eit Steven J. Zaloga and George Balin 0 a he a he eh PUBLICATIONS COMPANYARMOR AT WAR SERIES D- D GA fu WARFARE ARMORED COMBAT IN THE NORMANDY CAMPAIGN JUNE-AUGUST 1944 Steven J. Zaloga and George Balin AA AAA AH aA PUBLICATIONS COMPANYCopyright © 1994 by CONCORD PUBLICATIONS CO. 603-609 Castle Peak Road Kong Nom Industrial Building 1O/F, 81, Tsuen Wan, New Temttories, Hong Kong All rights reserved. No port of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical. photocopying or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Concord Publications Co, We welcome authors who can help expand our range of books. If you would like to submit material, please feel free to contact us. We are always on the look-out for new, unpublished photos for this series, If you have photos or slides or Information you feel may be useful to future volumes, please send them fo us for possible future publication Full photo credits will be given upon publication. ISBN 962-361-604-X Printed in Hong Kong Introduction Although the battles in Normandy in the summer of 1944 are most famous for the amphibious assault that initiated the campaign, subsequent campaign hinged around armored warfare. This book takes a look at the campaign from the initial 6 June 1944 landings through to the two key events which concluded the campaign: the destruction of most of the German armored forces in Normandy at the Falaise Gap, and the liberation of Paris. The coverage in this book is slanted towards the Allied side since the German tank forces in the Normandy battles have been so well documented in such books as Panzers in Normandy (After the Battle, 1983) and the many Editions Heimdal books from France. The authors would especially like to thank David Fletcher, the librarian at the RAC Tank Museum at Bovington Camp, for his generous help in selecting and obtaining the photos of the British armor which appear here. Thanks also go to Frank DeSisto at the USS Intrepid Museum in New York City for other help in finding photos, and to Russ Vaughan for help with reference material.Operation Overlord ‘The Normandy campaign can be broken 1 into three main phases. The first stage the amphibious assault itself, a wumental undertaking on @ scale never re attempted. Tanks played & small role J the landings, though many specialized were developed, especially by Britain, {© assist in capturing the beach-head. The ext stage was securing and defending the beach-head. When the Allied forces landed at Normandy, they substantially ‘outnumbered by German forces in the region, particularly in tanks. The German forces were handicapped for three reasons in crushing the beach-heads using tanks. First, the German “strategle appreciation for Allied intentions “was fatally flawed, The German high command expected the main amphibious ‘assault to come in the Pas de Calais area, where the English Channel is narrowest. They ‘concentrated their panzer forces in that area, leaving Normandy weakly defended. The Allies continued to successfully decelve the Germans even after the 6 June 1944 landings the German high command was reluctant to commit thelr armored strength against ¢ landing thet they Stil thought was a diversion from the mali Second, Allied alr power was dominent, and played a vital role in delaying in Normandy, and assault, ‘and damaging German panzer forces, even when the German high command did commit, Its panzer forces into battle. Third, the terrain Jn the western sector, held by the American First Army under Gen, Omar Bradley, wes not well suited to tank operations either by the Allies or the Germans. The area Is criss: crossed by dense hedgerows, called bocage in French, which helped shelter the farm fields from the erosion ofthe harsh sea breezes. The only area where the terrain was suitable for tank fighting was in the eastern zone, held by the British and Canadian 2nd Army under Lt Gen, Miles Dempsey. This area was also nearest to the German tank concentrations, ‘and was the scene of the heaviest tank fighting in June and July as the inital ‘ttempis were made to break out of the beachhead, “The third phase of the operation was the breakout which began in mid-July a litle over ‘8 month after the main landings. This was a 127 Pa.Kpf two-pronged affair, with the Americans staging Operation Cobra towards St, Lo, and the British/Canadian forces conducting Operation Goodwood towards Caen and beyond. The Germans attempted to stop the Dreaicout attempt with their own offensive neat Mortain, but this only led to their forces becoming encircled and sealed off when the enveloping Allied armies closed the noose near the Falaise Gap. The culmination of the Normandy campaign care with the liberation fof Paris in on 25 August 1944, with the French 2nd Armored Division in the lead. Operation Neptune The Normandy invasion plans, called Operation Neptune, consisted of an amphibious assault agains five beaches. The US VII Corps landed on the westem-most beach, codenamed Utah; the US V Corps landed to its east at Omaha beach. The British XOX Corps landed in the center at Gold Beach, with Canadian elements ofthe [ Corps at Juno and the British divisions at the easternmost beach, codenamed Sword The opposing German forces were most heavily concentrated In the Pas de Calais region to Normandy region, the beaches were held by the east. In the immediate three infantry clvsions well protected in a complex assortment of bunkers and conerete firing pits. The main armor concenteation, Panzer Gruppe West, had only the 21. Panzer Division inthe immediate area, located to the south-east of Caen in the British sector with IV tanks and 40 StuGs. The Panzer Lehr Divison was in the Chartres area, 100 miles away; and 12,SS-Panzer Div. (Qitlejugend) near Rouen, 70 miles to the north east. The lack of German tanks in the immediate beach area was due to terrain and to strategie decisions by the German high command. The terrain near the beach was not well suited to tanks due to the bacage and the presence of many tidal marshes and rivers. The Germans had also leamed from the Siclly and Anzio battles that panzer forces near Invasion beaches were very wulnerable to gunfire. The Allies Intensive air campaign against road and rail nets in the beach area to hamper any naval launched an movement of German panzer divisions into the beach-head. 3 In the American sector, the plan was to land two tank battalions at each beach in support of the infantry divisions there. Any more tanks were judged to be too much since they would lead to beach congestion. A third battalion was kept in reserve for each beach. These battalions generally, with some exceptions, left their MBAL light tank ‘company back in England or on the landing ships. There wete two ways to land the M4 medium tanks on the beach, The British ‘Army devised an amphibious conversion kit for the M4 called the DD tank, for Duplex Drive, The US produced a number of kits based on British plans, and obtained ‘additional kits from British sources to equip portions of each tank battalion commited to Operation Neptune. The second method for Janding the medium tanks was to fit them with deep wading trunks, This allowed the tanks to bbe driven ashore with the tank almost completely submerged except for the top of the wading trunks, which provided air to the engine. The US Army did not develop any specialized combat engineer tanks, aside from bulldozer tanks, comparable to those employed by the British 79th Armoured Division. Engineer operations were to be conducted only by unprotected combat ‘engineer squads. The lack of armored combat engineer support proved to be 8 costly ristake at Omaha beach, Utah Beach was the objective for the Toth and 746th Tank Battalions. The 70th had two companies of DD tanks, and one company of normal Mds fitted with wading trunks, including four dozer tanks. The 70th ‘Tank Bh. was the first to land in Wave 1A, with its DD tanks launched 3,000 yards feorn, shote from LCT's, A total of nine tanks were lost in the water, 5 DD tanks and 4 wading tanks. The 746th Tank Bn, wes equipped entirely with M4 medium tanks fited with deep water wading trunks, it landed without dificuty directly onshore without loss. Once ‘on the beach, the tanks were hemmed in by flooded tidal areas behind the beaches. Eventually, the tanks were able to eliminate German anti-tank guns and move inland over, several narrow causeways. The small 75mm guns on the M4 medium tanks proved unable to destroy heavily pillboxs, but their suppressive fre was helpful reinforced Germanto the infantry. By the end ofthe day, the 70th Tank Bn, had lost a further 7 tanks to mines for German antitank guns, while the 746th lost 2. Utah beach was securely in Allled hands, and the US infantry units were moving foward beyond the beaches as planned, “The situation at Cmana beach was far worse, The water conditions off Omaha beach were much choppier than off Utah beach. Like the 70th Tank Battalion, both the 741st land 743rd Tank Bas. had two companies of DD tanks and one of normal tanks with wading trunks. The tanks were supposed to be launched 9,000 yards from shore so that the LCTs would not be exposed to German coastal guns while stationary in the water. ‘This proved to be a mistake due to the strong wave action, Of the 32 DD tanks in the 741st Tank Bn., 27 sank alter encountering high ‘swells, 3 beeame stuck on their LCT landing craft and could not be launched, and only 2 ‘swam in to shore, The 743rd didn't even attempt ta put their DD tanks inte the water, ‘and simply landed them ashore. Aside from 8 tanks from the 743d lost when their LCTs were sunk by German shore guns, all the others were landed. In total, 96 tanks were landed at Omaha beach within the fist hour of the landing. Omaha proved to be much more heavily defended than any other Normandy beach. The Geemans had position ‘50mm and 88mm guns in pillboxes along the beach which had clear fields of fre along the beach. As a result, the anti-tank guns were ‘able to knock cut the 4 medium tanks by biting their thinner side armor. In the case of the first tanks from the 74st Tenk Ba. to land, all three were knocked out by anti-tank guns within moments of wading ashore from their LCTs, Nevertheless, the small number of surviving tanks provided invaluable suppor to the hard-pressed Infant. The commander (of 2/116th Infantry said thatthe tanks “saved the day. They shot the hell out of the Germans and they got the hell shot out of themselves.” Movement off the beaches at ‘Omaha proved to be the most dificult of any cof the beaches owing tothe presence of @ 100 foot high escarpment. The several ravines Teading off the beaches were blocked by ‘obstacles and German pillooxes which were methodically reduced, at great loss, by cengineer teams and naval gunfire with some tank support, By early aftemoon, the infantry was finally Mghting its way over the bluffs above the beaches, but at considerable loss. Nevertheless, by the end of the day, Omaha ‘was firmly in Allied hands. ‘The Overlord plan envisioned landing @ much latger armored contingent on the faster beaches, since it was presumed that the initial breakout attempts would be conducted in this sector, The best known element of the armored contingent was the 79th Armoured Division, nicknamed Hoban's Funnies after the commander who had Inspired the concept of a special purpose armored unit. In view of the difficulties ‘operating tanks during the Dieppe raid in 1942, Maj. variety of special purpose armored support vehicles (called “Funnies”) to assist both Infantry and armored units in conducting