Tank AA, 20 mm Quad, Skink

[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?