Tank origin

The Churchill Oke was a modified version of the Churchill II that Canadian forces operated during the Allies’ invasion of Dieppe in August 1942. Its design, which called for a Ronson flamethrower to be attached to the hull and operated by the hull machine gunner, was conceived by the tank’s namesake, Major J.M. Oke. Although the three units sent to Dieppe (nicknamed Boar, Bull, and Beetle) were not recovered, the Oke was the first Churchill tank to mount a flame launcher. As such, it paved the way for the venerated Churchill Crocodile.