Tank destroyer forces book

A history of american mechanized cavalry in world war ii, gives us an informative broad history of the tank destroyer force, and a representative look into the world of the men who fought in the td battalions. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. We dedicate the site to the men that served in the u. Initially activated as an assault gun battalion and redesignated in april 1943, the 653 received its first ferdinand heavy tank destroyers later modified and renamed elephants in may 1943 and went into action on the eastern. Oct 01, 2004 the tank killers is the story of the american tank destroyer force in north africa, italy, and the european theater during world war ii.

Personal narratives these were written by former veterans of the 602nd, during the 1980s, in response to questions they recieved from the author doing research for an upcoming book on u. The tank killers, a history of americas world war ii tank destroyer. Whether your interest is armour or history i would highly recommend this book military modelling. Tank destroyer forces hardcover october 1, 1990 by lonnie gill author. Conceived in 1943, the m36 first served in combat in europe in october. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. The unit was organized in one of two different formsa towed battalion equipped with antitank guns, or a mechanized battalion equipped with armored selfpropelled guns. Fm 1817 tank destroyer crew drill, 3inch towed gun m5 on carriage m6 fm 1818. Crew drill, m36 gun motor carriage field manual covering crew training for the m36 tank destroyer armed with the 90mm m3 gun. The tdf was formed in the early days of the north africa campaign when allied forces faced the vaunted german panzers. It is a story of american flexibility and pragmatism in military affairs. Assault guns are designed to provide direct fire support for infantry attacks, especially against other infantry or fortified positions.

The tank killers is the story of the american tank destroyer force in north africa, italy, and the european theater during world war ii. Personal narrative this was written by a former veteran of the 656th, during the 1980s, in response to questions he received from the author doing research for an upcoming book on u. The item youve selected was not added to your cart. The book covers the development and technology throughout the war that led to tank destroyers like the panzerjger i. Army intelligence and security command, fort belvoir, virginia, earned b. Pdf tank destroyer download full pdf book download. The 37 mm gun motor carriage m6, also known as m6 fargo, and under the manufacturer dodges designation wc55, was a modified dodge wc52 light truck mounting a light anti tank gun. The personal perspective given through the letters truly provides a soldiers view of the war. This force would be armed with specialized weapons. What you may not know and the title does not have a typo is that m18s remained in service with a. This book belonged to my father who was with the 807 th company aeoeaae tank destroyer unit. A history of americas world war ii tank destroyer force is an exciting history of the american tank destroyer force td in north africa, italy, and the european theater during world war ii, and the men who served in those battalions. Tank destroyers were among the very first units to land in north africa in 1942. Basic military map symbols united states army center of.

M36m36b1 tank destroyer paperback pen and sword books. To promote a force of forgotten men who were the backbone of tank warfare during wwii. At the same time, the td would wield the firepower needed to kill any german tank on the battlefield. The tank destroyer was a boldthough some would say flawedanswer to the challenge posed by the seemingly unstoppable german blitzkrieg. I would recommend the book to anyone interested in the 601st td bn, tank destroyer units or wwii in general. The tank destroyer td force was a stopgap measure created in haste by the. Other areas of interest and scholarship are civil war logistics and the vicksburg campaign. The m36 combined the hull of the m10 tank destroyer, which used the m4 shermans reliable chassis and drivetrain combined with sloped armor, and a massive new turret mounting the 90 mm gun m3. Published in an oversized 9 x 12 format and at 304 pages, it was the first book i purchased on the subject and it set the stage for everything else i would read. Mobility, shock, and firepower the emergence of t he u. What went wrong with us army tank destroyer doctrine in. Iveco fiat was tasked with developing the hull and propulsion systems while oto melara was responsible for developing the.

This book examines the development of this vehicle, the controversies over the need for highspeed tank destroyers, and its actual. The tank destroyer battalion was a type of military unit used by the united states army during. It was designed to have a 25mm anti tank gun or a 47mm apx anti tank gun. The tank destroyer td was a boldif some would say flawedanswer to the challenge posed by the seemingly unstoppable german blitzkrieg. A history of americas world war ii tank destroyer force 9781932033809.

Armys tank destroyers werent the failure history has made them out to be wib history wib land august 28, 2016 war is boring 0 an m10 tank destroyer in action near st. What you probably know is that the m18 was a capable tank destroyer during ww2. An assault gun is a form of selfpropelled artillery which uses an infantry support gun mounted on a motorized chassis, normally an armored fighting vehicle. The tank destroyer force was the armys response to the wild successes of german armor in poland and france in 1939 and 1940. Entries are listed below in alphanumeric order 1toz. Cameron mobility, shock, and firepower t he e mergence of t he u. Somebody that wasnt there, he would think that youre making that story up.

World war ii oral history, books about world war ii, world. This is certainly the definitive book on the tank destroyers and the men that served in them. The sixth panzer army had begun the ardennes counteroffensive with two distinct missions in hand. The battle between the salm and the ourthe 24 december2 january. This book is about the technical development of tank destroyers by the us in the period of 194045, and covers the subject comprehensively. The tank destroyer battalion was a type of unit used by the united states army during world war ii.

