Churchill III and IV AVRE vehicles were successfully used to breach defences in the D-Day landings, and continued in use through the rest of the allied advance to Nazi Germany.
The Petard Mortar's ability to demolish obstructions and fortifications proved valuable to the allied advance, while the morale impact of seeing the large gun caused many enemies to abandon their positions. AVRE vehicles were frequently teamed with Churchill Crocodile flamethrowers for bunker clearance. The AVRE would crack the defences, allowing the flamethrower to soak the interior with flammable liquid, forcing those inside to surrender.