 | Churchill AVRE| WW2 General Discuss Churchill AVRE in the World War II - General forums; I was just wondering about the main gun of the Churchill AVRE. Its was the 280mm SPIGOT mortar (right?), but ... |
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04-19-2007, 11:36 AM
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#1 | | Banned
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Country:  | Churchill AVRE
I was just wondering about the main gun of the Churchill AVRE. Its was the 280mm SPIGOT mortar (right?), but was it breech or muzzle loading? Iv'e seen pictures of a SPIGOT mortar being used by Home Guardsmen, and it looks definately Muzzle loading. My question is, was the weapon modified for tank use, or did the crews fire one shot and retreat? | 
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04-19-2007, 11:53 AM
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#2 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 194
Country: | It was muzzle loading - one of the main criticisms of it was that the loader had to stick his body out of the tank to load it.
EDIT - forgot to answer the rest of your question. I'm not sure what you mean by modify - it was particular to the CHurchill's development for that role (so it says in "Churchill's Secret weapons: The Story of Hobart's Funnies"). And yes, after firing and to protect the loader, the tank did have to retreat. But then again, it wasn't meant to be an attacking tank anyway, but an infantry support weapon.
Last edited by amrit : 04-19-2007 at 12:44 PM.
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04-19-2007, 12:56 PM
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#3 | | Banned
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Country: | thanks | |
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04-22-2007, 09:43 PM
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#4 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Queensland
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Country:  | Interesting, any photos of this vehicle to post? | |
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04-23-2007, 10:03 AM
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#5 | | Banned
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Country: | yes indeedy | |
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04-29-2007, 11:44 PM
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#6 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Queensland
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Country: | Funny looking tank. It looks like something wierd out of Apocolyptic War Machines or something... | |
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05-02-2007, 01:49 PM
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#7 | | Banned
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Country: | It actually worked quite well (I think...). I think of it as a British Sturmtiger. | |
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05-02-2007, 01:50 PM
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#8 | | Banned
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Originally Posted by HealzDevo  Funny looking tank. It looks like something wierd out of Apocolyptic War Machines or something... | It wasn't called one of Hobo's Funnies for nothing! | |
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05-02-2007, 04:59 PM
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#9 | | aka Dickcheese
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Washington State
Posts: 9,886
Country:  | WWI origins are obvious.
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05-03-2007, 10:21 AM
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#11 | | Banned
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Originally Posted by Matt308 WWI origins are obvious. | The Churchill did evolve from the WW1 heavies. The first designs had the guns on the side, like in WW1.
But the Churchill MkVII is my favorate...along with the Crocodile flame thrower. | |
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05-08-2007, 10:14 PM
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#12 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Queensland
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Country: | It does have a very WW1 look to it for a WW2 tank... | |
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05-09-2007, 10:51 AM
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#13 | | Banned
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Originally Posted by trackend | well in ww1, people with post traumatic stress (or shellshock) where shot. | |
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05-10-2007, 03:49 AM
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#14 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: UK
Posts: 3,500
Country:  | I remember many years ago seeing ( I dont think it was a Hobart Funny) a tank trap dozer picture, based on a pair of tandem Churchills that I believe produced a 12ft ditch on a single pass. Any of you guys either seen the picture of heard of this?. If memory serves me right the picture showed Winston Churchill standing along side the trench containing the dozer. | |
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05-12-2007, 11:12 PM
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#15 | | Senior Member
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Country: | I don't think I have but it certainly sounds like one of those ideas that is possible... | |
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