Churchill ARV Mk.I & Mk.II A Technical History

The Churchill Armoured Recovery Vehicle Mk.I was a response to the realisation that tanks and heavy armoured vehicles would need to be repaired and/or recovered in the field while under direct fire. It was the brainchild of Brigadier Joseph Hollebone of the Recovery and AFV Repair Training Centre at Arborfield in Berkshire. Hollebone exhibited faith in what was at the time a notoriously unreliable tank, reasoning that if the Churchill matured it would be the most effective towing vehicle available. Although the first mark was a rather basic conversion, being a turretless tank with a portable jib and a collection of suitable tools, experience in service was to prompt the more sophisticated ARV Mk.II. This boasted a powerful winch in a dummy turret, jibs at the front and rear, and a spade anchor, as well as sundry new devices for rendering recovery more practical. Although it would only serve in small numbers during the war it would be extremely active in Korea, and establish the pattern for future British ARV's.