Skink anti-aircraft tank
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| Skink Antiaircraft Tank | |
|---|---|
| Type | self propelled anti-aircraft gun |
| Place of origin | Canada |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 28.5 t (25.9 tonnes) combat load |
| Length | 19 ft 1 in (5.82 m) |
| Width | 8 ft 7 in (2.62 m) |
| Height | 9 ft 10 in (3 m) |
| Crew | 4 |
|
|
|
| Armor | 2 inches (50 mm) (glacis) |
| Primary armament |
four 20 mm Polsten automatic cannons |
| Engine | Continental R975C1 radial, gasoline 400 hp (298 kW) gross (350 hp {253 kW} net) @ 2400 rpm |
| Power/weight | 14 hp / tonne |
| Suspension | Vertical Volute Spring Suspension (VVSS) |
| Ground clearance | 17 inches (43cm) |
| Fuel capacity | 145 Imperial gallons (660 liters, 175 US gal), 80 octane |
| Operational range |
120 miles 193 km |
| Speed | 24 mph (38.5 km/h) brief level |
The Tank AA, 20mm Quad, Skink was a Canadian self-propelled anti-aircraft gun. It was also designated as "Project 47" by the Canadian Army.
When Canadian Ram tank 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 Grizzlys were built, most retained for training.
As the invasion of Europe was impending, and it was felt a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun able to keep up with armored formations might be required, the Canadian Ministry of Defence (MOD) arranged with Waterloo Manufacturing Co. for the design of a cast turret with four Hispano-Suiza 20 mm cannons (later changed to the simpler British Polsten, a derivative of the Oerlikon) 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 Plans to build these, as well as conversion kits for existing Grizzly and Sherman tanks, were quickly superseded by the realization Allied air forces had achieved air supremacy over Normandy. Since Skink was now redundant, the project was cancelled in April 1944 after only three vehicles and eight conversion kits were completed. The original program had planned for the production of 135 Skinks for the Canadian Army and 130 Skink turrets for the British forces.
Reportedly 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. [1]
The name Skink was also applied to a flamethrower tank based on the Sherman.
[edit] Sources
- Skink at geocities
- 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
