Bayeux in Calvados, Normandy, France — Western Europe
Mark VII Crocodile Tank
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, June 5, 2024
1. Mark VII Crocodile Tank Marker
Historique
Ce char lance-flammes britannique est un « Crocodile » modèle Mark VII créé sur la base du tank « Churchill ». Versé à la 79° division blindée britannique, il appartient aux nombreux modèles de chars spéciaux, créés pour le débarquement du 6 juin 1944 et nommés «Hobart's Funnies » (drôleries d'Hobart) du nom de l'ingénieur militaire commandant cette division.
Conçu pour accompagner l'infanterie au rythme d'un homme en marche, il a des capacités de franchissement remarquables. Malgré son faible canon, un blindage trop lourd pour sa motorisation peu performante et sujette à de fréquentes pannes, ce blindé peu mobile acquiert un renom terrifiant, craint de l'ennemi pour la puissance de son lance-flammes dantesque.
Monté à la place de la mitrailleuse initiale, son feu propulsé par du nitrogène comprimé, peut cracher un jet enflammé sur une portée de près de 110 mètres de long en moins de deux secondes.
Alimenté par une remorque légèrement blindée de 14 mm, largable en cas de nécessité ab- solue et transportant 1800 litres de liquide inflammable, il pouvait
this page online
Cet exemplaire a été acquis par la ville de Bayeux chez un ferrailleur de Portsmouth au début des années 1980.
Mark VII Crocodile Tank
History
This British flame-throwing tank is a "Crocodile" Mark VII which was a variant on the "Churchill" tank. Provided to the British 79th Armoured Division, it was one of the many specialised forms of tank developed for the D-Day Landings of 6 June 1944 and christened "Hobart's Funnies", after the military engineer Major-General Percy Hobart who commanded the division.
Designed to support infantry at the pace of marching troops, the tank was a remarkable assault weapon. Despite its relatively weak gun, armour that was too heavy for its inefficient engine and frequent breakdowns, this lumbering armoured vehicle acquired a terrifying reputation, feared by the enemy for the infernal power of its flame-thrower.
The flame-thrower was mounted in the position of the original machine gun, and could project a jet of flame, propelled by compressed nitrogen, almost 110 metres long in less than 2 seconds.
It was supplied by a lightly armoured (14 mm) trailer which could be jettisoned
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, June 5, 2024
2. Mark VII Crocodile Tank and Marker
This example was acquired by the town of Bayeux from a scrap merchant in Portsmouth in the early 1980s.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is June 6, 1944.
Location. 49° 16.415′ N, 0° 42.745′ W. Marker is in Bayeux, Normandie (Normandy), in Calvados. Marker is at the intersection of Boulevard Fabian Ware and Rue des Cordeliers, on the right when traveling north on Boulevard Fabian Ware. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 Blvd Fabian Ware, Bayeux, Normandie 14400, France. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The By-pass (here, next to this marker); M10 Tank Destroyer (a few steps from this marker); Char Grizzly M4A5 (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer Tank (about 120 meters away); SKC 33 Gun (about 120 meters away); Tetrahedron (about 150 meters away); Bayeux, the First Town to be Liberated, and Intact (about 150 meters away); Bayeux Franco-Prussian War Memorial (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bayeux.
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, June 5, 2024
3. Mark VII Crocodile Tank
Credits. This page was last revised on June 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 25, 2024, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 33 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 25, 2024, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.