an ‘opposed landing. Dieppe had been @ painful reminder that landing armor on a European Gen. Percy Hobart proposed 3 beach was not as easy as it seems, since shoreline features, such as shingled beaches, could stop tanks as certainly as tank obstacles. the favorable British altitudes towards specialized armor and the unenthusiastic American ‘The difference between attitude was due to 2 combination of the British tradition of gentlemanly amateurism ‘and the Dieppe experience and the US ‘Anmy’s lack of experience with contested landings, The lessons learned from US Army ‘and Marine Corps amphibious landings in the Pacific theatre do not seem to have filtered {rough to the European theatre. As a result, the British were far better prepared for the landing than their American allies, even though the Americans were offered British equipment. ‘At each ofthe British/Canadian beaches, the infantry assaults were preceded by a wave of DD tanks: the Nottinghamshire Yeomanry ‘and 4/7th Royal Dragoon Guards at Gold, the 6th and 10th Canadian Armoured Regiments ‘at Juno, and the 13/18th Hussars at Sword. Ia general, the sea conditions were far better than at Omaha, and most DD tanks managed to swim ashore. For example, 13/18tn Hussars got 33 of thelr 40 DD Shermans to the beach, The next ermor came from the Royal Marine Armored Support Regiments. ‘This consisted of LCT (A)s leaded with two be ‘Centaur Vs in the front and a Sherman behind .38 a control tank, The Centaurs were placed to allow them to fire while approaching the beach, acting as mini-gunboats. The Ist Battery landed at Gold, 2nd at Juno and 5th ‘at Sword. The armored LCTs they employed proved tobe unseaworthy and as a result only 20 of eighty Centaur Is arrived by H-Hour, and 28 more later in the morning, The thied wave of armor ashore were the breaching teams of the Westminster and 22nd Dragoons: ‘with Sherman Flail tanks and the 5th and 6th ‘Assault Regiment Royal Engineers, equipped with Churchill AVRE. engineer vehicles. The AVRE’s were fitted with pobbins combat atthe front to lay paths over the slippery blue clay in the beach area. Even more valuable were thelr Petard launchers which fired massive “Dustbin” projectiles to destroy German bunkers, Unlike Omaha, where the US tanks were often unable to silence pllboxes, the AVREs quickly silenced them with the ferocious blast of the Dustbin. The British and Canadian armor methodically ‘went about its task of breaching the defenses, fand the beach-heads were taken with unexpectedly ight casualties. The British 2nd Army had enjoyed the advantages of better assault tacties as well as some terrain advantages, especially the lack of any escarpments of the type that so hindered the US Acmy landing at Omaha, Following the specialized armor was 2 ‘great deal of additional support arrived later in the day or on Del, This included the 7th Armoured Div. and 33rd Armoured Bde. at Gold, the Canadian 2nd and 4th Armoured Bées. at Juno and the 27th Armoured Bde. at Sword. The Getman response in the Nest day ‘ofthe fighting was mostly confined t infantry Units in the immediate beach area, US tank units encountered a handful of old Renault 35.8 light tanks near Utah beach, which were easily destroyed, The commander of Amy Group B, Gen, Enwin Rommel, believed that the most prudent approach to the landings was to The theatre commander, Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt did not agree with placing the armor forward, fearing the power of naval crush them with etmor immediately, gunfire as had been demonstrated at Sicily and Anzio. The 21.Panzer Division had someof its forward-deployed units in the sector between Juno and Sword beach and leamed of the landings from captured British paratroopers. But the divisional commander refused to commit them until moming. By jate moming, the main tank concentrations of 21, PeDiv. began moving forward from the Falaise area, and the division was soon subordinated to the LSS-Panzer Korps headquarters in the area. At 14:30, Hitler ‘uthorlzed the transfer of the 12.88-Panzer Div, Hilleriugend and Panzer Lehr Div. from strategie reserve, and they began moving ‘towards the landing zones. The I.SS-Pz.Korps commander was ordered to “attack from the Vicinity of Caen and drive the British into the sea." In fact, only the 21.P2.Div. was available, with the 12.SS-Px. Div. not expected to arrive until 7 June and the PzLehr on 8 June, The 21.P2Di north of Caen and was struck by several Allied air attacks so that by late afternoon, only 70 ofthe division's original 124 Pz.Kpfw. IV tanks were operational. At least 13 more . moved were knocked out in a one-sided encounter with the antictank guns end artillery supporting the Staffordshire Yeomanry along the road to Caen. By early evening, some German tanks slipped quite close to the beach near Lien-sur-Mer, but were forced to withdraw when it became evident that British ‘lrbome troops were threatening to cut them off. By the end of the day, the Allies managed to land about 156,000 men, and over 500 tanks, with many more coming in the following waves. German armor had failed to seriously contest the landings. ‘Securing the Beach-Heads ‘The 12:88-Panzer Div. arrived in the Dbeach-head area on Del (June 7) and immediately launched an attack against the 3rd Canadian Div. Inthe ensuing fighting, the Pa.Kpfw. IVs of 1,/SS-PrRgt12 struck the 27th Canadian Armd, Bde. and knocked out 28 Shermans for 2 loss of only six tanks. Nevertheless, the attack wos repulsed and never posed a serious threat to the beaches. (On the moming of 8 June, the |SS-Pr.Komps ordered an attack by both available panzer divisions against advancing British and Canadian forces. However, the progress of the Canadians had been so steady, that tanks, supported by the 26.95-PxGren, Ral. were ‘committed at dawn before the attack could be fully organlzed. This battle group struck the Regina Riles and Royal Winnipeg Rifles, but ‘was eventually beaten off. Through the day, the Pz. Lehr Div. tied to move Into the Normandy area along five separate roads, but was hit repeatedly by aie attacks leading to the loss of about 80 atmored vehicles including Sd.Kfz, 251 infantry half-tracks, SP guns and half-track prime movers, The Germans continued to counter-attack the advancing British 2nd Army with their three panzer divisions. On 9 June 1944, batle group from the 21.Pr.Div postions of the 3rd Division near Longueval, laying to force a gap between British forces at ‘Sword beach and the Canadians at Juno. “There was very litle German armor in the ‘American sector until the 17.S8-Pz.Grenacier Div, began arriving on 8 June. The bocage in the American sector was ill-suited to tank movement and so the Germans intentionally avoided deploying any susbstantal tank force jn the area. While the British and Canadians ‘edvanced on Caen in the face of the German panzer divisions, the American infantry, with modest tank support, began to fight to the northwest to capture the key port of Cherbourg. ‘The German theatre commander, Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt, ordeted three ‘additional panzer divisions to begin to move Into Normandy: the 2.PzDiv. from Amiens, the 1.88-Px.Div. from Belgium and the 2.55- Px.Div, (Das Reich) from Tolouse in southern France, On 11 June, Hitler authorized ‘the transfer of the 9. and 10.SS-Panzer Divisions from the Eastern Front to Normandy. This would provide the German forces in the beach area with somewhat more armored forces than the Allis, about 8 divisions vs. 5 by early July, but the Allies had a decided advantage in infantry, support. Even by the second week of June, both sides realized that the city of Caen would be the fulcrum for further actions in the British sector, Most of the heavy tank Fighting in June ‘and early July would be focused around this The 2ist Army Group commander, Field Marshal Bernard ‘Montgomery, had expected to seize Caen on struck British onillery and air Norman town. D-Day itself it would in fact take over a _month of tough fighting due to the presence of German panzer forces. The fighting towards Caen was intense and bloady as the German forces contested every kilometer of ‘ground. ‘Villers Bocage (On 12 June, the 7th Armoured Division, the legendary “Desert Rats’, began to attacks towards Caen from the west via the town of Villers Bocage in an attempt to outflank the Pa.Lehe Div. The attack was spearheaded by Brigadier Robert "Looney" Hinde’s 22nd Armoured Bde. which charged through Caumont early on 13 June with litle ‘opposition. Unbeknownest to the British, the Germans had moved up the 5.SS-PzRgt. 101 with 37 Tiger I tanks on 12 June, and they were siting near Hill 213. The Ist company was commanded by the legendary German tank ace, Obersturmfuhrer Michael Wittmann, who claimed to have destroyed 119 Russian tanks on the Eastern Front, Wittmann led an attack by four Tiger tanks and one Pz.Kpfw. IV at the rear of the British colurnn from 4th CLY Sharpshooters taking a break in the town of Vilers Bocage itself, In short order, three Cromwell were quickly destroyed. On heading west outside the town, Wittmann’s tank was hit frontally by @ 17 pdr. Sherman Firefly which did not penetrate. Seeing he was outnumbered, Wittmann retreated beck Into the town where his Tiger was hit twice, without effect by 2 surviving Cromwell Wittmann’s Tiger quickly knocked out the ‘Cromwell, Wittmann then turned his attention to @ British column east of the town, proceeding to shoot up the unsuspecting A Squadron, In the meantime, B Squadron, with Its Sherman Firefly tanks, moved info Villers Bocage from the west to ambush Wittmann’'s ‘group should it Witmann’s group proceeded back Into the town, probably expecting to encounter B Squadron to the west, Instead, the Shermans with addtional support quickly shot up the entire column, return. Sure enough, Witimann and his crew managed to escape their buring tank. In total, Wittmann’s group managed to destroy 20 Cromwell tanks, 4 Shermans, 3 Stuars, 14 halt-tracks and 14 Universal Carriers, effectively bringing the British offensive to @halt. Any further action in the sector was cancelled when it became evident that the 2.P2.DWv. hed arrived opposite the 7th Armoured Div After nearly two weeks of fighting, the: British 2nd Army had failed to capture Caen fr press ahead to the northeast and seize any of the ports up to Le Havre. The attacks were temporarily halted and not resumed for another week. Monigomery hed hoped for Detter results from the 7th Armoured Division, ‘counting on their battle experience. Instead, the division proved to be battle-weary. In @ ost.war interview, the British 2nd Army ‘commander, Gen. Dempsey, angrily opined that “the 7th Armoured Division was living on lis reputation and the whole handling of that battle (Vilers Bocage) was a disgrace.” Butt ‘would be another month before Dempsey ‘would sack the divisional commander and most ofthe division's top staff. Tiger vs. Sherman ‘The combet at Villers Bocage highlighted the technical disparity between the Allied and German tank forces. The majority of the Allied tanks were armed with a short 75mm fun that was elfective in dealing with the Pr Kpfw. IV tank, which made up about half of the German strength in France. However, this weapon was completely ineffective in frontally engaging elther the Panther or Tiger tank, The British had begun adding one Sherman Firefly tank, armed with the long 17 Pedr. gun to each troop (one of four). This gun could penetrate the Panther and Tiger frontally at the right angie, but as was evident at Villers