Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Wishlist => Topic started by: wpeters on September 03, 2013, 04:08:58 PM
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Tank AA, 20 mm Quad, Skink was a Canadian Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon, developed in 1943-44, in response to a requirement from the Canadian Army Overseas. Due to a lack of threat from the German air force, the Skink was cancelled in 1944 after only a few had been built.
The development of a fully enclosed quadruple 20mm mounting on the chassis of the Grizzly tank (Canadian-built M4A1 Sherman tank) was approved by the Canadian Army Technical Development Board as Project 47 in March, 1943. In keeping with the tradition of giving Canadian armoured fighting vehicles animal names, the proposed tank was named after the skink, Ontario's only lizard.[1]
The Canadian Ministry of Munitions and Supply had the turret designed in-house by its Army Engineering Design Branch (AEDB) with help from the Inspection Board. The Waterloo Manufacturing Co. in Waterloo, Ontario, was given the task of building a preliminary wooden mock-up. This was completed on 18 September 1943. The construction of two welded armour pilot turrets was then authorized. The first pilot turret was demonstrated in mid-December. In January 1944 a pilot turret was successfully tested on a Grizzly chassis. Due to the challenges of welding a turret of such a complex shape from Rolled homogeneous armour plate, Dominion Foundries of Hamilton was contracted to produce a fully enclosed cast turret (the largest armour casting ever made in Canada).[2]
Originally it was planned to arm the Skink with four 20 mm Hispano-Suiza cannons and the first prototypes were so-armed. In January 1944, the 21st Army Group in Europe decided that only British 20 mm Polsten guns would be used (the Polsten was a simplified derivative of the Oerlikon cannon) by its units. This required a redesign of the turret, which was completed in April. This change delayed the project by 3 to 4 months, while 21 Army Group's reduction in the number of AA guns to be issued to its units led to a reduction in the number of Skink turrets which were required. This dwindled to zero in late July 1944, when 21 Army Group decided that as the German air force - the Luftwaffe - had been virtually eliminated over North West Europe, there was no longer a requirement for anti-aircraft tanks. The Skink contract was cancelled in mid-August and only three complete vehicles and eight turret kits were completed.[3]
Design[edit source | editbeta]
The Skink’s four 20 mm guns could fire 650 rounds per minute per gun. A modified Oilgear hydraulic traverse with two pumps could rotate the turret at up to 65 degress per second and - crucially for a quick response- - accelerate from rest to 60 degrees in 2 seconds. The guns’ elevation was also hydraulically assisted so the guns could move at up to 45 degress per second in an arc from -5 to +80. The gunner controlled both elevation and rotation with a joystick, and used a Mk.IX reflector sight. Initially it had been planned to build 300 Skink turrets for the Canadian and British armies.
One Skink was sent to Britain for evaluation and was then sent to Europe for field trials with the First Canadian Army. From 6 February to 11 March 1945, the Skink visited all but one of the Canadian armoured regiments - from Nijmegen to the Cleve area - frequently engaging in actual combat. All units found it to be a valuable asset. However no enemy aircraft presented itself to the Skink's guns and its main function was to flush out stubborn pockets of enemy infantry and force their surrender. The remaining Skink pilots and the completed turrets went into long-term storage in Canada where, at some point, they were scrapped. Only some unfinished turret castings salvaged from the firing range survive.[4]
WOW it moves it's turent a lot faster than the wirble though it has lower rate of firer. Please could we have. We already have the sherman tank so it would be easy :banana:
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Tank AA, 20mm Quad, Skink
Type self propelled anti-aircraft gun
Place of origin Canada
Production history
Number built 3
Specifications
Weight 28.5 t (25.9 tonnes) combat load
Length 19 ft 1 in (5.82 m)
Width 8 ft 7 in (2.62 m)
Height 9 ft 10 in (3 m)
Crew 4
Armour 2 inches (50 mm) (glacis)
Mainarmament 4 x 20 mm Polsten automatic cannons
Engine Continental R975C1 radial engine, gasoline350 hp (253 kW) at 2,400 rpm
Power/weight 14 hp/tonne
Suspension Vertical Volute spring Suspension (VVSS)
Ground clearance 17 inches (43 cm)
Fuel capacity 145 Imperial gallons (660 litres, 175 US gal)
Operational range 120 miles (193 km)
Speed 24 mph (38.5 km/h) brief leve
http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQgzgdI4qKK-5d-ni4RnJHKecXVGun8zO8QyD8T83zT38csDyRBAzByFP0
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It never got close to a combat zone, and it was really a prototype still. So it wont be added.
Something like the Crusader AA MkII would be better to ask for as it was used in combat.
(http://s1.pokazywarka.pl/i/573245/950832/crusader-iii-mark-ii-aa.jpg)
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All units found it to be a valuable asset. However no enemy aircraft presented itself to the Skink's guns and its main function was to flush out stubborn pockets of enemy infantry and force their surrender.
I CALL THAT COMBAT!!!!!!!! WHAT do you call it
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It did fight, but it was functionally a prototype.
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:bhead That is what I get for speed reading and replying quickly before going to work.
only three complete vehicles and eight turret kits were completed.
But as Karnak said, it was still a prototype.
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:bhead That is what I get for speed reading and replying quickly before going to work.
But as Karnak said, it was still a prototype.
Bad fish! No cookie for you bow :old:
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Not even 5 were made, it was a prototype.
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It did fight, but it was functionally a prototype.
So is our AHII Ostwind.
All others were not like the prototype like we have in game now.
I do see you point though. :aok
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I think the rule would be more down the line that it has to have seen combat.
Ostwind
Ta-152
plus several others fall in them same categories of prototypes
More than three hundred were ordered only to be canceled.
when 21 Army Group decided that as the German air force - the Luftwaffe - had been virtually eliminated over North West Europe, there was no longer a requirement for anti-aircraft tanks. The Skink contract was cancelled in mid-August and only three complete vehicles and eight turret kits were completed.
In other words it was beyond the prototype stage and was going into full production. :rock
It might need to have 1 perk point on due to it be a tank body but other-words it is fully quailified.
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peters you have a great point, however whether HTC will decide to add it or not, There are plenty of other anti aircraft vehicles to add in game that seen combat.
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You are right butcher. I was just making my point that it was beyond the prototype level