Churchill Oke flame-thrower

[Mark W. Tonner]

Found some information on the three Churchills that were equipped with the Oke flame-thrower system at Dieppe.

All three were crewed by 8 Troop, "B" Squadron, 14th Army Tank Regiment (The Calgary Regiment (Tank)), C.A.C. and were carried on TLC-3 (Tank Landing Craft) No 159. The three Churchills were:

Vehicle Name: BULL
W.D. #: T 31862
Vehicle Type: Churchill MkI Oke
Sqn Tac Markings: 8 in a blue square

Vehicle Name: BOAR
W.D. #: T 32049
Vehicle Type: Churchill MkI Oke
Sqn Tac Markings: 8 in a blue square

Vehicle Name: Beetle
W.D. #: T 68875
Vehicle Type: Churchill MkI Oke
Sqn Tac Markings: 8 in a blue square

BULL was the Troop Commanders tank and was launched prematurely and 'drowned' in ten feet of water approx. 100 yds off shore. (the junction of Red and White Beaches)

BOAR, in making a 'heavy' landing from TLC-3, knocked off her flame-thrower fuel reservoir, but managed to cross the beach and onto the promenade in the area of the Cassino. She remained mobile throughout the morning before being ordered back to the beach to cover the withdrawal. Once back on the shoreline, she was made immobile and acted as a pillbox.

BEETLE, also landing 'heavy', broke a pin on her right track and remained immobilized on the shore line, at the eastern end of Red Beach, also acting as a pillbox.

Below are pictured BOAR (top photo) immobilized on the shoreline and the 'drowned' BULL (bottom photo). Notice the Oke flame projector to the right of BOAR's hull MG.