- For the Steel Division II unit see SD2:Churchill VI
Churchill VI is a British Tank unit. It is a general-purpose Allied medium tank fielded by the 15th infantry in phase B, providing the division with a good phase B medium tank that can deal with soft and hard targets. The player can opt to choose between the Churchill IV (130 points) or the Churchill VI (140 points) depending on his preference. Both tanks are available in phase B and can be deployed in numbers
Overview[ | ]
The ultimate incarnation of the infantry tank concept, the first version of the tank was designed with the expectation that fighting in Europe would be similar to the trench warfare of World War I. The A20, as it was designated, was quickly retired after the Dunkirk Evacuation, with the new specifications for an A22 infantry tank given to Vauxhall in June 1940. Fearing a Nazi invasion, the War Office specified that the design enter production within a year. And it did: The first Churchills rolled off the production line in July 1941.
The rapid pace of development resulted in many flaws and shortcomings, primarily caused by an underpowered engine and a weak 2-pounder gun mounted in the turret, somewhat compensated by a 3-inch howitzer mounted in the hull. Further iterations on the design eliminated many of them, with the Churchill Mk III finally proving itself in combat at the second Battle of El Alamein in October 1942. Subsequent versions became the basis for several specialized variants and an indispensable part of Allied combat units, as they combined protection with maneuverability: The Churchill wasn't fast, but its suspension and all-around tracks allowed it to climb slopes other tanks could not.
- Use
Churchill series of tanks were used by 6th Guards Tank Brigade along with 31st Tank Brigade. These Tank Brigade with their 2 to three Infantry Tank Battalions or Regiments, served as Corps troops, to work alongside the Infantry divisions and break into the enemy defensive positions. Each Churchill Troop has a mixture of Churchill IV and Churchill VI. The Churchill VI provided HE capability since the 75mm has better HE then the Churchill IV 's 6-pdr main gun.
Strategy[ | ]
As the 15th division only receives powerful Challenger tanks and mediocre Sherman II tanks in phase C, the player will have to rely on Churchill tanks to provide tank firepower in phase B. The Churchill is in all aspects an average medium tank, with average armour and a reasonable anti-tank gun.
Churchill IV vs Churchill VI
As both tanks are readily available in phase B, the player can opt to choose between the two Churchill variants. The Churchill IV sports a higher rate of fire and is ten points cheaper, but this comes at a cost of reduced frontal armour (-1) and the absence of HE shells. The Churchill VI is more of a general-purpose tank that can deal with a wide variety of threats.
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