Bocage, this was not assured, Had the ftst 17 pde. hit knocked out Wittmann’s ‘Tiger, Brilsh losses might not have exceeded the first three Cromwells. The US Army was ‘even more pootly prepared 10 handle the Gorman tanks. The US Army had tumed down an offer to build the 17 pd. inthe CS for logistical reasons, its new 76mm gun was available nly in small numbers, and the “76mm gun was not as effective as the 17 pa. ‘The 76mm gun was nearly useless against @ ‘Tiger frontally, thougt side atmor. Luckily for the Americans, the British and Canadians bore the brunt of the tank Fighting during the frst month of fighting, it could penetrate the ‘as most German armor was concentrated around Caen, Operation Epsom Von Rundstedt concentrated most of his attention around Caen since it posed the most immediate threat of breaking out into the better country around Falaise. In addition, the Germans were sill confident that with enough they could ‘counterblow against the beaches that would doom the Allied landing. While focusing on Caen, the US Army was methodically fighting Its way up the Contentin peninsula with Infanty. By the middle of June, the US Army was polsed to see the key por city of Cherbourg, simphiying the logistical burden of the Allied forces. US forces continued to be strengthened, with the arvival of several fresh US Army armored divisions including the 2nd, 3rd, ath and 6th, In the British reinforcements hed armor, launch a stinging immensely sector, additional arrived over the Normandy beaches from the UK by mid June, including the British 11th Armoured Div, This brought the strength of the new British Vill Corps to about 600 tanks. Facing them, Geyr von Schweppenburg’s Panzer Group West had about 228 tanks in the 12.88-PzDiv., 21.P2, Div, and Pz, Lebe Div. plus a lethal assortment of 75mm and 8mm antitank guns. An offensive from the western flank of the British 2nd Army, codenamed Operation Epsom, started on 24 June under rain soaked skies to the west of Caen, There were particularly sharp engagements between the Shermans of the 20th Armoured Bde. and the Panthers of the 1/SS-PaRgt. 12. The attack succeeded in penetrating south over the Odon River, but was eventually halted at Hill 112. On the night of 29 June, the Germans launched 4 major counterattack in the sector by the 9. and 10. SS-Pr. Divs. of the ISS-Panzer Korps, The British 15th Division beat off the tank attacks during Intense fighting north of Gaveus. This attack made it clear that the Germans were no more successful than the British attacking in this confined terrain. The operation caused the Bish tesible infantry losses; for example the stalwart 15th Division lost neatly half of its Infantrymen in Epsom's four days of fighting Unfortunately, Operation Epsom did litle to break the stalmate in the fighting near Caen. 6 ‘The doggedness ofthe British attacies and th failure of ILSS-Pe.Korps counterattack on 20 June convinced many their own ‘German commanders that it would be wiser pull out of the Caen salient for mor defensible positions, @ suggestion that Hite angrily dismissed. ‘The northern half of Caen was finally ‘wrested from the Germans on 10 July during 2 broad-front attack -called Operation CChamwood, Rather than risk suffering heavy Infantry losses, the battle was initiated by @ ‘massive carpet bombing by Lancaster heavy bombers. The bombers caused immense wece in through tbe suit, Tho Universal Cenier was the Standard infantry fehicio of tho British emmy in Normandy, but fer the ly fighting, smrompts wore made to ievelop better protected vohicla. (The Fork Museum) [A Cromwell tank named “Satan's CChatot” of the 5 ATR, 7th Armoured iv. bogged down at Goid Beach is recovered by a bulldezer while a LST unloads inthe background. This vehicle 's fited with the seldom-seen coep ‘wading trunks used on Cromwols anc related cruser tanks. The 7th Armoured Division was. the main armored component of the follaw-on forces, landing on 9 June to reinforce the British XXX Corps. (The Tank Museum)(One of the most usatul vehicles deployed on the British beaches on O- Day were these armored bullozers Although the US Army also used bulldozers on i beaches, oid not farmer the cab or radiator like the British examples, making the driver very Wulnerabie 10 small arms fie, This simple innovation greatly enhanced tne uitlity of te. Britsh bulldozers in removing German beach obstructions ‘uring the ertcal early phase of the landings. (The Tank Museum) A pair of Universal Cartors of thay 50th Northumbrian Division come ashore at Sword Beach from the LCT behing them. This cvs a good idea of ny the extensive combing had to ne added around the superstructure. (The Tank Museum) One of the most Important Innovations in the Bish armoured visions was the Sherman Firefly tan, farmed with the 17 pd. This was tho only Aliod tank able to deal frontal withthe neavly armored German tanks like the Panther and Tiger. They were ‘usually issued on a scale of ane por troop (ene per four ranks) in Britsh Canadan, and Polish visions. (The Tank Musou)Tankers of the British 4th [peered Bde, 7h Arm's Div. propare Bee aks for combat in the faids Jeecaioyy beyond Gold Beach; the Beso roa Is sill ovident in’ the Beckoround. The lead voticie Is a [Geerman Vo Firolly while the tank (peti itis a Sherman Il armed witht ermal 75mm gun. To accomodate Beeegh ammunition, the Firefly [eeversion dspensed with the bow Jpeerine gun, and careful inspection of Je right side ofthe hl front wal reveal ‘ber the mactine gun poston s plated Sem (The Tank Museum) AM of Co, G, 6&th Armd Regt, ‘2nd Armored Div. unloads from an LST at Uiah beach on Ds" or D42. All of ne fanks of the 2nd Armored Div. wore watorproofod with deep wasing goa, = it was not known how soon cloar channels coukl Be opened past Gorman beach obstructions to allow the larger LSTs to approach the beach However, Army engineers and Navy Seobees were able to clear channel B ty tho ond of the D-Day. “Hurieane’, @ M4 medium tank wth wacing tanks of Co. H, 66th Arm's Rogt. 2nd Armored Division comes ‘ashore from an LST a Utah beach on Dit. The 2nd Armored Division was the f_st US armorod dhision ashore, and landed beginning on the second day of the landings. This gves a very {9000 view othe cvcled whte star used by tho Allee foroas on al armored vehicle fr air idontiication; it was ofton Topeated even larger on the engine ‘eck. By July, was boing replaced by fluorescent cloth identification panels, as the marking was rot distincive enough to fastmoving Alled airorat (US Navy)Another of the tank units landed to assist in the breakout operations was the French 2nd ‘Armored Division, which landed at Utah Beech fon 1 August. This is a MAA2 tank namod ertrous” from the 126 Regiment de Chassour ‘atrique. Careful inspection of the ight head: light framing wil reveal a "SOMUA” plato, = reminder that many of these tank crews. had served on a SOMUA 35S tank when fist slationed in French North Altea. (US Army) ‘Tanks continued to pour ashore day after day along the Normandy coast. Hore, a Sherman V of the Polish 10th Armoured Cavalry Bde., 1st [Armoured Division comes ashore at Arromanchosdes-Bains in late July, This was a retum tp for many of the Polish tankers, who had fought in eonault 85.8 tanks in tho 1940 Battle of France, (and Vickers 6-on tks in Poland in 1899). The markings show this tobe a G Squadron tank ofthe 1st |anm'd Regt: the significance of the three white vertical bars on the rear of the tet are not known. (Skorsk Insitute)Defending the Beach-Head One free ofthe boaches, the Duplex Drive Shermans she their enimming skits, a8 we S60 on this column of Briish Shermans passing through Douet. The DD tanks often retalned the metal framing for the skins, making them idonttiable even with the skirts removed. (The Tank Museum) The Sherman Crab was another Bish innovation that was widely uBed during the Normandy operation. The Crab was another Sherman engineer ‘madifcation wth a mine fal attached at the front. The large structure continued the powertrain which spun the flail chains in front of the tank which detonated mines. The device at tna rear of the tank cropped lane markers to ‘dently cleared areas, Briish fal ans hhad been employed since the North ‘rican campaign and continually tefined, (The Tank Museum) | AMMO Achilles Mk. II engages German snipers while supporing Std Division infantry in early Juno i the area beyond Sword beach. The Achilles eas the Brian name for the American M0 tank destroyer: the Mik. | was the fly version with the tdangular rear ret courter-weights, the Mk. Il joe 10 tho enlarged turet with the Jbl" Countorwoighs atthe roar of turret. (The Tank Museum)Beckers improvised sel-propelied artillery was used mainly by the 21. Pz, Div This etal view shows the unusual 2o-batel mortar launcher. It consisted of ordinaty mortar tubes in a new contraption that alowed all 20 mortar bombs to be ‘dropped down the tube simultaneously to fire an impressive bbarage. Several of the mortar tubes are missing on this vehicle, (US National Archives, Fodoral Records Conter Sultand) A Bilish armoured reoce unit moves forward past the wreckage of a German StuG Il assault gun. The lead vehicle is {3 Humber Mé IV, and itis foloned by a Humber Mk Il ight reconnalesance car. (US National Archives) (One of the most characteristic sights inthe eaty Normandy ‘ighting wore a variely of bizarre armored vehicles based on French and British armored vehicles captured in the 1940 Battle fof France. These vehicles were the brainchil of Aired Backer, {an aftleryofleer who served in the German artilery in France in 1940. Because of his familys industrial contacts ack in Germany, Becker managed to have many captured vehices shipped back to Alkett In Berlin Spandau where they were ‘ebul as set propelled artery. This unusual vehicle is a 204 barrel 8imm mortar rq mounted on an armored SOMUA MCG] 'S 307(") halt-rack. A sinilar mounting was also made on tho SOMUA MCL hait-tack. (US National Archives, Federal Records Center Suland) Another of Becker's bizarre improvisations was the Solbfahritotte fur 7.5 om PaK 40, basod on an armored] SOMUA MCG S 307 (f chassis. Given the rathor modest size ‘ofthe Frenoh hat-rac, the recoil rom this mounting must have} been flece. Nonetheless, it dd give the very potent 75mm Pak] 40 greater mobilly than the usual towed version, (US National Archives, Federal scores Center-Sutiand)JGeerand vehicle. Appropiataly enough, this command vehicle was usually Similarly bul on capt 18 Conter Suit uring the N Renault FT light tanks wore eneouriered by Alied forces. These were use y German tank unis fo taining dues, and In Gorman security units for police act ‘guard duly. The Luftwatle also used the ols tanks - aiflelés, bath for runway securty and for towing. Many FT turrets wer fecuporator ass rom nor-funetionng chassis, and employed on Gamage or Aled (Conter-Suiland) the more of the Becker the 15. om rutzwagen neisted of a German vintage ize Chenilette Loraine 3 transporter. A total of 72 of these were bull by 1 Bavkommando Backorn Pari fod some serves with 21 North Al 1943, equipped chaise ght This. vehicle tured by the US Army, ha particularly staborate spi ccamoutiage, (US Army)The Canadian bull Ram tank, a contemporary ofthe early Sherman, ‘never saw combat in Canadian tank unis, but small numbers were Used in Sell-propeled artilry regiments by troop commanders in lieu of Shermans fs the lam OP. The Rams main failing was that by 1944, te 6 pe. main {un was inadequate and Shermans were availabe in sufficient numbers to ‘equip the Canadian