In early 1943 Allied forces began to look at what types of fortifications they were likely to encounter once they landed in Europe. It was expected that in order to defeat these positions a new type of specialist vehicle with heavy armour and a “bunker busting” gun would be required. Assault Tanks were born.

The Tortoise was one of 18 different designs drafted over a 10 month period and submitted to the Tank Board, with an order placed for 25 vehicles to be built.

Weighing in at over 79 tonnes, armed with an Ordnance Quick-firing (OQF) 32 pounder gun and with a heavily armoured casemate instead of a turret, production of the Tortoise was slow and World War II was over before it fired a shot in anger.

Improved Gun Design

The OQF 32 pounder gun was designed to replace the existing 17 pdr that had served with distinction on the Archer and other British tanks. Easily capable of punching through the front armour of a German Panther tank at over 1000m, it was a potent design.

Cross Country Cruising

The Tortoise had a 600 horsepower Rolls Royce Meteor V12 engine, similar to the one used on the Spitfire fighter aircraft.
To maximise mobility on the battlefield, the Merritt-Brown transmission was fitted with an all-speed reverse, giving approximately the same speed backwards as forwards.

THIS BOX CONTAINS:

• 3x Highly Detailed Plastic Tortoise Tanks

These miniatures require assembly and are supplied unpainted.