The Skink was designed as an anti-aircraft tank, based on the Canadian-built version of the Medium Tank, M4A1, the Cruiser Tank, Grizzly I. It was armed with a quad 20 mm Polsten, a simplified version of the Oerlikon.
Because of Allied air supremacy, the initial order was cancelled in mid-1944, with only a few Skinks completed. One Skink did saw action with the Canadian 2nd Armoured Brigade in 1945, where its quad autocannon firing incendiary proved very effective as ground support for the brigade's tanks.
Skink | |
---|---|
Crew | |
Crew | 5 |
Physical Characteristics | |
Weight | 30.7 t |
Length | 5.8 m |
Width | 2.9 m |
Height | 2.66 m |
Armour | |
Armour (max) | 85 mm |
Performance | |
Speed (max) | 39 km/h |
Armament | |
Primary weapon | 20 mm Polsten (4) |
Secondary weapon | .30 cal. Browning Machine Gun (1) |