Pz.Kpfw. Churchill (Germany)

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This page is about the premium heavy tank Pz.Kpfw. Churchill (Germany). For other versions, see Churchill (Family).
▀Pz.Kpfw. Churchill
germ_infanterie_kampfpanzer_churchill.png
GarageImage Pz.Kpfw. Churchill (Germany).jpg
ArtImage Pz.Kpfw. Churchill (Germany).png
▀Pz.Kpfw. Churchill
AB RB SB
4.0 4.0 4.3
Purchase:1 750 Specs-Card-Eagle.png
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Description

The Churchill tank was an infantry tank produced by Great Britain intended for supporting an infantry assault with its armour and firepower. The Churchill tank's first action was during the disastrous Dieppe Raid in August 1942, which saw a number of them committed then lost when the Allies were unable to recover the tank during their retreat. The Germans captured these tanks and subjected them through evaluations. Their initial impressions were poor, thinking the Churchill tank as obsolete. The captured Churchills were repurposed within the Wehrmacht in roles such as Beutepanzers or shore fortifications.

Introduced in Update 1.55 "Royal Armour", the Pz.Kpfw. Churchill is a German captured Churchill Mk III that is distinguished by being painted grey (with the same tone as the Panzer IV and Panzer III) and possess white Wehrmacht markings. The Pz.Kpfw. Churchill is one of the best heavy tanks in rank III, sporting heavy frontal armour, a 6-pounder gun that is suitable for its rank, and 30 smoke grenades that are fired separately from the roof, great for covering great areas with smoke. The Churchill also has great gun depression and turret traverse, meaning it can fire at different targets very efficiently. However, the low acceleration and speed makes it a slug on the battlefield, making it difficult to manoeuvre and a large target against enemy guns. The thin roof armour also means that the tank is perfect prey to fighter-bombers and rocket attacks.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
Armourfront / side / back
Hull89 / 76 / 51
Turret89 / 89 / 76
Crew5 people
Visibility87 %

There are very few enemies which can successfully penetrate the Churchill, the M10 and the Achilles can quickly take care of this vehicle even at long ranges! Other tanks like the Jagdpanzer IV, the Jagdpanzer 38(t), and the Dicker Max can also make quick work of the Churchill, but only in arcade battles, as in realistic battles, they all belong in the same tree.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB30 / 3 km/h
RB and SB28 / 3 km/h
Number of gears4 forward
1 back
Weight39.0 t
Engine power
AB668 hp
RB and SB350 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB17.1 hp/t
RB and SB9.0 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 30 3 39 452 668 11.59 17.13
Realistic 28 3 310 350 7.95 8.97

Modifications and economy

Repair cost
AB1 303 Sl icon.png
RB1 330 Sl icon.png
SB1 894 Sl icon.png
Crew training10 000 Sl icon.png
Experts210 000 Sl icon.png
Aces550 Ge icon.png
Research Aces790 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
Talisman.png 2 × 100 / 140 / 150 % Sl icon.png
Talisman.png 2 × 154 / 154 / 154 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Mods tank reinforcement ger.png
Crew Replenishment
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Mods tank ammo.png
57mm_britain_6pdr_APC_ammo_pack
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Mods tank ammo.png
57mm_britain_6pdr_APCBC_ammo_pack
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade

Armaments

Main armament

Shoulder stabilizer
Reduces the swing of the gun in one plane while moving
Ammunition85 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
5.2 → 4.0 s
Vertical guidance-12° / 20°
Main article: 6pdr OQF Mk.V (57 mm)
57 mm 6pdr OQF Mk.V Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 85 -12°/+20° ±180° Shoulder 19.4 26.9 32.6 36.1 38.4 5.20 4.60 4.24 4.00
Realistic 14.3 16.8 20.4 22.6 24.0

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
Shot Mk.8 APC 116 111 94 76 62 50
Shot Mk.5 HV AP 115 111 93 75 60 49
Shot Mk.9 APCBC 132 127 110 91 75 63
Shell Mk.10 HE 9 9 9 9 9 9
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Velocity
(m/s)
Projectile
mass (kg)
Fuse delay Fuse sensitivity
(mm)
Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g)
Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
Shot Mk.8 APC 883 2.87 - - - 48° 63° 71°
Shot Mk.5 HV AP 891 2.8 - - - 47° 60° 65°
Shot Mk.9 APCBC 847 3.23 - - - 48° 63° 71°
Shell Mk.10 HE 655 2.72 0 0.1 590 79° 80° 81°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the Churchill III (identical)
Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
3rd
rack empty
4th
rack empty
5th
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
85 82 (+3) 43 (+42) 22 (+63) (+80) (+84) No

Notes:

  • Racks disappear after all shells in the rack have been shot or loaded.
  • Turret empty: 82 (+3) shells.

Optics

Pz.Kpfw. Churchill (Germany) Optics
Which ones Default magnification Maximum magnification
Main Gun optics x1.85 x3.5
Comparable optics Pz.IV G

Machine guns

Ammunition9 450 rounds
Belt capacity225 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate600 shots/min
Main article: BESA (7.92 mm)
7.92 mm BESA
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 9,350 (225) 600 N/A N/A

Usage in battles

Like its British counterpart, the Churchill can be used as a very efficient brawler with its excellent turret traverse and gun depression, and heavy frontal armour. Though in urban environments, you should be careful in case someone tries to flank your weak side and rear armour.

