Tank experts help please! (1 Viewer)

[Rob]

I seem to remember whilst reading somewhere the following about the Churchill Crocodile.It might have been at a French port(??) where the Germans in their dugouts were refusing to surrender,a Crocodile was driven up and in front of the enemy troops demonstrated that fearsome flamethrower,this prompted the immediate surrender of the German forces.Can anyone please tell me where and when this happened?Thanks in advance,

Rob

 

[theBaron]

Don't know, but wagering that it's during Overlord, or shortly thereafter.

Prosit!
Bradley

 

[Rob]

Thanks Bradley,i really should remember this but in the words of Basil Fawlty 'i've a memory like a piece of Swiss cheese'!.

Rob

 

[OzDigger]

I have seen that story mentioned several times but I can't think of the first instance, can't say I blame them as flamethrowers were feared, and hated, by both sides. The best book I have read on the subject was ‘Flame Thrower’ by Andrew Wilson who commanded a croc.

 

[Rob]

Thanks Oz,i knew i hadn't imagined it!.Yes the flamethrower certainly was loathed during both Wars wasn't it,i think any flamethrower teams captured could expect little mercy.

Rob

 

[OzDigger]

Thanks Oz,i knew i hadn't imagined it!.Yes the flamethrower certainly was loathed during both Wars wasn't it,i think any flamethrower teams captured could expect little mercy.

Rob

How true, I read somewhere that they weren't covered by the Geneva Convention the same as Germans in US uniforms.

 

[Rob]

How true, I read somewhere that they weren't covered by the Geneva Convention the same as Germans in US uniforms.

Blimey.you'd need a lot of nerve just to drive one of these Tanks then,knowing capture would probably mean death.

Its interesting how people in battle have their own rules as to what is and what is not acceptable.I remember reading a harrowing story of how a sniper around Ypre had caused many deaths in the British army for a number of weeks.Finally one night a group of soldiers on their way back to the front came under fire and were able to flush out and capture the sniper.Turns out it was an eleven year old Belgian boy with many identity tags of soldiers he'd killed.Despite being a boy he was taken to the side of the road forced to dig his own grave and then shot through the head.

Who is to say whats right and wrong?

Rob

 

[binder001]

The British "Crocodile" Churchills were operated by sub units of the 79th Armoured Division. They were used in Normandy and proved particularly useful in the capture of the Channel ports along the French coast such as La Havre and Calais, among others. These might be the actions that you're thinking about.

Gary

 

[Rob]

Thank you very much Gary that has helped.Now you come to mention it i think it may well have been Calais.I thought this might be a little anecdote to add to my speech.Thanks again

Rob

 

[panda1gen]

I also thought it may have been le Havre but I couldn't confirm?

 

[modernreb]

Blimey.you'd need a lot of nerve just to drive one of these Tanks then,knowing capture would probably mean death.

Its interesting how people in battle have their own rules as to what is and what is not acceptable.I remember reading a harrowing story of how a sniper around Ypre had caused many deaths in the British army for a number of weeks.Finally one night a group of soldiers on their way back to the front came under fire and were able to flush out and capture the sniper.Turns out it was an eleven year old Belgian boy with many identity tags of soldiers he'd killed.Despite being a boy he was taken to the side of the road forced to dig his own grave and then shot through the head.

Who is to say whats right and wrong?

Rob

I thought the Belgians were allied to the Brits.

 

[Rob]

I thought the Belgians were allied to the Brits.

Yes but this boy obviously resented the British Army big time.

Rob