Tank AA, 20 mm Quad, Skink

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

Yes, sorry about that, Hanno. I was kind of hoping the war diaries would prove otherwise.....what a find that would have been!

Don’t be, that’s what research is about. Checking if any of the hypothesis are true or false, until you’re left with the true (or most likely) history.

Haven’t read it all, but noted it got stuck in the mud several times. Something to do with driver’s skill or the CDP track? I think this was the first time that track was used in action (another hypothesis)

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Haven’t read it all, but noted it got stuck in the mud several times. Something to do with driver’s skill or the CDP track? I think this was the first time that track was used in action (another hypothesis)

Have read the War Dairy now, and took these notes to create a time line:

• 24-Jan-1945: Skink arrived at Antwerp
• 28-Jan-1945: moved off by train
• 29-Jan-1945: Skink arrived at Eindhoven by train
• 4-Feb-1945: moved to Nijmegen
• 16-Feb-1945: Skink moved from Grave to Kleve
  
  
• 19-Feb-1945: 1-TDU remained with TAC HQ (not going into action?) at Kleve
  
  
• 25-Feb-1945: 1-TDU moved off with 3 Sqn 22-CAR and a Coy of Argyle Sutherland Highlanders to SL south-west of Kalkar
  
  
• 26-Feb-1945, South of Kalkar: armour and infantry gone in on the attack, 1-TDU followed and engaged in mopping up role. Fired on by 88-mm, no hits made. Large number of buildings set on fire using HE IT ammunition. Heavy mortar fire, wounding Lt. Case.
  
  
• 27-Feb-1945, Kirsel: Covering positions taken up for expected counter attack.
  
  
• 1-Mar-1945, Hochwald gap: Skink became bogged and remained there for the night.
• 2-Mar-1945, Hochwald Gap: Skink pulled out by recovery vehicle.
  
  
• 3-Mar-1945: 1-TDU to support 22-CAR and LSR attack through Hochwald gap laying down covering fire on A/T positions. Skink bogged down within first few yards of the advance. Extricated one hour later, moved forward without seeing further action and then withdrew.
  
  
• 9-Mar-1945, Winnenthal: 1-TDU attached to 21-CAR and LSR moved into attack on the woods. Skink became bogged down, unable to move. Under heavy sniping and mortar fire while bogged down, withdrawing 12 hours later.
  
  
• 10-Mar-1945, Sonsbeck: 1-TDU moved off to RHQ 29 CAR, delay in arrival being due to Skink becoming bogged down en route.
  
  
• 16 - 20-Mar-1945, Eindhoven: unit prepares to return to England
• 23-Mar-1945, Eindhoven: Skink loaded on transporter to arrive at embarkation point at Antwerp.
• 24-Mar-1945: Skink loaded onto LST, sailing across the channel to dock at Tilbury on 25-Mar moving on to Transit Camp S4 at Dagenham
• 27-Mar-1945: Skink picked up at Transit Camp and transported to CBW for overhaul. Personnel proceeded to 3 CACRU, two Captains to CMHQ, London to complete reports.
• 28-Mar-1945, London: 1-TDU disbanded.

So the Skink did see some action, although it did not do a lot more than setting a large number of buildings on fire using HE IT ammunition. It did bog down at least four times! We know the going was rough in the Hochwald Forest, though maybe the performance of the CDP track may have played a role. Or possibly driver experience?

I wonder what "CBW" did with the Skink when they received it for overhaul?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Added photos to the post by Roger Lucy:

The records indicate that all three completed Skinks were built on Grizzly hulls. Pilot No.1 with the welded turret and HS guns (it was later refitted with a cast Polsten turret and sent to Borden) was according to one DND file on hull 62-918.

Skink roled plates turret.jpg
Welded rolled armour turret, with Hispano Suiza guns at full elevation. All hatches are open and the deflector sight deployed. Waterloo Manufacturing Company - 20 December, 1943.

Pilot No. 2, with a cast turret, was installed on Grizzly hull 62-727 (CT 163931) and sent to the UK for evaluation. It served in field trials in NW Europe in early 1945, after which it was returned to the UK - title was transferred to the UK account on 2 August 1945. It's fate is unknown.

Skink in trials CDP side view.jpg
Skink, as sent to England for trials, with all its markings and stowage. Notice the CDP tracks and "high bustle" turret

Pilot No.3 on Grizzly hull 62-728 (CT 163932) was sent to No.1 Proving Ground in Ottawa, it was photgraphed at the CNE in 1946. The eight completed but unmounted turrets were sent to Longue Pointe Ordnance Depot (LPOD), the last mention I have found of their existence was in 1947.

Skink 1945.jpg
Skink number 62-728 (WD Number CT163962) on display at Dennison Armouries - Toronto, Canada - 1946. VVSS Sherman tracks and sprocket.

Photos via http://panzerserra.blogspot.com/2011...n-aa-tank.html

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

So the Skink did see some action, although it did not do a lot more than setting a large number of buildings on fire using HE IT ammunition.

From a defunct website we learn some more:

A First Canadian Army evaluation report on the Skink read "In a ground support role, the vehicle was an infantry mop-up weapon, advancing with the second wave of armour to clean out infantry positions bypassed by the first wave. Using HEIT ammunition, the Skink proved most valuable in setting fire to buildings, thus forcing the enemy out into the open."

Other field reports described the effects of a burst of 20mm HEIT rounds directed at enemy-occupied buildings or hedgerows. In one instance, the Skink attacked a building occupied by 50 enemy soldiers. Ten of them were wounded by HEIT fragments, the others surrendered in terror. Another time, the Skink commander was fired on by a sniper. Unhurt but furious, the commander directed the Skink's guns to fire in the direction of the sniper. The 20mm's blasted away everything in the surrounding area and in moments the shaken sniper emerged.

[strat1]

A 4th turret has been located, used as a monument, the forth turret is sitting next to a War Memorial outside the Okanagan Indian Band, Band Office, British Columbia.

Anthony

[Hanno Spoelstra]

This turret cast is owned by the Historic Vehicle troop at LdSH(RC) at CFB Edmonton

Photos via Raymond Gedge

9FA9364A-CA96-454F-943A-2C3699DE7369.jpg 5284FD15-E0DE-4C83-923D-F20F54A82C62.jpg