armored unis. The RD insignia evident on the gun mantlt indicates that this is a tank of the Woop commande of D Bator; the Fam ofthe qun postion officer woulé be marked witna GD. (Pubic Archives of Canada) AUS Army MSA halttrack personnel cartier belonging to a tank destroyer battalion drives theough a French village in Normandy on tha way to the frant, The MGAI hallrack was the standard US Army armored Infantry transporter during the campaign, and was widely used in other roles fas sean hore. Careful inspection of tho photo wil reveal that it towing a a 76mm anti-tank gun, a towed version of the weapon on the MIO tank destroyer. These towed tank destroyer battalions were not particularly ‘successful duo tothe lack of mobility and weak protection of thie gun crews, ‘Compates tothe So propelied battalions. Asin many offical pats fram the ‘ummer of 1944, the censor has botled out the unt Bumper codes on the [hoto for secuty reasons, (US Army) "A M10 tank destroyer guards the approaches to the beaches in the American sector a few days after the landing. The M10 was armed with a 9 inch gun, offering better armor penetration than the 75mm gun on the Sherman. However, with the standard MBI APC ammunition available In ‘June, it could nat trontally penetrate the armor of the German Tiger | tank And had difcally penetrating the Panthers armor at ranges over 500 yards (US Army) ‘One ofthe less common Bish tanks fighting at Normandy was the Centaur IV. close-support tank, an early relative of the better-known Cromwell. Only 80 of this type were built, and it was armed with a 95mm howitzer. In the Normandy landing, the Centaur IVs equipped the Royall Marine Armoured Support Group with the 1 RM Atma Spt Regt at Gol, the 2 RM Arma Spt Regt at Juno and a battery of the 5 AM Armd Spt Regt at Sword. The angina plan was to have the Centaurs positioned on etmored LCTS to act 2s close-range, offshore gunboats in the inital stage of the landings. However, the landing ett did nct prove as seaworthy as hoped, and 60 most of the Centaurs were landed and fought ashore, Each troop had two Centaur IVs and ine Sherman for the troop leacer. The extensive ‘marking around the turret was intended to simply fra direction onthe LCTS. ‘This battery is in action nese Tily-ur-Seuiles on 09. (The Tank Museum)dard acco ark in the ‘veins in Normandy se Stuart V (MSAG), seen in action 5 done near Bayeur-Tily wih the exoures Division, The chision's Desert Rat insignia can be sen on the upper rght comer of {es plate infront ofthe eo-criver ‘though automatively ‘over the Stuart versions used Borh Africa, its frepower was no (The Tank Museum) A.Mé dozer tank named “Apache” of Company A, 70th Tank Battalion in the area beyond Utah beach in June 1944. The Mi bulldozer kit was one of the few US Army engineering Innovations used at Normandy. Besides proving usetuln the invasion Ise, the ozer tanks proved invaluable in the bocage fighting to help clear lanes though the thick hedgerows. (US Army) A Churchill IV. AVRE_bartling ‘along a road in Normandy, The AVAE Version of the Churchill is easily ‘stinguished by the enormous bore of the Petard launcher mounted on the turret font. The Churchill was generally popular Ia the Britsh tank brigados because of its thick armor, but it was slow and underpowered compared to ‘thor Allied tanks. Unlike the Sherman, one were upgunned wih the 17 pa which limited the effectivaness. of Churehilis in tank-vs.tank combat. (The Tank Musoum)Initial Fighting near Caen ‘A good view of he lng bara of th 17 pr. gun ona Sherman Ve Fey of he 11th Armoured Dison uhlesuppatig the Sout Lancashire Pgh "44, The circular insignia on the right transmission housing reveals this tank to belong to a C Squadron, and the white 52 on a red square the second most senior regiment ofthe 29th Armoured Bde, the 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry. (The Tank Museum) A Sherman ll OD tank passes by a thoroughly dostroyed Pz.Kpfw. IV several wooks: after tho Normandy invasion. Tho Pz.Kptw. IV, probably an Ausf. H or J, has had ts glais plato ‘caved in and part of is root armor smashed, which suggests @ fit by a large high explosive found ike an alrcralt rocket or bomb. The Sherman DO has the extensive swimming skint removed, but careful inspection ofthe lowar rear ‘of the hull wil reveal the two power transfer housings which turned ‘wo propeliors when the tank was fited for amphibious operations. (The Tank Museur)[Sherman Ve Firefly ofthe 4 ATR {Sess0s trough a French vilage on 8 ive. The tacical sign, a white 128 on = red square, was the characterstic [embeting of a tank in an Independent Brigade rathor than in one of the Grisional armoured brigades. This {roi early ilstrates one ofthe ether ‘Seporant changes mado on th Fietly: Je adaton ofa turret rot natch forthe Beocer. (The Tank Museum) French tamiiae flee the fighting in Be Norman farm county on 21 June $944. In the background is a knocked gut 750m) Pak 40/1 auf SGeschutzwagen Loraine Schlsepper ®. another of the myriad Becker onversions 30 typical of the early Hormandy fighting. This was an Irprovised tank destroyer consisting of ‘he very potent 75mm Pak 49 antitank fun on a captured Fronch Chennietio Koraine armored transporter. Although Binn'y armored, the conversion gave fe weapon more mobily, (US Army) ‘A Sherman Grab named “Colin Campbelt moves forward with the 79th Armoured Div. to help clear minetiekis, “The Orabs were kept very busy inthe July fighting due to oxtonsive German minefields noar Gaon, In this photo, ccan be seen that engineers nave already marked a cleared lane in the ‘wadional fashion with tape. (The Tank Museum)The Contentin Fighting inthe rears from the 2nd Armored Ov, while the tank inthe center appears to be from 70th Tank Bn, Notice that by this stage of he fighting the prominent white star markings have largely disappeared: they were too temping a target for German antvtank gunners. (US Ary) ‘though a common enough sight in US Army tank unis, ‘Sherman wth M1 dozer blade was far aes common in British uns as seen here. Note the tanker’s helmets stowed ouside the turret a necessary substi for the jaunty Bish tanko’s beret in the Normandy fighting duo to the prasenco of skiled German snipers. This Sherman V is well camoutlaged wih neting,(The Tank Museum) French citizens celebrate liberation with a pair of Gs ofthe 9th Infarisy Div. ceiving a captured Renault UE armored tractor, probably in the oulskits of the port of Charbourg. Cherbourg ‘was the major strategie objective ofthe US 1st Army in the fst ‘month of Normandy fighting, inorder to secure a port for further supplies. The UE was widoly used by German forces inthe area for uti roles such as transporting equipment. (US Army)This is the first off sories of related photos of a columa from the 3rd Armored Regt. Std Armored Division in the easter outskits of SI. Fromond on 8 July 1944, This action was shorty after the combat ‘debut of the Sra Armored on the night of 7 July against 28S-P2.DN, Das Reich near Pont Hober. This View shows a heavily stowed MSA1 light lank of Co. C, named “Carol as it passes along road crammed with fthar vehicles rom the cvision, including @ jeep to the fight, and a hallrack and Mé scout car tothe lof. This photo was taken prior to a push across tho Vire ver, Intended to hoad-of 2 Gecman tank thrust owards Haut Vents. (US Army} A.US Army M10 3 inch tank destroyer, probably ‘rom the 823¢d Tank Destioyer Bn, advanoes through the rubble of the town of St. Fromond on 7 July 198 during the fighting towards St. Le. St. Fromond was 2 road junction on the N174 road, and 90 the sito of considerable fighting in eatly July as US Army units ‘moved southwest oul othe immediate bridgehead. This photo shows the tradtional traveling mode of the M10 ‘with the barrel traversed tothe right so thatthe drive ‘could Koop his head popped out ofthe hatch. (US Arm) [Another view on 9 July near St. Fromond where the first clashes cocured between the 2.65-P2.DW. and US ‘Amy forces in the area. This M4A1 medium tank ramed "Derby" of Co. D, 2nd Armored Regt, 30 ‘Armd Div. moves down a muddy road, with an 81mm ‘mortar team walking past, one GI carrying the ‘basoplate, and the other, the tube. To the rghit is 9 knocked out Pz Kptw. IV of 2:88-PzDWv. Das Reich (US Army)“This photo was taken slight furtner along the same road as the photo ofthe M4A mocium tank near St. Fromond, and shows the knocked aut Pz KphW, IV tanks from Das Reich in betar detail. Clase inspection of tha forward tank will veal large penetration inthe glaois plata, and anathar onthe tut sice which led 10 an intemal ammunition fre and explosion which shattered the gun mantel. To the right ofthe photo is & M3 hal-rack personnel carrer from 1c Armored Div. (US Aimy) ee ‘Another viow of St. Fomond during tho Vire river fighting shows a MBSA light tank moving past a 90mm antareratt qun on 9 July. The US. Army did not regulary use its anti-aircraft quns for anti-tank defense (ike the Gezmans with their BBmm gun), but here it appears that a SOmm is being used fo guard a road Junction, probably due to the prosence of Panthor tanks ftom the 2 SS-P2.DWv. during the fing that day. (US Army) Papi. IV Aust J tanks of 285-Pz.Div, knocked out in the Vio river fighting north of SL Lo on 9 July. The side ant-bazooka skits have been knocked off wth only one left danging on the sie, but both tanks retain their foliage camouflage. The presence of Alled fighter bombers made folage ‘camoutlage a daly neccesaily for German tankers in the Normandy fighting (us Amy)An MP directs trafic as @ MAT light tank of 33rd Ams gt. passes through a town north of St Lo on 17 duly. The fghting in the fst tro weeks ff July pushed the US Army across the base of the Contentin poninsuia, and made possible the breakout operation planned forthe third woek of July. AMSAT ftom Co. C, 33d Armd Pe asses @ shell-pocked building in the town Al on 11 July, a8 US armor moved up to si ‘a German attack trom Le Dace against the Infantry Div. One of the curious details on MSA is @ davice located below the ull machi un. This i apparenty a bullet defector, add Toho tank, which allowed the machino gun to fired directly below the tank into tranches. (U Army) AAM12 188mm gun oto canage named "Goregdor of tho 987 Fels faery Bn free in euppon ot US forees-noar St. Lo in the, Cntenn fgg ‘on 16 chip. The Mi was. combination o Sherman chassis th 2 Wore Wa vintage Fron 15mm gun The 37% was tho ony M2 unin Nonrandy un 72 August when twas joined by the 587th nd 588 FA Batalone. The M12 was epaced itr inthe European campaign by he more tmagern M40 186mm GME, (Tho Tank | Museum)Ie IMAA1 Medium Tank, Co. A, 7415 Tank Battaton, 16h Infantry, Easy RedFox Green, Omaha Beach, Normandy 6 June 1944 The 74It Tank Batten wae asigned fo the Tein infanty Regiment for he ossout on the fea between the E-) and E8 roves, Co. A was led win deep wang gear whe Co, # aa Co, C wos eaueped w/in Dupiex Dive tanks. Dung tho run othe beach string at 40,27 of 32 DD forks Svambed due fo te 16 knot wind which whipped up tres to four foe swell. Ory lo sworn To the Eaxy Rec beach, ond vee ols wore landed at ie Beach oy an LCT whlch cousin! latch them at sea due 10a damaged! amp. These Ive DD fans were th fst and ont axsoul oops on Omha Ezoch fr the fet hat hour The Co, A fonks were landed Gt H-HoUs (0430) on Easy Red, with fo tanks ond & dozer fark los when ther LCT was blown {Gp by German ariley, The markings on thete Tanks wore very ample. No Bumper were painted on due fo secuty restrictions. nor were thera any of he ‘Eval wnte sts. ho markings wore ined to he rank nama, beginning hfe comporyloleron the hul sds (Ade De Carre). the vehicle set nr ond a stenelea data plat wth ippng inormotion, Some anks carted 4 sal yelow bridging cle in yolow on fhe igh upper comer ofthe ‘Tensmason housing, and o small 1? inch long US lag onthe divers bulge on the lacks plat. Some o he Tanks had thelr vehele number painted on ‘he fear of he deep wardng trunk. nlorge numbers on he upper potion. and fepeated in smal exhion on te lower potion ofthe turk. The precse runber of this Tar & not nw, But wo ofthe Tanks That mage M ashore were numbered 9 ha 1, ‘herman i Duplex Dive l Amphibious Tank, 13/18th Hussos, Sword Booch, Lon-sur-Mer, Normandy. 