The British Churchill AVRE (Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers) was a specialized assault variant of the Churchill infantry tank, developed to help breach heavily fortified enemy defences during World War II. Introduced in 1943 following lessons learned from the Dieppe Raid, the AVRE replaced the standard main gun with the formidable 290mm Petard spigot mortar, capable of firing a massive 40-pound “Flying Dustbin” demolition charge. This short-range but devastating weapon was designed to destroy bunkers, pillboxes, roadblocks, and other battlefield obstacles. Based on the robust and heavily armoured Churchill chassis, the AVRE could carry additional engineering equipment such as fascines, small bridges, or demolition charges, making it a key part of the British 79th Armoured Division’s “Hobart’s Funnies”—a collection of specialized vehicles for assault operations. The Churchill AVRE played a major role in the Normandy landings and subsequent operations in North-West Europe, where its combination of armour, engineering versatility, and destructive firepower proved invaluable in clearing defences for advancing infantry and armour. It remained in service post-war, with upgraded versions seeing use well into the Cold War.
 
Multi part resin model.
 
Printed by Imperator Models on License from Wargame 3D.