was the comet tank used in Korea

Hi, I read somewhere that the Churcill crocodile was used in Korea, was the Comet tank also sent out there ?, I have never seen much data on what AFVs the British and Commonwealth countries used in this conflict.

 

Yes they did alongside the Centurean

search comet on wicki

 

Wow I forgot about Centurion, I thought it may have been to early for it, but you are right with the Korean war not starting till 1949, I have not been able to check yet but I think the Korean war was to early for the Abbot self propelled gun.

 

Comets in Korea?
Possibly...
Seems to be a very fuzzy topic, and one of the lingering uncertain questions of British Postwar Armour. Despite the IWM picture below, which may be incorrectly captioned (far from unknown) they don't appear to have officially made it much past Hong Kong, though some books have claimed that they were mixed in with Cromwells in some units. It looks like a topic that really needs a bit more research, somebody's going to have to pick through the paperwork and photos properly one day - hopefully they already have, and will turn up here. :

Uncat Record


According to Macksey's postwar RTR History, The Cents that were shipped to Korea were initially withdrawn to the South, and then Japan, over fears at revealing the new secret vehicle - strange but true. (Particularly considering that the initial impetus was to display the new machine to the world.)
Cooperforce, one of the first British armoured units to see action in Korea (and be almost wiped out in the process) were using Cromwells and Churchills. It was several months before the Cent returned to the fray. (Even then, the Churchill's off-road ability was claimed by some to be superior to Cent in the Korean terrain.)

Good luck - I'd like to see a definitive answer to the Korea/Cromwell question too.

~A

 

I believe the Abbot SPG is to early, but this is not my forte, I think it came out in the late fifties but not too sure

 

FV433 (Abbot) was rolled out in the mid-sixties. Way after Korea, though going by the emplace & withdraw 'sniping' that much of the heavy British Armour was used for, it would have been a tasty addition to the arsenal.

Oh dear, that's nearly a what-if I did there... I feel dirty.

~A

 

Acording to other sites the Comet was in Korea but as you say Von Poop it was not that good with the terain, So I guess it was pulled out and I need to do more resarch on this

 

Not to worry, "what if's" are perfectly legal here. And you have no need for a passport to be here either, and no time or post limit before returning to ww2t.

 

The old vanguard book on the Centurion reports an engagement between a Mk.3 of "C"Sqdr. HQ Troop 8th Hussars against a captured Cromwell manned by the Chinese (with photo of the two), no Comet were mentioned as part of the force. BTW the book is quite complimentary on the Centurion's hill climbing ability and fire control, at least compared to US tanks, the Churchill whose design AFAIK enphasised off road performance over speed may be a different story. The unit is reported as landing a Pusan on 14/11/1950 and reaching the lines North when the Chinese offensive had already started.

 

Funny you should mention that ToS, as I was looking at a picture of that very vehicle on it's return to Western ownership last night.
Typically, I now can't find the crisp web-shot I was looking at - so this version that was lurking in the depths of my drive will have to do:

 

I would have like to see how the Comet would have faired against a T-34/85, Did the Churchill Corocodiles go into action with American troops ?. I am sure I read somewhere that the Americans were impressed with its climbing capabilities.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if several UN/UK tank formations were equipped with the Comet, considering the tank only saw the twilight of WWII. But don't trust this post, because if there is any war of the 20th Century I know less about (other than maybe the Spanish Civil War and wars in the Balkans before WWI) it is the Korean War.

 

Was this the only British tank captured during the war? Also, how did they get this back under UN control?

 

It probably wreaked of egg drop soup and fried rice.

 

Hehehe. Egg drop soup... That tank would've been the equivalent of a Dutch oven ( what do they call a Dutch oven in Holland anyway?)....And I have to thank VP for almost "what iffing". That made me feel good in a weird way.

 

Seems very unlikely it was the only capture, but in short; I don't know.
This one was with the 8th Hussars (I believe as part of Cooperforce when it was recovered from their wreckage by the Chinese?.. but that's my fuzzy memory at work). It was retaken when a Centurion from the same unit (if memory serves) 'bumped' into it and took a successful shot.

~A