Am I correct that a "Crocodile" in the context of the fighting in 1944 in Normandy is a tank carrying a flamethrower?

Yes indeed, the 'Crocodile' was a Churchill MkVII tank specially converted with a flame-throwing system activated by nitrogen gas pressure ; the gas being carried in an armoured trailer towed behind the tank together with fuel for the flamethrower. Four Sherman tanks were also so converted but did not feature in Normandy.

For an excellent account of operating one of these weapons in NW Europe, read Andrew Wilson's memoir 'Flamethrower'. .

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

These babies apparently had the same effect on the Germans on Hill 112 (Normandy) as the first Mark Is had in WWI on their grandfathers in the trenches.

Accounts of some soldiers were often incoherent, but some of them said the allies had developed som kind of new incendary shell for their tanks.

Martin, the book I read said the croc could spray a flame over 200 feet is that correct?

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Der große Stoß Büstenhalter auf Ihrem Kopf!!

Yes, but it was obviously losing effectiveness at that range. Some of the best-known photos of Crocodiles in action in WWII ( and analysed in 'After The Battle' magazine a while back ) show 'Crocs' flaming at S'Hertogenbosch in Holland - clean over a canal...

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

[ 03. November 2003, 12:31 PM: Message edited by: BratwurstDimSum ]

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Der große Stoß Büstenhalter auf Ihrem Kopf!!

And you can still see a 'Croc' today at the little-known Muckleborough Collection on the North Norfolk Coast - so if you're up that way birdwatching...

There's even a (slightly distant) piccy at ; -

http://users.pgen.net/sandydavid/photo/tank/tanks.htm

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

Thanks for the help!

Simon Bull