Skink anti-aircraft tank
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| Skink Antiaircraft Tank | |
|---|---|
| General characteristics | |
| Crew | |
| Length | 19 ft 1 in (5.82 m) |
| Width | 8 ft 7 in (2.62 m) |
| Height | 9 ft 10 in (3 m) |
| Weight | {{{weight}}} |
| Armour and armament | |
| Armour | 2 inches (50 mm) (glacis) |
| Main armament | four 20 mm Polsten automatic cannons |
| Secondary armament | |
| Mobility | |
| Power plant | Continental R975C1 radial, gasoline 400 hp (298 kW) gross (350 hp {253 kW} net) @ 2400 rpm |
| Suspension | Vertical Volute Spring Suspension (VVSS) |
| Road speed | {{{speed_road}}} |
| Power/weight | 14 hp / tonne |
| Range | 120 miles 193 km |
The Tank AA, 20mm Quad, Skink was a Canadian antiaircraft tank. It was also designated as "Project 47" by the Canadian Army.
When Canadian Tank Cruiser, Ram production ceased in 1943, the lines at the Montreal Locomotive Works were turned over to Grizzly Is. It was rapidly realized this was unnecessary, as U.S. factories were more than able to meet the demand, and only 188 Grizzly Is were built, most retained for training.
As the invasion of Europe was impending, and it was felt an antiaircraft vehicle able to keep up with armored formations might be required, the Canadian Ministry of Defense (MOD) arranged with Waterloo Manufacturing Co. for the design of a cast turret with four 20 mm Hispano-Suiza automatic cannons (later changed to Polstens) capable of firing about thirty rounds per second combined. They were aimed by periscope or roof-mounted reflector sight via electrohydraulic joystick control.
Early in 1944, the first test models were ready. Plans to build these, as well as conversion kits for existing Grizzly and Sherman tanks, were quickly superseded by the realization Allied air forces had achieved air supremacy over Normandy. The Skink was redundant, and the project was cancelled in April of 1944 after only three vehicles and eight conversion kits were completed. The original programme had planned for the production of 135 Skinks for the Canadian Army and 130 Skink turrets for the British forces.
Reportedly,[1] the sole Skink sent to Britain for evaluation actually saw action. After being transshipped to Antwerp 24 January 1945, it reached the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade a few miles south of Nijmegen, Holland, On 4 February, and entered combat in support of the 6th Canadian Armoured Regiment (CAR) north of Nijmegen bridge, later with 22nd CAR at the Battle of Hochwald Forest.
The Skink name was also applied to a flamethrower tank based on the Sherman.
[edit] Sources
- Chamberlain, Peter, and Ellis, Chris. British and American Tanks of World War Two. London: Cassell & Co., 2001 (reprint 2000 edition).
- Fitzsimons, Bernard, General Editor. The Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare, Volume 21, p.2337-8, "Skink". London: Phoebus, 1978.
- Hogg, Ian V. The Greenhill Armoured Fighting Vehicles Data Book, p.95, "Skink AA Tank". London: Greenhill Books, 2000.
- Hogg, Ian V., and Weeks, John. The Illustraded Encyclopedia of Military Vehicles, p.68, "Ram Cruiser Tank". Toronto: Hamlyn, 1980.
- http://mailer.fsu.edu/~akirk/tanks/can/Canada.htm
- Law, Clive - Making Tracks - Tank Production in Canada, Service Publications, Ottawa, Canada 2001
