Churchill Mk. III AVRE - 1/72

This is one of the Churchills modified for the Royal Engineers to serve as an "Assault Vehicle Royal Engineers" (AVRE), or an "Engineer" tank providing protection to engineers during frontline battlefield operations. A Churchill Mk. III, which had the all-important side door allowing engineers to enter and exit the vehicle without exposing themselves to fire, was modified to take engineer gear inside and provided with attachment points outside for other equipment, making it the starter kit for the "Hobart's Funnies".

Although not required for the engineers' work, the turret was retained and fitted with a spigot mortar firing a petard, which was a large demolition charge, code-named "flying dustbin."

The subject is AVRE 68286 Lynx, which was part of the 82nd Assault Squadron, 6th Assault Regiment of the 79th Armoured Division, believed to be assigned to Lance Serjeant Gale. It was assigned to the Jig Green East section of Gold Beach on D-Day.

The kit is the Dragon Churchill Mk. III "AVRE Combat Engine" which I believe to be a mistranslation of "Engineers" or "Engineer Tank". The kit went together well, despite some mislabeling and difficulty understanding the drawings. I finished it with Vallejo 71.011 Dark Green RLM 83, which I believe to be a close-enough match for what I understand was the vehicle finish at the time - olive, but not U.S. Army olive.

1 additional image. Click to enlarge.