The "Churchill" began life as a 1939 requirement that envisaged a return to trench-warfare, and was therefore slow and heavily armored like the Russian KV-1 series. That said, the final Churchill prototype was much lighter than had first been thought acceptable, although it still resembled a World War I tank in appearance. Rushed into production at a time when a cross-channel invasion seemed imminent, it suffered early reliability problems and was not fully introduced until 1943. Early combat experience during the ill-fated Dieppe raid in 1942 was disappointing, but the vehicle proved more mobile in the rough terrain of North Africa. The tank excelled in its specialized variants, which include the AVRE, Crocodile flamethrower tank, bridgelayer and more. In fact, it wasn't until the 1960s that the last Churchill was finally retired.

303 Mk. I's were produced. Equipped with a 40 mm Ordnance QF 2-pounder gun in the turret with 150 rounds and a coaxial Besa machine gun. It was equipped with an Ordnance QF 3 inch howitzer in the hull, with 58 rounds, for use against infantry. It was a tank that was noted for poor mechanical reliability. This variant was used alongside Mark IIs and IIIs with Canadian forces on the Dieppe Raid and in Tunisia; some were still in use late in the war in Italy on the Gothic Line.

This particular 1:50 scale Churchill Mk. I medium tank saw action during the liberation of Holland in 1944. Comes with 3 British paratrooper figures. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 5-inches
Width: 2-inches

Release Date: March 2007

Historical Account: "Monty" - Montgomery, commanding the British 21st Army Group, persuaded Eisenhower in early September that, such was the disorganization of the Germans in the west following their precipitated retreat from Normandy, he could "bounce" their defense of the Low Countries and avoid the preparation of a long conventional offensive.