6 June 1944, ‘hscut away crewing shows he configuration of @ Duplex Dive Sharman of the moatiod hype wih the extendod sks extentions, The set sa was a pole Canvas, wile te rubber inaaie Mbes were le th atu! col. The makenge 2 tho stonaora Bin sve, wih the tanks numbered ‘SSquentay when the regiment. There alge whe inged Aled star an the ture! reo, wilh pat oF The cee overlopping the se ofthe ture. Tonks in'hs un wee Thiihed in Snade No, 18 ove drab, whien replaced Standard Camoutage Colour No.2 kha erown #1942 This color was very anlor (0 US olve de, and wos adopted n par fo avakd the need fo fepant US Lend Leave verices,Ths Stu V eonies the ful ange of stanacre Beh aking. On the fret the squadron inlgnia, @ lamena, naleatng a regimental HO ta ‘As he second sence tegiment inthe brigade, the ngni fin yellow, hough many tegimerts simpy Ueed wh on ail ef 22and Armoured 8de, marking en right mudguara and the Tin Amoured Div. nsgnia onthe lf. The fonk ne Sherman I, Toop, 2nd Battery, Ist Royal Mine Armoured Support Regiment, Gold Beach, Normandy, & une 1944 infoe 13, the Royal Manes fomed on aller support regmment besed around Centaur IV close support tanks equipped with 96m howe with Shermans serving a contol tanks The pion wor To las the Cenfauts to the dete of LCT (A) landing craft wih the tanks providing close Sombarcment wih each LCT (A) coming two Centaur vs ans one Sherman Alte The bomocsren. the forks would then and and prove fre Suppor nthe Channel cosing as the uparmoved CT (As proved unseaworhy ond vulnerable fa beac! uation makings around the Ture! fo pet the havering wentondl fashion. The unt has baa Geetetions Tha Shermer jonks, ke the Contour, were pated wih navene ‘Suing ne unin o the Beach. The morenge of 0/360 degrees began ot he Centerine othe toa ef the furs. herwe, the Tank w arying the square Royal Maine am oF sevice maiuing on Me let ower come: ofthe Gack plate above te sub fencer One of ‘fH Troop war named Fox. he wu location for the name Delng the lower center ot he gic pistero cin Sherman Ve Fell, 27h Canadian Armoured Regiment, nd Conasion Armoured Brigade, Burn, France, 7 June 1944 iis moa Gommorwoath armored unt, ne Canadian amy folowed Bish markings practices Uke many Commonwealth tonks ring the ii ormosy spsraton is sharmanV of the Sherbrooke Fer 7h Amn’ Regt) is very plonly morkod. At the stago of he war no effort was Deng ‘Mo fo conceal Ine Fefls by druptiva barel painting os would occu later n he sumer. The vehicle name i Ble, and the fark cates the wa Cinise soit number on the nul sige. The veNcle foctcal number, 2, k cored on the ight sc ofthe reo ture radio box. The formation sgn for he ‘Soment wos a hfe 8 on 120 squae over @ white Band, cord fn The Usual fsnlan ane side of ie ear hul plate ond on he glaci pats above {Re ight sub fencer The Zn Canosion Armoured rigads insg7io. © Qold maple let on a block square with Die stipe, wos carted opposite 1 the ‘Sgmental insignia (ight rear ot the hul| plate, on the gloes pote Gbove tha [et stub bumped. Ihe fark fhszed overa in Shade No, 18 olve ckab. {he park ark wos one of those knacked out an 7 tune 194a while supporng he Sin Canacson hfonty Bigade necr Buren Te Canockans were Sunterttocked by Pe Kptw. Ns ofthe sin and 6th companies of S-Pz.Rgt 12 of he Sz. Ov lerugend. The Canadians lst 28 forks the Bato, fe Gormansios 6 PeKptw.1V Aus HS /8S-Pe.Rg. 12, S-Panzer Division Hillerugend, Buron-Authe, 7 June 1944. The tanks cfSePe fg 12 were mated wit on unxgualy drab stenlieg iostcal number i black instead ofthe usual we with no flan coker. The vehicle tactical morkngsfolow the Vaval German proctos ond indicate @ Tank of he Sth company, &rd platoon tha! was Ivelved nthe Fat wih Ihe Conaulore round fuzon on © Says. The regent pointed the markngsin shove form only os wos common In Normandy i 1944 & fished Fine wluo Geman scheme of RAL 7028 coxk yelow wih spay painted pattem of RAL 6008 olve green and RAL 6017 red brown.Tiger Aust Es PrAbt. 503, Colombeles, France, 11 July 1944 "Tis Tiger heavy tank unt wars eculppea wih 12 Koenigtige’s Inthe 1s! company and 33 Tgarlsn the Istana 2nd companies when it arived in Fronce in say July, wos comtieg fo actin in counterattack near Colombeles on 11 uly 194d wie ofohed ta 21. Parwer Ovdon ns patil Tank, commanded by Folawooel Sachs, was crested win knoskeng out 11 Bish hermnans ond 8 ont lank guns dung the fighting. The Tiger painted Inne stonaarad German tank scheme of RAL 7028 dork yellow with soy painted pattems at RAL e009 olve een ond WAL 8017 ted brown, but the clos have been heavy thinned. resulting In @ Yon! pater. The tctioes number Kdenfy Fae 9 Tank of Sd Company, 1 Plotoon, fa vehicle the on anomaly § tat Sachs, being the platoon Isao" shoul have hod fork numbered 311. Ths shows tha! the factiealnumring system wos ot Ghwoys Tolowed. as torne unit loaders would Toke Tanks fom other crows ther own tans were Delng repaid. Thi tank was Blown uae down Dy © bo {dung the heavy det bombotdment Mot ploceded Operation Goodwood on 18 duly Thad near the Choteau do Monnovio. Pexptw. VI Aus. 8 Koenigstiger, sx ABt. 503, Normandy, France, July 1944 Imi tiger neavy tank unt wos poraly equipped with 12 Keerigsigats in he Ist company ot the outs of he campaign (and 32 Tiga). twas he ‘ony Tigo unt n serie in Normandy. There were 4 Tige’s in senice whan the urd reached combat on 1! July. and by 8 August, the unt ha ban feducedto 11 tanks due tothe fahting. The rd company was reeaubped wih Id Koenigsiges by August. Tha vehicles n sevice with the Ist company 18 s9en nore nod c Iypicl Ths of RAL 7OZB dank yelow with seray ported pattems Of Ral 6009 ale green and RAL B01) red brown, wih tacts! umber appiled cn Ie forword hat of he ture ancl sometimes epson fhe ear ture! Notchtele saeeagea ed a PeKptw.v Panther Aus. A, 3,/SS-PERG. 12, 1255-P2.Dv. Hlleugend, June 1948. Ths wos the fonk of Obarcumbahnturver Rudo von Ribbertrep, he commander ofthe thtd company of SS-PzRgt. 12.1 fished in the usual Geman scheme of RAL 7028 dark yelow wih spray panted pattems of RAL 6003 olve green and RAL 8017 red Brown, withthe overpaid comoutlage being cue ond mere Squiggly than normal. This was duo o the practice of having the uns paint the tanks thersoWves. leading to onuderabie varaton nthe appearance of Me camoutoge potters. even winin © snglo unt Tho tacteol number a stoncilog white outine, “winout any fin elor being added. Once ogan, the number doesnot folow stancara numbering procices fora unt Comment. expt. Renaui 1 bis 7400), Panzer Abteilung 213, Jersey, Channel lends, August 1944 German unis eccupsed fuiope mode exTerive uo of Caplized French armor fe oning ond in active service. A unique example was Pz. Abt 213, the ony Gemen tank und setloned on cecupied Bish soln World War 2 he batfalen wos deployed tothe Channa lance wih 36 Char Bl le in 1942 to reset an Aled landing: n he event, he Normandy invasion byposted the blands, ond the gorkon fly suendored fy 1945, This Char B bis 's pointed n he standard German venice camourtoge adopted n May 1943 corssting of RAL 7028 dak yolow win spray pointed patter of RAL 60S clve green and RAL 8017 red brown, Thee vehicles wore mated in tho usual fshion wth the fst eumoerinloating company. te socond MACTING Blafoon ana the fal number indicating the Indviduel vehicle. Ofer unis n weslem Euope were ao equipped win the Char 8) Be cluding & Eompany tom Pz Abt 223, (P2o.228) n the Neterands, and two companis of Pag! 10Din France. Pe AB! TOD. a fepiacement and faring unt. ‘wos dsbonded proto the Normandy fighting, Fz. Abt. 206 haa Chor B bis ans clon wth 28 Hotens 984 ight tanks, 10 Somua $6 covory Tonks Cond 2 Hotchkis 38H converted To dive rane’, The Unt was wlped out in ighing nthe Cherbourg pentsla There ore tow recores Of Combat Bolwoen such unis ad! the Alled forces. Out Alled forces dk copie severl Chor BY orksnan Sherman Ve Foy, 3 Toop, A Sad, Northamptonshire Yeomanry, St. gnan de Cramesn France, 8 August 1944. isis the Sneman Frety commanded by Sat. Gorden that sncked out the Tiger Ik of Michael Wittmann and fwo other Tigers dung the Aightng at St. Aignan on 8 August. "A" Squadron vehicles were marked coneacuively wih te 3 Iroop numbers being 9 thtough 12. The un wes Gao ented by the stancord squacton tactical sgn. (A Sad ange: B Sac: Square: C Sad Citic), cn tha rear ofthe fue todo box, Bleceded by the troop number (3). Markengs on the bow conssted of the bigade sign. @ green lock diablo on the let side frant Below the NeadTight ond the regimental number. a white 173 0n a red square trimmed in wht, cn the rght side. The Noffnarmplonshre Yeomanry had the practice of naming The {aris nthe unt n a.consient fasion between SquadTons. "A" Squadon used Russon city names, wih 3 Toop using names saxing wih V (Vostock, Viodivosiok. Vitebsk ona Vale Luk It Gppecss that Me Toop Frey we "Veskye Lute double name selected To reflect te long bast! 17 pat. The nore wos in ted wth ite tim Tiger, 5.$5-Pz ABI 101, St Algnan de Cramesnl France, 8 August 1944 Tis Was tho tank cormmanded bythe wet known fank ace, Michael Wittmann, when he was led n action on & August 1944. Thre wos some: Cconttovesy about the specie iaonty of Ns lank during the bate, he presumption being thal he woud have besn opercing a tank marked wih & ‘Command focice! number. Recent esearch ncicotes Tha tis was the fank he wos Wing, resumnedy having ‘borowed i fer another crew. Bu ot Foledin sovera of he calor pistes Nevo, many unl commande Gd no! folow the stondara numbering practice. Ths ballon hod @ nema sengih (0145 Tiger but d7 were n sence at he cutest of ne campaign, Witmann fst one of thees auring hi romecge Through een cored Columns ct ‘ios Bocoge. The marking on Ths Tank are foty sieightforword, one of the few unusual fealues beng the use oF © cold white tactice numer Instead of the more commen senciled outine form so common in Normandy. Ihe 'SS-Paner Corps nario wos caried on the upper left comer of he {lack plate outboard the arvar's visor ona squore Daten coated oF amme. and on he Oppeae sido wor he standord facta! smal fr @ heawy ‘anu bataonSherman V, 1s Motorized Aster Regimen! Polish Ist Armoured Division, Folate Gop, Augus! 