This tank can be effectively be played in a brawling style, going into the front lines. This tank, due to its excellent armour and gun, can even hold off an entire enemy flank with minimal backup. In city maps, be careful not to expose your side armour as it is quite weak and your engine might get damaged. With its good gun, it can be as a support tank as well, in the second line destroying tanks. Angle your armour to maximize its effectiveness. When frontally angled, even the sides will be tough to penetrate. Many tanks will struggle penetrating you. There are some tanks that you don't even need to worry at all penetrating you from the front, such as the Panzer III. Angling your armour will make you even tough against the high penetration Panzer IV F2. However, be aware of higher penetration tanks. The M10 is a worthy mention as most of the time it might be able to penetrate your armour. The far deadlier Achilles can penetrate your front with little effort. Thus, it is advised to take cover, angle, or destroy them first. Shermans are not much threat since they won't really penetrate your armour, but sometimes they do. They are easy to deal with as your 57 mm gun can punch straight through. Your 57 oddly does a lot of damage for a 57 mm gun. It can one shot Panzer III's, and sometimes Shermans if you aim correctly. Overall, the Churchill III is a very powerful Rank III vehicle that is capable of holding off an entire flank, while destroying tanks easily in quick succession.

If you are not in an up-tiered situation, you can effectively enter a battle and absorb all the enemy rounds which could've been fired at your weaker teammates and either engage the enemy with your 57 mm cannon or let your teammates return fire. Companion vehicles such as the Panzer IV F2, 8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl. and other German vehicles possess superior firepower compared to the other country vehicles in rank III (Except for other special TDs, such as the American M10 GMC and British Achilles) and can in most cases hold their own.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Long, tough hull is easily angled
  • 90 mm turret armour is effective at medium & long range
  • Large tracks can absorb shells fired at the side
  • Fast turret traverse, easy to engage people without turning
  • 57 mm gun reloads quickly
  • Good penetration
  • Slow speed makes it easy to hit enemies after a shortstop
  • 30 individually fired smoke grenades, great for covering points and areas with smoke
  • Good gun depression
  • Has access to a low-speed stabilizer for firing on the move, pairs well with the vehicle's slow speed

Cons:

  • No HE filler for any rounds, unless hitting an ammo rack, it will require multiple shots to take the target down
  • Large target, easily spotted by bombers/fighter-bombers
  • Very poor speed, both forward and backward
  • Unangled armour fares poorly at close ranges
  • Lack of camouflage, only urban grey and winter livery
  • Machine gun port is only 50 mm
  • Roof armour is very thin, can be penetrated by .50 cal rounds
  • Engine mostly affected when hit from the side or turret
  • Large tracks are vulnerable to damage

History

The German military first encountered the Churchill tank in August of 1942, following the disastrous Dieppe raid made by British and Canadian military elements. On August 8th, the Churchill Mk IV made its debut, as almost 60 of them had been allocated to assist the 6,000 British and Canadian troops raiding the beach. Of those, only the first 30 were deployed, and of those 30, one became trapped in its damaged landing craft, another two sank, and 11 were disabled by indirect fire and rough terrain. Despite the losses, this was the first successful use of heavy tanks in amphibious landings. In the chaotic evacuation that followed, the tanks that had deployed and survived the raid were unable to be recovered by the British and were abandoned. They, along with many other examples of British equipment, were captured by the Germans.

These tanks were later evaluated by the Germans. Though none were damaged by direct anti-tank fire, the Germans had come to the conclusion that the tanks were virtually obsolete, too underpowered and lacking proper firepower. Two of the twenty-nine tanks captured at Dieppe were used as Beutepanzers and saw service with the German military, repainted into the German standard grey colouration and marked with prominent Iron Crosses on the sides of the turret. The rest of the captured Churchills were repurposed for secondary combat roles, destroyed, or taken apart, with their turrets being used as improvised beach defences at Dieppe after the raid.

Media

Skins

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

  • reference to the series of the vehicles;
  • links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

  • topic on the official game forum;
  • other literature.


Vauxhall Motors Limited
Infantry Tanks 
Tank, Infantry, Mk IV, Churchill (A22)  Churchill I · Churchill III · Churchill VII · Churchill Crocodile
Tank, Infantry, Black Prince (A43)  Black Prince
Tank Destroyers  Gun Carrier (3-in)
Captured  ▀Pz.Kpfw. Churchill

Germany heavy tanks
Tiger 1 (Henschel)  Tiger H1 · Tiger E · ␠Tiger
Tiger 1 (Porsche)  VK 45.01 (P) · Pz.Bef.Wg.VI P
Tiger 2  Tiger II (P) · Tiger II (H) · Tiger II (H) Sla.16 · Tiger II (10.5 cm Kw.K)
Super heavy tanks  Maus · E-100
Trophies 
Great Britain  ▀Pz.Kpfw. Churchill
USSR  ▀KV-IB · ▀KW I C 756 (r) · ▀KW II 754 (r)

Germany premium ground vehicles
Light tanks  Pz.II C (DAK) · Pz.Sfl.Ic · Pz.Sp.Wg.P204(f) KwK · Sd.Kfz. 140/1 · Sd.Kfz.234/1 · Ru 251 · SPz 12-3 LGS · TAM 2IP
Medium tanks  Nb.Fz. · Pz.III N · Pz.Bef.Wg.IV J · ▀M4 748 (a) · ▀T 34 747 (r) · Ersatz M10
  mKPz M47 G · Turm III · Leopard A1A1 (L/44) · Leopard 2 (PzBtl 123)
Heavy tanks  ▀Pz.Kpfw. Churchill · ▀KV-IB · ▀KW I C 756 (r) · ▀KW II 754 (r)
  VK 45.01 (P) · ␠Tiger · Pz.Bef.Wg.VI P · Tiger II (H) Sla.16
Tank destroyers  Sd.Kfz.234/3 · Sd.Kfz.234/4 · Sd.Kfz.251/10 · Sd.Kfz.251/22 · 15 cm Pz.W.42
  Brummbär · Panzer IV/70(A) · VFW · Bfw. Jagdpanther G1 · Elefant · 38 cm Sturmmörser