Panzerserra Bunker- Military Scale Models in 1/35 scale: Churchill Mk V CS - Close Support

Gents!!!

One of the most interesting versions of this versatile and robust British tank was the might Churchill Mk V CS (close support), specially designed to support the infantry in its advancements with its main weapon of 95mm.

Churchill Mk V CS

History:

The Churchill Mk V was the close-support version of the Churchill Mk IV, and was armed with the powerfull 95mm Ordnance QF Mk I tank howitzer. It was designed to correct the design deficiencies of Churchill Mk I CS, with the 76mm howitzer adapted to the turret of a Churchill Mk I.

Churchill Mk V CS tank crew and US Airborne troops in Munster, Germany.

4 April 1945

The Churchill Mk IV carried the excellent QF 6-pounder anti-tank gun, but this weapon did not have a high-explosive shell for soft targets that was efficient.

Churchill Mk IV with 6 pdr. 50 caliber - Mk.V gun

The Mk V armed with a 95mm howitzer that had a much more powerful high explosive shell. Only 10% of Churchill production was dedicated to the close support versions, so there were nine Mk IVs for every Mk V. Early in 1943 the War Cabinet decided to approve production of 500 Churchills to keep the production lines active, and of these 300 were to be Churchill Vs. A total of 241 were built during 1943, compared to 1,622 Mk IVs and a total of 2,297 6-pounder Churchills.

Churchills IV and V CS from 6th Guards Tank Brigade near Best,
in readiness for 15th (Scottish) Division's advance on Tilburg 27 October 1944

The Churchill Mk V saw combat in Italy and in the Invasion of Europe, where it was used by the squadron HQ troops of armoured squadrons.

Churchill Mk V CS roaring in Mardyck, near Dunkirk
France - Oct 1944

Churchill Mk V CS in a destroyed village in Holland, 1944.

In Italy, the squadrons themselves normally had two troops of Churchill tanks, including the Churchill Mk IV NA75 and two troops of Sherman tanks.

Churchill Mk IV NA75

These tanks fought (and very well ...) until the end of WWII at the European Theater.

Germans POW's passing by a Churchill Mk V
Notice that this particular tank does not feature additional armor links welded in the hull and turret,
something common in this model.

Churchill Mk V CS and Churchill Mk VII side by side of 4th Grenadier Guards
assemble for the advance on Liesel, 1 November 1944.

Bren carrier and Churchill Mk V CC with links as suppementary armour
Reichswald, Germany - 1945

The Churchill Mk VIII CS model, whose production began in 1944, was designed to replace it, but the end of the war came before a significant number of these more well-armed Mk VIII could replace the older and courageous Mk V.

Churchill Mk VIII CS 95mm tank

Specs:

Churchill Mk V CS (Close Support)
Type	Infantry tank
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
In service	1943-45
Used by	United Kingdom
Production history
Designer	Vauxhall Motors (A22)
Manufacturer	Vauxhall Motors
Produced	1943
No. built	241
Specifications
Mass	40.7 t (40.1 long tons)
Length	7.44 m
Width	3.25 m
Height	2.49 m
Crew	5 (commander, gunner, loader/radio operator, driver, co-driver/hull gunner)

Armour	102 mm hull front, 89 mm hull side, 51 mm hull rear, 89 mm turret front, 76 mm turret side and rear
Main armament	Ordnance QF 95mm
Secondary armament	Two 7.92mm Besa machine guns
Engine	Bedford 12-cylinder, 4 stroke, water-cooled, horizontally opposed, L-head petrol engine 350 hp (261 kW) at 2,200 rpm
Power/weight	9.1 hp (6.7 kW) / tonne
Transmission	Merritt-Brown 4-speed constant-mesh epicyclic gearbox
Suspension	Coiled spring
Operational range	90 km
Speed	24 km/h
Steering system	Triple differential steering in gearbox

The kits:

For this project, I'll use the Churchill Mk III AVRE (#AF 35167) from AFV Club and an old (out of production...) Inside the Armour (#35031) Churchill Mk V Turret Conversion.