1944 The Polth Ist mmoured Dison tolled stand Grth mating practices ond panied overall Shao C tiosp commander evcent fom the foctcal sgn onthe Mu ade, ha es of the vehicles nthe Toop were Sexton 25 pd slr pxopalea Nowa i25 monings corsited ofthe vue Blue and fod arary square wih the fed square In the upper right comer nica Ist Sate. he lower rh fing 2nd Botery. nd in he lower lat cone, Incieating ad Battery, The foop commanders wsed a wo later code Beginning wih R and folowed plete. gun postion officer ured a code beginning in G, flowed by the Top llr Sextons were markad by Ihe vehicle numb o fifor tolowed by the oop letter. The regmentlformaton or war @ fed cna Bue square wif white "7d" code, and was cated on he aight side of he (oor hulslowoge box and onthe lf upper commer oe bow transmisson housing, On the fa le comer of the Mul fea wos the cisonal signa range ond black) Gnd he Poin Gviomobile doh, ¢ white oval wih PL The diional SQN ‘oto offen corned on the ight uoper come of the noushg, oppoete the tegmental formation sign The fan named Kosar. & tofence to ths September 1918 batfe by the Folin Legion of ie Austo-rungaxian Army where the regmen# Ina ances, tho Is Logon Fes Aor Regement,fougr with dsiichon agains he Czas ry 1S ave dtob, Mi shoman V isthe IMi0 Tank Destroyer, 2 Platoon, 4th Squadion, REFN, Fench 2 Division Blindes, Pars, August 1984 Ihe Regiment sindoo de Fuso Mor 5s GHUFM Armred Regiment of the Naval Palamen) was one of the most color unis ofthe French 2 “meted Bison 22 08) f wes formed fom he Bataion de Fullers Morn de Berto Turki #1943 ond wos mage up of sales who voluntee Sowein the ree Hench amy due fo shorlage of mancower. The un relained potions ofthe naval urorn. even aff: tho be fant dosfoyer uni for he 1948 cornpaign. The marking: flowed the Wil practices of the 28 DB. All un vehcos were painted wih he blue and white map of Honce signa. A (Set of unit mating: wos doveed, panfed on a Die sure. The ler in hs case. ndicated the regiment. 7 horeental bor naicated th 7 0fvorical pip ncieaing he squocson purer. The platoon was ndicated by the smal sau ne, one fn the upper af being Is tw in The Up ef! ond Nght eng 2nd and two n the upper ot! ond rah ond & third in tho lowe! ght being 2d platoon. Some vehicles hag while bands painted, German fashion, arouna he gun bare or Geran fonks Gattoyec fond Stoco here added smal slnovatier on the Ml de 03 wel These lll matings ware oddod offer the 164d Pats fighting. The vehicle nares ni RBM wore taken from French worship. oco x the mot Fornous M10 0 he uN, having won @ dual wh @ Garon Pantha fank {he Pace ds la Concorde plaza n Ihe center of 1982,krmish near Sai fo 16 July, The the two onginal US landed on D-D cn 20k of bitter fighting against oops of the 2The Caen Fighting A Centaur ARV of the British 41th Armoured Div. recavers a German Pe.kplw. IV near Can on 9 July 1944 shorty attr norhem portions ofthe ety had boen taken. The divisional insignia, ‘rampant bull, i evident on the glacis plate. The Caniaur, which preceded the better powered Cromwell, was. ister Used for specialized roles such as armored venice recovery, (The Tank Museum) AA Universal Canier being used as an ambulance by the Duthamn Light Infantry passes by a knocked ou Panther Aust. & near the junction of routes D199 anc 17a, This was one of tho Panthers of 12.SS-P2.Dis (titeriugend) wien was knocked out by a hit onthe i oar sida which sot its fuel on fire during fighting in lat June with the Canadians. (The Tank Museum) ‘A Tiger | is inspected near Caen by a Brtsh solcer. The Tiger was the most deadly nemesis of Bish armor in the Caen fighting, and both German heavy tank battakans pera in the Briish and Canadian sectors, mast memorably around Hil 112, Ths is a late production type wth steel-immed road wheel, and has obviously suffered an intamal ammunition explosion. (The Tank Museum) 42‘A Sherman Crab ofthe 70th Armoured Div, inaction near “Tily-sur-Seulles on 11 July. The lead tank has obviously been | damaged during mine-swoeping operations and ie fails absent; the follating tanks appear intact. (The Tank Museum) Instead ofthe improvised $86 bad by the 7ath Armoured Division on 0:0 Churchill tank brigades in Notm Provided witn the more refined Bridgelayer seen here. These were: seale of one troop of three brigade HO. Thay wore used in the Caer mostly to gap obstacles and tank traps: Tank Museum) CChurenit tanks were deployed wih the army tank brigades, which wore separate formations intendad to" provide suppert for infantry operations. These were very potent units, riumoering some 242 tanks in 1944. Hore & Churohil named “Guittard” moves forward, ‘covered with infantry ides. (The Tank Museum) | Bish M10 Ackiles Mk. 2 moves: dbotwoen Troam and Caen during the: fighting. In Bish service, the M10 was dep in antvtank regiments which consisted of batteres, with 24 Mi10s in two batteries, ‘owed 17 pdt. ant-tank guns in the other ‘This cifered trom the American practice Gf deploying tank dastroyer battalons jnirely with towed or selt-propelled guns. Tank Musou)A Pz Kpfw, IV Aust H of Pz Ral. 22 (21.P2.Div) knocked cout near Lebisey on tho northeast approaches to Caen, This photo was taken on 13 July after the British ard Division hac ‘captured the area. Ths tank hs been well dug in with only its turet showing, a common tactic inthe Caen fighting, Tris view provides a good view ofthe tank's camoutlago painting as well sits tactical numbering. The Tank Musou) Operation Goodwood on 18 July was preceded by a ‘massive carpet-bombing of the Gorman forcos in savoral Koy sectors. Panzer units unlucky enaugh to be in the bom zones suffered significant lasses, Although the alrratt noms seldom penetrated the armor, thoir explosive forco was offen onaugh to omplatoly tip tho tanks on thelr backs, as has happened to this hapless Panther Aust. A, (The Tank Museum) “Tis front view of the Pz.Rgt. 22 Pzpfw. 1V shows the cause ofits domiso, a solid ponctration ofthe turet front to the left of the gun maritet. Dug-n tanks Ike this provided areal problem to the Alles, ae they were very hard to detect and to knock out, The bey ofthe Abayye aux Dames can be seen in tho background. The fal terrain In the approaches to Caen allowed the Germans to employ ther superior long-range tank firepower to bloody effect against the oncoming British and ‘Canacian armor. (Tho Tank Musoum) Ce... ‘The M7 was named Priest n British service, the nickname: stemming from the pulpt machine gun mounting on the right sie. This Priest n action near Caan during the 18 July riley proparation for Goodwood is stl ied withthe side panels for Seep wading: they were probably retained to provide some ‘madest ant-sniper protecion, The standard Royal Arley tactical marking on the superstructure sie, a bive square with & smaller red square in the lower lft corner, incicates & howitzer of 3 Battery, he white E4 incicatos the tn hontzor of E Tro0p, The Priest was gradualy replaced by the Soxton inthe Brish army in order to standarcize, and sore Priests were "detrockod" later in the Normandy campaign to serve as infantry transporters, (The Tank Museum)A Universal Carrer column moves ardin a damages Norman vilage in Tho carr was tho only fully: ed infantry vehicle commeniy used ing the war; both the US Army and ‘an Wenrmacht used half-racks, is vohiclois boing usod as a machine squad carter, evident from the ‘stored in front Notice also that a antetank tte is stil boing carried F> tho forward compartment, though Jos! certanly not for tank hunting! The Jere has placed some wooden planks Je tho hull onto create an improvised JSexage area for their equipment. (The ark Museum) Besides being used to create the ‘Sherman Fira, the 17 pr. was also Used to rearm the MO Achilles, here a Mic lic ofthe the 117 Battery, 75th Anti- tank Rogl. RA, which served with the 11th Atmauted Dison, The 17 pot versions of the Achilles became the predortinent version inthe lator stages fof the northwest Europe campaigns. (The Tank Museum) ‘The 6 pr. anti-tank gun was sillin use in Normandy wth both the Brish ‘and American forces, though Both wera replacing it withthe 17 pdr and 76mm ‘guns. Here one fs being towed behind a Loyd Carr, which was commonly used for this function, The carter, with ‘a Shorman tank in the lead, i entering couche, probably in August 1944.‘A.Gromal crusor tank moves up past a column of Briish infantry. 1 ‘white tape on ether side ofthe col Indeates the advance lines lor moving Into the Jumpoff points. Thi corridors were swept of mines and t maread by the engineers. The Bris Dui wo categories of tanks, the cui tanks The the Cromwell intended 1 high speed exploitation missions, the infantry tanks ke the Church ‘which were mote heavily armored « Used for infantry suppor. (The Tan Museum) ‘A Bish Shorman moves forwara ‘on 18 July during Operation Goodwood, with a 6 par. antitank standing guard over tho toed. The severe losses suffered during this attempt to push into the opan country south of Gaon was & major stimulus for. the American Operation Cobra, (US Army) ‘The Churchil AVAEs continued te serve throughout the campaign in variety of functions. This tank, named "Sabre, isbeing used to carry a fascin for filing ani-tank diches. Noto 1! Panther track wrapped around th turret front, an atempt to bolster th front protection. (The Tank Museum)‘While the British ard Canadian wzer divisions south of Caen, the US Army tock steps to Lo. Hore, a MSA ght tank maves through the devastatd sto Lo on 20 July ater the cty was finaly captured. The fst encoun German panzerfaust anti-tank rockets prompted Ameri ‘mounting sandbags on the front oftheir tanks 2s an impr my) Panther was n served in Normandy, in the Brileh sector. On 30 July. a ‘ar les Loges, and about ten Churchills were knocked out in quick wera later found abandoned with serious t ‘deadly enough, the Jagépanther combined a Panther chassis wih an 88mm adron of 6th Guards Tank Brigade was ambushed by thre session, The other squacrons brought the three Jagdpanthers under fr, and tw ck damage, including the one soon here. (The Tank Museum) 47 In duly, a US Army sorg expedient to help break trough the Nedgorows. A “salad for Qieders was welded together and attached 10 tho ‘When a tank charges the hedgerow with this de ‘and punch through them rather tan the tank erashing over the to ing ts thin belly armor to German antvtark guns. These w ‘or “Rhinos”. When fis altachod in lato Ju ‘secret and go were covered with canvas. (Th nttank gun. Only a single battalion ofthe Jadpanthors of s.P2-Jg. AbtOperation Totalize 2 Canadian Otter Mi to the 2nd Canadian Divisio ‘One of the units that would play kay role in the inal iv ‘oth Mechanized Brigade which had been e Sherman Ve Fireties and Sherman Vs of the 2nd Armoured Regt. conduct exer ‘of the Normandy campaign, especialy the large alied star on the engineAA Crusador AA tank of the Polch st Armoured Fiegimont moves up near Cormalies near the Orne Rivar on 25 uly. This conversion placed two 20mm ‘sannon an the obsolete Crusade tank chassis. In the absence of German arora, the tanks were used against ‘ground targets, (Skorsk! Institut) ‘The commander of the Polizh tst Armoured Div. was Gen. Stanislaw Maczek, seen here in the right side ot the turfet speaking on tho intercom. Maczek had extencive mechanized experiance, having commandod a motorized infanty unt Inthe 1920 Russo-Polish War, and. the 10th Mechanized Brigade in Poland in 1939 and France in 1940. This is nis Cromwet command tank, which was later named Hela. Note the horeashoe on the fender, a raminder of the horse cavalry origins of the unit, (Janusz Magnusk) Another view of Polish Crusader ‘AA tank in the staging areas south of (Caen. This view clearly shows the new turret fited to this variant. The vehicle commander is using the articulated ‘Sight that vas linked in elevation with ‘he guns. (Pisudst Insitute)amngfitae «2 clear incication of why the Bish and Canacian tank units hag such a hard time inthe fighting near Can, The tartan ie vary Rat, and the German, with ‘heiriong ranged 75mm and 88mm guns, had car Felds offre against advancing Alied armor. (Sikarsk Institute) ‘The Polish Sherman Vs begin moving south on & Auguet were employed in Operation Totalize due to the heavy losses endured by the three Brtish dlvsions in the previous month a ightng for Caen, (Sikorekt Institute) ‘The Polish 1st Armoured Division used some of the Jess common types of specialized equipment in ‘Normandy, ike this Valentine bridgelayer seen behind 2 Sherman V of 10h Armoured Brigade headquarter woop. The Poles used the European automobile oval insignia for national idenifeation; next fits white 50 ‘on @ red souara which indicates the 10%n Armoured Brigade HO. Sikorsk isttute)1 Army bogan a major br “Fury’, a M4 of the 2nd Armored Division, moves forward during the Normandy ott fa is gives a good view of the applique armor added to e S s curing the {Covered the ammunition cae. ( ere . 