for the L30, unless you want to see your tank rolling away from the battle if it fires to its flank.

Dang it, you lot are making me do research!    My smooth-bore remark was  aimed at how much - to me, at least - the resultant cannon on my Churchill Mk. MMCC looks like the cannon on the Leopard Mk VI - short and thick. 

I personally despise smooth-bores as I regard it as a 'quick, cheap, & nasty' solution to gunnery, as well as a technological step backwards - what's next, re-issue of the Brown Bess musket? 

Researching British Tank Guns of WWII, I came across the OQF 77mm Gun Mk. II.  As an upgrade of the 17pdr used in the Firefly Shermans, I like that, and it seemed the solution to your question.  However, as it didn't come with either the fume extractor or the thermal sleeve, and the L7 did, for which (according to this site <http://www.pof.gov.pk/catalouge/Anti_Tank_Ammo.pdf>) the HE shell = 54lbs (and the APFSDS = 46lbs). 

Long story short, I guess I'm going with the L7.   

[Old Wombat]

 

[Scotaidh]

Churchill Upgrade_040
Side-hull escape hatches in place and driver's hatch installed.


Churchill Upgrade_041
I had to make a cut into the new glacis plate to accomodate the driver's hatch.


Churchill Upgrade_043
Side hatch detail


Churchill Upgrade_044
I kept the old exhaust - I didn't really have a better idea.

[zenrat]

Wow.  I'd be hard pushed to tell what you started with if I didn't know.

Fabulous.

[NARSES2]

It's certainly beginning to look the business 

[nighthunter]

It's so SciFi looking

[Scotaidh]

Wow.  I'd be hard pushed to tell what you started with if I didn't know.

Fabulous.

Weaver made a similar comment a while ago ... and it's starting to bother me.  Your comments have led me to look at it with fresh eyes, so to speak, and I'm not happy with it.   This model has gone out of control - really, just about the only thing left of an actual Churchill is the tracks, which was not my intent when I started.   

So.

I'll finish this one, but I think I have it to do over so it really is a Churchill with slanted armor. 

[Scotaidh]

It's so SciFi looking

Thanks, but yes - you're right.  It might as well be a hover tank armed with a rail gun, at this point - or (as those who read sci-fi armor stories will know) a "power gun".

[Old Wombat]

Your real problem is that it's almost impossible to upgrade the Churchill without redesigning it from the ground up as something which isn't a Churchill.

[Scotaidh]

Mr. Senior Marsupial, I do believe you are, at least partially, correct. 

I was digging in my SSR, looking for greeblies for the Churchill, and I found my Dragon Challenger Mk II (1/72). That kit included some extra parts, which will make their appearance in due course.  Just for fun, before re-stocking the Challenger, I taped the turret together and sat it on the upper hull.


Churchill Upgrade_046
Side-by-each comparison: Churchill Mk. MMCC (green) to Challenger Mk II (grey) ...


Churchill Upgrade_047
... and bow-on comparison

Somehow I don't thing the Challenger turret is all that much more accommodating to its crew than was the Churchill's ...

[NARSES2]

To my eye the hull is still recognisable as that of a Churchill's it's the turret that looks as though it's from a different era. Maybe a Crusader turret that's been widened a tad and had the rivets removed would suit it ? I say Crusader because it's already angled to some degree.

Meanwhile that "Churchill" turret might look good on a Centurion hull as an updated tank for modern armies that can't quite afford the latest gear ?

[kitnut617]

I'm not into armour these days so I have limited knowledge of the subject, but isn't the Conqueror the descendant of the Churchill