Hobart's Funnies were a number of unusual modified tanks designs that were built by the unit 79th (Experimental) Armored Division Royal Engineers under the leadership of Percy Hobart whom the tanks were named after. Many of them were modified Churchill tanks. One model had a reel of cloth reinforced with steel poles that was unrolled beneath its tracks so it would not sink into soft clay in amphibious landing. One modification carried a bundle of wooden poles (a fascine) lashed together with wires that could be released to cover a ditch or form a step. Armored Ramp Carrier was a tank without a turret that had extendable ramps; other vehicles could drive up ramps and over the vehicle to scale obstacles. Small Box Girder was an assault bridge that was transported on the tank that could be lowered to span gaps. "Crocodile" had had its machine gun replaced with a powerful flamethrower and was equipped with a trailer of 400 gallons of fuel. Sherman "Crabs" were modified Sherman tanks equipped with a rotating cylinder of hefty flails that ended in steel balls that were used to explode landmines. World War II tanksBritish tanks