3m Teinforce their thin armorA Px Kotw. 1V of 8/P2.Rot. 130, Panzor Leht Div. knocked out by the ‘2nd. Armored Division during’ the fighting near Roncey during Operation ‘Cobea, The Panzer Leh Division was reduced to less than 30 tanks by the ‘mont of bocage fighting and the heavy bombardment that preceded Cobra (US army) Two Gis inspect a decapitated Panther Aust. A. This level of damago could only have been accompiished by {catastrophic intemal ammunition explosion, usualy caused by 2 penetration of the hull armor by tank fio. (US Army) Gis examine knocked out German ‘armor on 28 July during Operation Cobra_on the road to Periers. ‘The nearest vehicle is a SdKf2. 25177 engineer vehicle with a small gaping biage mounted an the superstructure. In the background ie @ anocked out Panther Aust A. Both vehicles were probably trom Panzar Lely Division. (Us Amy)‘This photo taken on 26 July gives a good impression of the bocage country, wih dense hecgerows on either side of this road. The vehicie is an M31 armored recovery vehicle, tho only significant version of the obsolete M3 medium tank to be employed by the US Army in Nomangy. (US Aa) US troops inspoct a destroyed StuG IV on 29 July during the breakout. This assault gun was based on the Pz Ko. IV chassis instead of the more common StuG I on the Pz KpfW. I chassis, The troops ate probably looking for Dodby-tape, which was @ common German ploy wien abandoning equipment. (US Army) Be, & SO ugh a small woods on 28 July during ‘the breakout. In the foreground isthe grave of a German atlleryman fom SSS-Art. Rt. 17 kled in the earierfigtin, Artillery was the one combat arm where the US had unquestioned technical and numerical syperonty over the Germans. (US Army)An antitank team equipped wit the MI 57mm antitank gun takes up position in a Broton vilage ash Sherman tanks pass by. The 57m (gun was an Amotican copy ofthe 6 pe fant-tank gun; although stil effective against ight vehicles, Normandy it wa by formiibie Panthor. Tho crow ofthe gun wear the rare US camouflage fatigues. Those lisappoared ater the summer of 1944 a8 US troops tended o mistake anyone ‘wearing them with Germans. (US army) Armored Divs, during Operation Coby Hore ie @ view of a pair of 78 om Pauaeger 38() Aust. M (Sd.Ktz. probably knocked out Amy) 7 fited witha quadeupie 20mm an-alreatt gun, one of the most effective German air defense weapons in Normandy and the bare: of Allied fighter bombers, The MAT hal:zack is towing a 37mm antitank gun, a weapon wholly inadequate by 1944, (US Army)[A.M medium tank of 4th Armored Dw. makes i's way through Coutances fon 20 July 1944, Tho ety was takon by Ith Armored Dv. an the evering of 28 uly and to the ltt s a MEAT light tank Bhat was disabled during this operation by @ mine which blew off its right tack. EEnoinoors nave subsequently taped ot fre wreckages and placed a sign seaming of oer units. (US Army) AA MAT light tank makes its way through the ined streets of Coutances ‘9n 20 July. Several ofthe bataions of this vision festooned thei tanks wth foliage camouflage before the breakthrough as is Very evident on this light tank. By Normandy the MA Fght tank was hopelessly armed, and its 37mm gun was effective only against lighty armored German vehicles. The Detter armed MZ4 light tank didnot ‘appear until December 1944. (US Army) ‘A. M4 medium tank of 8th Tank Battalon, 4th Armored Div. passes Brough Coutances on 31 July. This particular battalion hoaviy camourtaged Jor tanks, not only with foliage, but jth mud camouilage barely evident lnder the branches. This division, first heavily committed during Operation ‘Cobra, would prove to be one of the ost US armored divisions in Europe, Jeacing Patton's Third Army's relit of Bastogne lator in tho year. (US Army)35.0n 31 July. The Ath ‘Armored Division fst entered te ely the previous evening, marking a 68 em raoe in only three days. Tho fighting in late July bagged the last maior concentvation of German troops opposing Cobra, with the remainder in headlong retreat (US Army) The crew of a Mé medium tank wateh as some members ofthe local French maquis resistance take a local collaborator into custody. Fraterizaton with Gorman troops was usually punished with @ snaved) had, but more serious offengae often led to rough and ready juste by the rmaquis. (US Army) [A MA medium tank of 6h Armored Division passes through Avianches on 31 July. Bot ath and 6th Armored Division had swept south along the coast, meeting at Avranches, before proceeding wast towards the key Seaport of Brest. On the engine deck of this tank Is a fluorescent ldentiication panel, a standard lied alr denttication ‘symbol used to prevent attacks by Allie eioratt (US Army) ‘A M4A1 medium tank pushes forward across the open farm country of Britany in early August 1944, the fold limered with abandoned "German equipment including this German SSd.Kfz. 11 34on half rack tothe ght of the 10. Duo to tho avalabilty of amo halFtracks, ifaniry tank riding was not fs commonly used a tactic in the US ‘Army as in the German or Soviet ‘armies during the war. (US Army)‘A.M10 3.inoh tank destroyer passes through the town of Perey on 1 August 1944. At his stage of Operation Cobra, the ‘collanee of German resistance led the US Army fo move in Wo rections, to the west to seize Brest and the Breton peninsula, and fo the east, as part of an exploitation atfon towards Pars ‘and the Sono tiver to cut off remaining German forces in Normandy. (US Army) US infantry marches past an abandoned Gorman Schutzenpanzerwagen U 304 (1) which was a local improvisation based on Fronch Uni P 107 hal-racks. This hal track has lost its front let wheel to amine, and the cater i til evident bolow the track assembly. (US Army) ‘A MAA1(76) W madum tank of the 67th Ama, Regt, 2nd Ard, Di. centers St. Sever Calvados on 3 August 1944. The US Army began recelving its first 76mm-armed MéAL tanks in June, immediately before the invasion ‘out thre was Ite inital entrusiasm for them due to their poor nigh- explasive projectile and the logistical complications of operating 75mm and “76mm gun armed tanks together. ter meeting the Panther, the attiude US infantry advance through the ruins of Pont de Farey on 3 August quicky changed and unis clamored to get more of these tanks as coon as 5544. The abandoned PzKplv. IV Is boleved fo have boen from the possible. They were not very effective against the Panther except when [Panzer Div. and was apparently abandoned after sing ts Aght track in fring "Souped-up HVAP", a new type of high Velocity project that was In Be rubble, (US Army) short supply uni 1945, (US Army)(On the evening of 6-7 August, the German XLVII Panzor Korps launched Operation Luttch, an amitious countoroensive near Morain in an effort to cut ofthe advancing US Army spearheads by pushing fom Moria to the Atlantic near Avianches. The fatfensive tailed to ovoroome sti resistance from the US oth Infanty Division and was stymied by Aled air attack. This photo was taken before the German attack when US infantry from the 30th Division initially captured Monin, The Mi moium tank nere was knacked out in the fighting and is completely burned out, Although the ‘Sherman had a bad reputation for is tendency burn, ammuntion fres were ‘the main cuir, not ts gasoline engine 2 i660 often presumed, (US Army) US infantly examine an abandoned 4.7em Pak (0 aut P2.Kotw. Renault 35.8 (). This tiny tank Gestroyer consisted of a Czechoslovak 447mm antriank gun mounted on a tunetlos French Renault 25.R infantry tank. About 110 of these were in service during tho Nomandy fiftin, and they wero sill capable of disabling ‘2 M4 medium tank from ambush. (US Army) The crow of a MB_75mm HMAC named “Laxative” of the 3x0 Armored Div. propare thar vehicle for combat on 9 August 1944 during the fighting with the 2P2.Dwv and 1.8S-PzDv around Morin. Notice that the vehicle i ited with @ Culin hedgerow cutter on the bow. The MB was an assault gun version of the MSA1 light tank, substiuing an oper-topped turret with 75mm howitzer forthe Usual 37mm gun turret. They were deployed in armored infantry battalions for fre support in place ofthe older '30 75mm HMC after 1943.(US Amy)The 99rd Armd Regt, Srd Anis Div. advanced from Reville towards Juvigny on 7 August 1944. The traling 1d is ‘sill fitod wah its doop wading trunk, aver six weeks after tho division landed in France, Elemants of the ard “Armored were committed to containing the German Martan counteroflensive land fought with elements of the 2.P2.Div and 1.88-P2 Div. in the area ‘rough much of mid-August. (US Army) ‘Although the US Army dive towards the Seino in mid-August was not as vigorously opposed as the June- uly bocage fighting, the Germans cid not retreat without a ght. Here, a pair ‘of M4 medium tanks, probably from 4th ‘Aum’d Dw, have been knocked out roar Bayon. n the foraground, a tanker ‘amails a medic wile one of his fellow crewmen les alongsise the tank, ‘wounded. {US Army) A MAAI (76) W of the 2nd ‘Aumored Div, moves alongside hedgerow near Champ:de-Bouet on 10 August 1944, There wete abou! 300 of ‘he 7émm Shermans available arounc the time of the Normandy invasion, but they did not become a commen type until the late summer 1048. The 76mm fank gun was not as effective as the British 17 pd, but was chosen due to the availablity of 7émm ammunition, ‘which was alreacy in use on the Mi0 fank destroyer, 3 inch antitank gun, M18 Hellcat tank destoyer and naval ‘guns. (US Army)Mal. Gen, L. Silvester, the commander of the US Army 7th ‘Armored Division, reesives a warm reception in font of the ‘mayor's ofice in Chartres atte the city was liberated in August 1544, He is dkiving in one of the headquarter company's MB armored cars. (US Acmy) During tre exploitation phase that followed Operation Cobra, the US Army bogan commiting fresh. armor into the battle. Here, tanks of the 31st Tank Bn, 7th Ard Div. move forwards nears Chartres on 16 August. The MAA1 medium on the lot, named “Batti’ Bitch” is filed withthe Cuin nedgarow Cutters The tank on the right is @ Mg TOSmM howizer tank, a relatively nw type tat appeared two waeks after the Normandy lancing. This was used in headquarters companies ofthe tac ‘altalons to provide adstional artilery fio support for armored ‘operations. (US Army} 1k Destroyer Bn. supporting the US 73th Infantry Dv, dastioying all of the unis Se.Klz. 250 “Nou” hallracks. Those SdKiz, 250 hallracks were a smallor counterpart to the Sd KIz.251 Woop carters, and were used mainy in scouting and uly roles. The 2 Panzer Dwisioninsign@a, a Widen, is evident on the hull rear. (US Army) 60AMSAI halttrack personnel carrer named “Daring from © Company, 41st Inlantry passes through Catigny, France on 31 August. Cantgny wos a familer name to many US Amy atficer, whe had fought therein 1918 curing World War Thi ie an older M3 harack fited wrth the original pattern headlights that has boen brought up to M3A1 standards with tho adation of the