CHURCHILL TANKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 December 1942, Page 3

CHURCHILL TANKS

QUALITY DEMONSTRATED IN BATTLE. BRITISI-T PRIME MINISTER ANSWERS CRITICS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY,- December 15. Mr Churchill in the House of Commons today, in answering “mischievous attempts to undermine the confidence of the troops in the Churchill tanks,” disclosed that on June 11, 1941, Britain had fewer than 100 of the tanks in the hands of troops in Britain. He said that after the preliminary stages of production the flow of these tanks began in May, 1941, and by the autumn 400 were available for battle. Meanwhile, the German armies had been launched against Russia and the danger of invasion of Britain had lessened, and it became possible to modify the Churchill tank to make it primarily an offensive rather than a defensive tank, as originally designed. Large numbers of them were now in fit condition for use in assault on strong' positions, for which their armour fitted them. There were now between 1000 and 2000 in the hand of the troops in Britain. Though this tank was never intended for fast-moving long-range desert warfare, some were sent to the Middle East for trial. Of these a small number participated in the attack on Rommel’s lines at El Alamein. Reports showed that they gave a good account of themselves and stood un to very heavy fire,