The players...

You may be wondering: Why use a conversion resin kit, if today there is on the market the excellent Churchill Mk V 95mm howitzer (#AF35155), from AFV Club??

To late!!!

Simple answer, my Lord: it's because I had this old conversion kit since years before the AFV release this injected product ... and I do not waste anything from my stock ... So let's go to the Churchill Mk V 95mm building... Again, a double building, with Churchill Mk I CS reversed:

Cleaning step...

Many complain about the building of the suspensions of the AFV Churchills ...
I think it's a tranquility !!

A real assembly line ....

sponsons ready...almost!!

A more modern (and reinforced ...) than the other ...

Two girls...same goals!!

Notice the front hulls...

Mk.V with the conical bolts in the side armour...

The ITA turret.
The coaxial and hull machine guns 7.92mm Besa
is from RB Model metal barrel (35B64)

The Mk IV turrets (casted) had in their lower right portion a slightly thinner armour thickness, due to the machining of their rotation ring. The British reinforced this region with an additional armour plate, as the Germans began to point their guns at this fragile area ...

Churchill Mk IV turret's weak point with extra armour...
As the Mk V turret was an immediate derivation of the Mk IV, they also needed this reinforcement ...

Notice the shield reinforcement supports in the cast turret.
This region was a little thinner ... and the Germans knew it ...

The ITA's extra armor came with bubbles and deformed ...
Best to make in scratch, with plasticard ...

In position...

Plastic and metal parts from AFV "host" kit...
Notice the aerials made with acupuncture needles.

The girls Close Support Mk.V and Mk.I reversed blooming in parallel...

Adding the (good) vinyl tracks of the kit and
"closing" the vehicle with fenders

Above, note the absence of the middle part of the fenders. It was common practice ... The Churchills crew were afraid that a defective fender in this area could jam the tower's movement. Another common practice was the use of old and worn track links as additional armor.

Extra armour in the hull and turret. Left side

Right side

It has already been proven that the protection gain was derisory, but psychologically it was worth its weight. The big problem was this overloaded the suspension and engine, making Churchill (usually slow) even slower. And when used in the turret, slowed the speed of rotation of the tower, with dangerous potential..

And now, it's the time that I like most in modeling: to situate the vehicle in the correct time and place, with the appropriate markings compatible with the chosen historical moment,

I introduce to you guys, EDENBERRY, a Churchill Mk.V CS from Recce Squadron, in duties with North Irish Horse, 25th Tank Brigade, in the Battle for the Gothic Line. Italy, September, 1944.

Next step: Painting and markings!!!

Primer AK...

Starting tones and subtones of green...

I love that part: selecting stuff to put in the rear deck of my tanks ...
And the tents and rollbags of Value Gear Details are just awesome.
I have kilos of it in my workshop for that ...

Weathering the exhaust pipes...

Markings profile guide...

EDENBERRY was born!!

Now it is expected to dry the decals, a new layer of Pledge and matte varnish ... And then, the weathering !!

Glossy sealing...

And matte finish!! Kojak is a busy guy!!

The final version of roll-bags and other stuff:

The all bags in line!!

With primer!!

And weathering in progress. I'm a fan of Old School !!
Shep Paine rules !!
Churchill Mk I CS reversed and Churchill Mk V CS

The two howitzers girls, side by side...

The rollbags and stuff painted for this and other projects...

Washing and dry-brush...
Indeed...old school!!

Rollbags and tarps in the rear deck of Churchill Mk V CS

Rear view...left side

Rear view...right side

Almost there!!!

And the Churchill Mk.V CS was ready. This is EDENBERRY, from Recce Squadron, in duties with North Irish Horse, 25th Tank Brigade, in the Battle for the Gothic Line. Italy, September, 1944.