British PzKpfw V Panther Ausf G &quot;Cuckoo&quot;
from 4th Battalion of 6th Coldstream Guards Tank Brigade, North-West Europe, 1944/45.

Panther 'Cuckoo'

Churchill IV (NA 75) (Approx 200 produced)

The Churchill IV (NA 75) was a field expedient to rectify the perceived poor performance of the 6 pdr High Explosive round. It essentially involved combining the excellent cross-country capabilities of the Churchill tank with the combat-proven 75mm main gun taken from battle damaged Sherman tanks.

The gun and Sherman manlet were mounted directly onto the front of the turret.

The was gun rotated 90 degrees in the mount, so it could be loaded from the left, thereby conforming to how British tank crews were seated in the turret.

The combination proved successful, with the Churchill being an excellent gun platform. Approximately 200 Churchill tanks were converted to take the 75mm gun between April and June 1944. The name NA75 comes from North Africa (NA) where the conversions took place, and 75 is for the gun. Churchill IV (NA 75) tanks were sent into action in Italy in June 1944 with the 21st and 25th Tank Brigades.

Boyne: 1 Troop 'B' Squadron. Commander Lieut B.E.S.King MC. In the photograph: Gunner, L/Cpl Cecil A.Cox with Operator, Cpl Bob Malseed. Boyne was knocked out by a Panzer Mark IV.

Churchill NA75 'Boyne'

Ron Hancock:>>I joined the Coldstream Guards in February 1940, formed the fourth battalion about October 1940. Stationed in Elstree, London. We trained as infantry and then after about 12 months we went over to the motorised battalion. More training, then the Guards Armoured Division was formed. We had Churchill tanks, sixth Brigade. I was attached to the Welsh Guards for six months as a driving instructor, then got made up to Sargent, eventually finished up as Tank Commandor. 

The first time we went into action was Falaise just outside Cannes. After crossing the Rhine we had a German Panther tank which our infantry captured, and although I was a Sargent I was detailed the driver, which we used for some time against the Germans. Then I reverted back to reconaisance. We went on route to Munster. April 6th, 45, I got wounded by a sniper and lost an eye. That was the end of the war for me!
~~brummbar~~



