Page "Churchill tank" Paragraph 41

The Irish Army took delivery of three Churchill Mk VI tanks in 1948 and a fourth in 1949.

They were rented from the British War Office as trials vehicles until 1954, when they were purchased outright.

This purchase was despite the fact that the supply and transport corps workshops, who maintained them, had reported that spares had all but run out.

Experiments were carried out involving replacing the existing Bedford engine with a Rolls Royce Merlin engine salvaged from an Irish Air Corps Seafire aircraft.

The experiment was not a success, although the reasons are not recorded.

By 1967 only one Churchill remained serviceable, and by 1969 all were retired.

One remains preserved in the Curragh Camp.