Tortoise heavy assault tank

Tortoise heavy assault tank. The Tortoise was a British super-heavy assault tank developed during the latter stages of the Second World War. Designed to breach heavily fortified defensive lines, it was one of the most heavily armored and powerfully armed vehicles of its era. Its immense size and weight, however, limited its mobility and ultimately prevented it from seeing combat.

Development history

The concept for the Tortoise emerged from the experiences of the British Army in the North African campaign and the anticipated challenges of invading Nazi Germany's Siegfried Line. In 1943, the Department of Tank Design initiated the A39 project under the supervision of Sir Claude Gibb. The design was intended to fulfill a requirement for a heavily armored vehicle capable of destroying fortifications and enemy tanks at long range. The Nuffield Organisation was selected as the main contractor, with key components like the Rolls-Royce Meteor engine sourced from other British manufacturers. Development was protracted, with the first pilot model not being completed until 1946, well after the conclusion of the war in Europe.

Design and features

The Tortoise's design was dominated by its massive, fixed superstructure, which provided exceptional protection. Its frontal armor, sloped at a shallow angle, was up to 228 mm thick, making it nearly impervious to contemporary anti-tank guns. Its primary armament was the powerful Ordnance QF 32-pounder, mounted in a limited-traverse mounting on the front glacis plate. Secondary armament consisted of three Besa machine guns, with one mounted co-axially and two in a front-mounted ball mount for the hull gunner. The vehicle was powered by a Rolls-Royce Meteor V12 petrol engine, derived from the famous Merlin engine, but its 78-ton weight resulted in a very low power-to-weight ratio. It used a Horstmann suspension system and had a crew of seven, including a dedicated driver, commander, gunner, two loaders, and two machine gunners.

Service history

The Tortoise never entered mass production or active combat service. Only six pilot vehicles were constructed by the Nuffield Organisation in 1946-1947. These vehicles underwent extensive trials with the British Army, including mobility tests and gunnery evaluations at ranges like Lulworth Cove. While its armor and firepower were highly regarded, its poor mobility, immense weight which restricted transport, and the end of the war rendered it obsolete. The project was officially cancelled in 1948 as the army shifted focus to the new Universal Tank concept, exemplified by the Centurion. One vehicle was reportedly sent to Germany for troop evaluations, but no operational deployment ever occurred.

Variants and projects

No true production variants of the Tortoise were built. The initial design, the A39, was the only version to reach the prototype stage. Several paper projects and proposed modifications were studied, including designs with different main armaments such as a 96 mm howitzer for close support. There were also conceptual designs for even heavier vehicles carrying the Ordnance BL 5.5-inch gun, but these never progressed beyond the drawing board. The Tortoise itself is sometimes considered part of a family of British experimental heavy assault vehicles that included the earlier TOG2 and the conceptual A38 Valiant.

Surviving vehicles

At least two complete Tortoise vehicles survive today. The most famous example is displayed at The Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset, in the United Kingdom. This vehicle is maintained in running condition and is a regular feature at the museum's events. A second vehicle is part of the collection at the Royal Armoured Corps Tank Museum (now the Cavalry Tank Museum) in Ahmednagar, India. This vehicle was likely sent there for tropical trials in the post-war period and remains on static display.

Category:Tanks of the United Kingdom Category:World War II tanks of the United Kingdom Category:Heavy tanks