After another recent trip to our friends at the Eden Camp Modern History Museum in North Yorkshire, head of site and restorations, Frank Wood, gave us access inside their Churchill tank.
This was a great opportunity as not only was it a Churchill, it was a genuine Crocodile flamethrower.
Making this even more special was the interior, which has remained untouched for around 60 years and become a unique time capsule from a different era. Frank and his team plan to restore this Churchill to running condition, with work already well underway.
Our recent visit allowed us to document the exterior and interior of this rare machine before this work began. The team are no strangers to restoring old vehicles such as this, as they have already restored their M-50 Sherman and T-34/85, among many more armored vehicles, back to running condition.
All of these machines were once outdoor static displays, but the museum has done a fantastic job at restoring them and bringing them inside.
Their Churchill Crocodile is the final, and likely hardest large vehicle to tackle. As a Crocodile, this MK VII Churchill was equipped with a flamethrower system.
The fuel for this system was carried in an armored trailer towed behind the tank. The tank and trailer were connected via a flexible coupling that allowed fuel to pass between the two regardless of the trailer’s angle.
The fuel line ran under the belly of the tank and up into the crew compartment. It flowed into a flame projector that took the place of the hull machine gun on a standard Churchill, and was operated by the co-driver.
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Crocodiles retained their turrets, so once the flamethrower’s fuel ran out, the trailer would be jettisoned and the tank could function normally.
These systems pose additional challenges to Eden Camp Museum‘s team compared to a standard Churchill.
Any tank is difficult to restore, however the more obscure they are, the harder this job becomes. For tanks like the Sherman or T-34, there are so many more spare parts, resources, and information out there as they are so much more numerous.
In fact, an industry has developed around the restoration of Shermans, with restorers now able to purchase newly-made parts straight off the shelf.
So restoring a Churchill, a much rarer tank with only a handful running, is a very tough task.
Externally, the Churchill is in impressively good condition considering it has been outside for 6 decades. The team needed some serious muscle to move it from its original spot, so they used their M-50 Sherman to pull it.
The tracks were very stiff, but after being rocked back and forth they began turning mostly freely.
Most of the hatches were seized shut, although this is quite typical on older machines and the team managed to open some to access the inside.
The interior of a static tank is usually the worst, as the components inside are made from much more delicate materials like sheet metal or canvas. They are also become a container for water, which can sit inside for years.
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Eden Camp Museum’s Churchill is heavily corroded inside, however its condition, considering its age, is much better than we all expected. Much of the sheet metal remains, including the turret basket and ammunition racks, and there is still plenty of the silver interior paint on the interior surfaces.
Even the seats still retain their canvas tops, and stencil labels for equipment are still visible. Canvas retaining straps, electrical cables, and equipment holders are present throughout the fighting compartment.
The breech of the main gun has a nice thick layer of grease over it, which has likely helped limit water penetration in that area.
Perhaps most interestingly though, the fuel hoses and projector for the flamethrower system are still present.
Frank gave us a good look at the engine, and explained that during their pre-restoration assessments, the engine sadly appears to be to far gone to restore.
On any tank restoration, the engine is one of, if not the biggest challenge.
Even in good condition, engines are complicated, delicate things that require regular maintenance and servicing. Engines that have been sat for a while, especially inside a display vehicle, can corrode deteriorate over time.
If an engine has deteriorated beyond repair, a new power source must be found. This is very expensive, and that’s if one can even be found!
Until the engine from Eden Camp Museum’s Churchill has been removed and inspected, it isn’t clear how far the corrosion continues within the engine. But after half a century outside, there is a high chance that it is beyond repair.
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Churchill engines suffer from this more than most as they are horizontally opposed, so water can pool on the cylinder walls.
If this is the case, a new engine must be obtained. Should this happen with a more common vehicle, it is possible to purchase a complete engine that can be dropped in.
With something like a Sherman, which was built with a number of different engines, you can even drop in an engine from another variant and still be period-accurate.
And, even if no suitable engine from the period can be found, their large, conveniently shaped engine bays allow for a modern replacement.
The Churchill does not have any of these luxuries, however. The Churchill was built with a single type of engine, a 21.2 litre Bedford flat 12.
Therefore, if you are aiming for a historically accurate power source, you have to find one of these – and they are not an engine you find sitting around often.
If it isn’t possible to obtain one of these rare engines, a modern replacement is required. However even this job is very difficult. The Churchill’s engine bay is very small, so it isn’t as simple as just dropping in a modern diesel.
As with any restoration, especially one of this size and complexity, Eden Camp Museum certainly have a great challenge ahead of them. But with their stunning M-50, T-34, half-tracks and more, we have absolutely no doubt that they will do a fantastic job.
Currently they have the turret off, and the Churchill has been moved inside for the first time in around 60 years. We are extremely excited to see one more running Churchill added to the roster.
This is a rare opportunity to see a Churchill transform from a rusty, static display piece to a running machine. We will be covering this restoration as it comes along, so make sure you check back for updates.
Read More See Inside this M50 Sherman at the Eden Camp Museum
In addition, follow Eden Camp Modern History Museum’s social media here, and their restorations page that regularly post updates on this tank and others at the museum.