machine gun ing mount, extemal mine racks, ‘and other improvements. (US Army) Tn sharp contrast to the restrictive torrain of the bocage country in Normandy, Operation Cobra brought the US Army aut into the rolling farmland of northwest France, as is 50 evident in tis view from 20 August 1944, Closest in view is a pair of M7 105mm HMCs towing ammunition trailers. Inthe Gckgiound a MEA light lank company. probably assigned to provide sacurly whie te fied artillery battalion propares fora fre mission. (US Army) 6)‘The Nomandy campaign saw the comt debut of the MB armored car, seen here du ‘an engagement with Co. A, 231d infant, ‘Rem. OW. near Epimay on 27 August. The ‘armored car was used in recon and HO ui ‘along with ts unarmed utlty vaviant, the armored car, an exampie of which can be soe furtier daw the column, The Ma was armed ‘8 37mm gun wich proved adequate, since IMé was not designed to fght enemy tanks, (US ‘Aamy) During the course of the US Army tive in northwest France, US and Frenoh forees in the Mediterranean staged Operation Dragoon, an ‘amphioious landing on the eoast of the Riviera in southern France on 15 August 1944, Hore, a pair (of M4A1 Duplex Diva tanks sit along the coast fas an LST arivos to diagorge its cargo. The landings in southom France went lke clockwork, with lite oppesiion irom tie Germans who had their attention concentrated elsewhere, (US ‘A728 combination gun motor carriage ofthe 443¢d AAA Bn. quards St. Rapheal airbase in southem Francs on 17 August ater th landings, Tho T28 was an expedient an‘é-airoaftvebiele tushad into service for tha North Arcan landings in 1942. A small numbor remained in sorvoe inthe Mediterancan theatre, but in norhwestem France, had been repaced by the improved M15 and M1SA1 CGMCs. (US Army) 62|A-MI10 tank destroyer crow awalts further orders after having landed in southern Franoe on 15. August. The southom landings forced the German Weremacht to witharaw much of is forces from Central France for fear of having them cut off by the converging Allied speamieads. (US Aimy) sii The standard US Army sel propelled howitzer in 1944 was the M7 Yoomm HMC, seen here on a fre mission on 20 August. Iwas based on the M4 medium tank chassis, a more ‘edequate chassis than te ight MS hal track used by the older T19 HMC. (US Anny) AT19 105mm HMC fires in support ‘of advancing Aled forces in soutnem France in Auguet 1944. The T19, a sol propelled mount consisting of a M3 hal: frack and 105mm howitzer, was ‘obsolete by this stage and had been faplaced in most units by the M7 405mm HMC. However, i stil ingored in service in he Mediterranean theatre, ‘where most of the unite deployed in southern France orginally served. (US Army) ae eee ern eoigaign at ad aBattle for the Falaise Gap (On 6 August. the town of le Plessis Grimoutt, tothe east of Mt, Pincon, was taken in a day-long hand-to-hand battle by the Brilsh 190th Brigade. Among the debris in the cty was this King Tiger of 6 P2.Abt, 503, The tank has ‘obviously suffered from an intemal explosion which na knocked of its turet tis unclear how this tank was. knocked out; some sources indicate it was hit by roeket fre ftom a Typhoon ‘The King Tiger was the heavieel tank to s00 ‘combat in Normandy, but it was new and ‘suffered ftom serius technical shortcomings. ‘Only me companies of this new tank were ‘committed tothe fighting, and all were lost by the ‘ond of August Tho stinging losses of infanty in the July fighting led the Brlish to develop more salislactory means to transport the forward wavas of infantry During the attack towards Falaise boginning on 8 Augusi, Operation Toalize, the frst use was made of improvised armored troop carers, variously dubbed “holy ralers” of “dettocked pricets”, The nemos of course stemmed fom the use of M7 Priest setpropelied houtzers for the Conversion. By this ime, the Royal Artilery was standardizing on the Sexton 25 par, 80 the Lend-Lease M7 Priests were converted to this role by removing the howitzer and adding bench seats. A similar conversion was ‘made lator using surplus Canacian Ram tanks, resulting in tho Ram Kangaroos. (The Tank Museum) 64 of Operation Totalize on 6-9 August 1944. The Sexton was the Brtish jquivalent ofthe US Army's M7 105mm HMC, but used the standard Bet 25 pd. instead. This is a vehicle ofthe Ist Polish Armoured Onision namec awice™ after the famous 18th Century bate where Tadeusz Kosciuszko fed a poasant army to dofeat the Tsarist Russian forces. (Sikorsi Inettute)AA Sherman V of the 1st Polish Armoured Division moves forward towards Falaise during Operation Tolaze. The Polish tst Armoured Div land the Canadian ath Armoured Diy. were the spearheads of the British tive, due fo the heavy losses thatthe three Bish armoured divisions nad suffered during the fighting around Caen in July. Notice thatthe Alled star insignia has been painted over on this tank, as such Insignia made attractive aiming poinis for Gorman antitank gunnors. (Skorski Instuto) Polish tankers trom the 24th Lancers herrogate German prisoners captured during the Falaise fighting. The Polish tst Armoured Division managed to penetrate the furthest into the Falsise Gap, but the intensity of the German counter-atlacks to keep the route of retreat open broke the Polish force into several Isolated pockets. (Skorski Insiut) The Polich ‘st Armoured Division evantualy secured a position on Mount Orme, ern of Chambois, where they made a defensive. stand ‘agains the mass of retreating German forces. The casuals in the division wore extromaly heavy as tis photo attests, (Plsudski Insitute) ‘The Polish tt Armoured Division put some German equipment back Into service lke this Vokswagen Kubelwagen seen here near a Crusader ‘AK tank. The large number of Polish solders conscripted into the German ‘army who were captured in Normandy by the Alles algo gave the Poles a Source of personnel to rebuild the 1st Armoured Division after the heavy losses suffered in the Falaise Gap battes. (The Tank Museum) 65An abandoned Sd.Klz, 234/9 ¢ Panzerspahwagen (Sem) of the 116.Panzer Div. is inspactes by Beish troops. This Was a howitzer-armed version of the Pura armored cat, and a platoon of sk of those wore fttzened fo the heavy armored car companias of the panzer divisions for addtional fire suppor. (The Tank Museum) ‘The Falalee Gap was filed with abandoned or dest ‘equipment that had tobe let behind by the retreating Ge forces. Ths isa 15 cm Panzerwerler 42 aul SF (SdiKlz. 4/1) 105mm multiple rockst launcher based on an armored vers ff the Ope! Mauler halrack truck. (US National Arch Federal Records Center-Sultiand) 'AUS ordnance officer inspects a Panthor Aust A ying abandoned in a shatored French town in August 1944, The Gorman army let over 400 Panthor tanks curing the Normandy fighting, most of them the standard Aust. A version aa seen here, (US Army) 66‘The Bergepanther was an armored recovery version ofthe Panther tak, ited with 1 large winch in place of the turret. This abandoned Bergepanter captured by Bhtish forces. 6 lacking the usual spade fied at the rear, and was. apparentiy being Used in an improvised rale as an ammunition tattier, hence the waming on the side ot “Dangor-H.E.”. (Tho Tank Museum) A number ot rolatvely intact, German Panthor tanks. were recovered by the Allied foroas for further technical examination This Panther is boing diven away by a M25 Dragon Wagon, tho standard US Army tank transporter These were often used by Ordnance units in Francs to test out their ‘winerabiity. to new types of tank ‘ammunition. (US Army) The US Army Ordnance set Up & collection point for German armored vehicles for further technical inspection, this one boing located south of Trevietes. To the left is a turveliess French Renault 35.8, which trom tho fitings was formerly used as. 4.7om Pak () panzorasger. Beside it is 8 7.5m Pak 40. panzeriaeger on the Chenilete Lorraine chassis, and to the right are three Panthers. (US Army)a Troogs ofthe French 2nd Azmared Division recover a Panther Aust, A tank that had come f gen a smal town near the Seine river in August 1944 The 2nd Armored Division landed in France in early August and was committed to the fighting in the mda ofthe month at the time ofthe bates around the Falaise Gap. (The Tank Museum) With the German army in ull raveat, Gon. Philipe LeClere won roval trom General Eisenhower to aispaton the 2nd French Armored Division to Roerate Paris. Here, on 25 August 1944, a tank column of MAA2 medium tanks fights ts way info Anthony, 8 suburb of Paris about § miles tothe wost. (The Tank Museum) 69 — Pax me ‘A column of Morris Mark Il ight reconnaissance cars, led by @ car named "Grumpy" enters Pont-Royal near tne Seine river on 24 August This particular vahicie was apparently being used by PAF forward observers supporting the 2nd Tactical Air Faroe, Light recoe cars lke the Mortis were armed only with a single machine gun for self-defense since ther role was. ‘outing. (The Tanke Museum)‘AUS oolumn fighis through Fountain infantry is being supported by a pair of Mi ‘AMAA Shorman supports acolurn of hat tracks from the Regt. de Marche de Tchad near the Lion of Betfor monument, commemorating the 1870-71 Franco-Prussian wat. German resistance in Paris was weakened by the wholesale retreat of many Wehrmacht support units. (US Army) ‘The French 2nd Armored Division brokal tough to rlev the restane foes wel @Atrique, named Fra enthusiastically received by the elizons of Pari (Us army)Crowds gather inthe plaza in font ‘of Notre Dame cathedral on Isto do la (Cte in tne center of Paris on 26 August to celebrate the liberation. Aside from the M4A2s ofthe 2nd Armored Division, also present is a Char BI bis tank Ceptured by tho FFI (French Foroee of ‘he Interior) rasstanes group. This tank had been in German service as is ‘evident trom the tool tings, Asie from the FF markings, the tank is also bedecked with Gen. Charles DeGaule's (Cross of Loraine insignia. (US Army) (One of the last hold-outs on the Broton coast Was the seaport of Gest whore much of the German Atlantic Meet was stationed. US forces bosciged the port through much of September, inolusing this M8 Hellcat 76mm tank destroyer. (US Army) ‘This M4A1 Duplex Drive has ctiven a long way ‘since the landings t Normandy almost two months before, This is @ very lato production M4AI win the 75mm’ gun, but featuring the revised hull with wet ‘stowage. The Duplex Drive equipment has been almost ‘completly removed, except for he power tains for tho propelor at the rea. The tank has been draped with Chicken wire to atlach foliage for camouflage. (USS. Intrepid Museum)(On encountering tough German resistance from concrete defences around tho port, tho US Army requested the assistance of tank: ‘mounted flamethrowers from the British etn Armoured Divison, since the US ‘armored divsion had no such weapons In France. Hore, a pair of Churchill Grovodiee move towards Brest (The Tank Museum) A MiB Hellcat tank destroys {guards a road intersection in Framboi ‘on 22 September during tho sloge o tho Brest soa port. Brest was sought by the Alles due to ts excellent por facies, bu the Germans managed t sabotage much of the harbor delor ‘sutendering. (US Army) ‘The Churchill Crocodiles wore tomporariy attached to a 4th Armoreg Dhision group trying to reduce Germas Pockets of resistance in Brost. The CCrocosile mounted a flamethrowor i the olacis pate in place of the usual ‘machine gun, ard an armored tral i the tear provided the fuel ang pressurized sir. (The Tank Museum)D-DAY TANK WARFARE ARMORED COMBAT IN THE NORMANDY CAMPAIGN JUNE-AUGUST 1944 AG ab FI A