The tank destroyer on the other hand is specifically designed. Lo in june 1944 lightlyarmored and heavilyarmed, tank destroyers proved effective against panzers by sebastien roblin during the 1940s, the. Much later in the war, we did convert the m10 to an m36, by adding the 90mm gun, but this was along towards the end of. There are a total of 42 ww2 tank destroyers 19391945 in the military factory. Here is an interesting title that author steven zaloga has brought to life the m18 hellcat. The book also describes in great detail the birthing pains that the tankdestroyer regiments experienced, which ranged from not understanding exactly how they were to be used and lead to them being employed as armoured cavalry, artillery, or as traditional tank forces. The combat history of german heavy antitank unit 653 in. The m10 tank destroyer was a world war ii united states tank destroyer which was based on the chassis of the m4 sherman tank, it was fitted with the 3inch 76. Chock full of period photographs, techniques and anecdotes of the soldiers tasked with hunting and destroying enemy armor in ww2. A history of americas world war ii tank destroyer force ebook written by harry yeide. Flag images indicative of country of origin and not necessarily primary operator. It is our hope that this project may bring together the families of these men to celebrate.

This was designed by general motors and had a lower profile than the m10 gmc, which was based on the sherman tank. The type 16 maneuver combat vehicle mcv equips designated combat units. At the same time, the td would wield the firepower needed to kill any german tank on the. Tank destroyer forces of wwii by lonnie gill, turner.

A very detailed book, i really enjoyed the short biographys in the back of the book of the men who served. It was the only tank destroyer deployed during world war ii actually based on their requirements for speed and firepower. The type 16 maneuver combat vehicle 16, hitorokushiki kidousentousha is a wheeled tank destroyer of the japan ground selfdefense force. Apr 10, 2020 this book is about the technical development of tank destroyers by the us in the period of 194045, and covers the subject comprehensively.

Tank destroyer forces by lonnie gill, 1992, turner pub. Buy tank destroyer forces of wwii by lonnie gill, turner publishing compiled by online at alibris. It was used by the united states army for infantry support and as a mobile anti tank gun. The m18 76mm gun motor carriage was developed for the us armys tank destroyer command. Approximately 41 fts, two russkiy renos, and three ft tsf survive in various museums around the world. The tank destroyer concept envisioned the battalions acting as independent units that would. A history of the tank destroyer force is long overdue, and anyone who has an interest in armored warfare should make time to read this book. A tank destroyer, tank hunter, or tank killer is a type of armoured fighting vehicle, armed with a directfire artillery gun or missile launcher, with limited operational capacities and designed specifically to engage enemy tanks. A history of americas world war ii tank destroyer force 9781932033809 by yeide, harry and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. A history of americas world war ii tank destroyer force by harry yeide. In his new book, veteran military writer harry yeide, also the author of steeds of steel. Tank destroyer battalion united states news newspapers books scholar jstor january 20 learn how and when to. By november 1941, the army requested a vehicle with a gun in a fully rotating turret after other interim models were criticized for being too poorly designed. Note the small boy with the symbol of the french resistance on his shirt.

Ccr, 9th armored division, the armored reserve of the viii corps, had been stationed at trois vierges on december in position to support the corps left and center. Welchs story and gives a clear picture of the 601st tank destroyer battalion, the army and its inner workings. The tank destroyer units were formed in response to the german use of massed formations of armored vehicles units early in wwii. A plan to convert frances obsolete fts into tank destroyers. Due to its light weight and small size, it is designed for easy deployment by aircraft if. The tank killers is the story of the american tank destroyer force in. It operated from late 1942 to january 1945 in the mediterranean, european, and pacific theaters of world war ii.

Ccr, 9th armored division, and the road to bastogne. When germanys panther and tiger tanks came into play later in the war, they were too heavily armored, and their guns too powerful for our m10 tank destroyer, which used the 3 76mm gun. This book is the story of the american tank destroyer force in north africa, italy and the european theatre during world war ii where it was thought to be an answer to the challenge posed by the seemingly unstoppable german blitzkrieg. Panzer divisions would concentrate more than a hundred tanks on a. After us entry into world war ii and the formation of the tank destroyer force, a suitable vehicle was needed to equip the new battalions. World war 2 saw a dizzying array of tank destroyers deployed, some allnew designs while others were built from existing vehicles. Handbook on german military forces march 1945 technical manual covering the german militarys organization, tactics, and equipment.

Some were little more than stopgap solutions, mounting an anti tank gun on a tracked vehicle to give mobility, while others were more sophisticated designs. The td was conceived to be light and fast enough to outmaneuver panzer forces and go where tanks could not. Tanks are armoured fighting vehicles designed for frontline combat, combining operational mobility and tactical offensive and defensive capabilities. Armys wwii tank destroyer in late 1941 the concept of a separate tank destroyer force began to jell. This is a limited edition tank destroyer forces history book published in 1992 by turner publishing. While the armys primary antitank weapons of the late 1930s were 37mm towed anti tank guns, these were soon. The prototype of the m10 was conceived in early 1942, being delivered in april of that year. A telephone message from gilbreth to the viii corps command post, at 1405, shows the dilemma in all tactical decisions made during these hours when a few troops, tanks, and tank destroyers represented the only forces available to back up the splintering american line. Gilbert, a command historian now retired from the u. The reason they dont talk is they couldnt get the picture over to somebody that wasnt there. A tank destroyer, tank hunter, or tank killer is a type of armoured fighting vehicle, armed with a directfire artillery gun or missile launcher, with limited operational capacities and designed specifically to engage enemy tanks tanks are armoured fighting vehicles designed for frontline combat, combining operational mobility and tactical offensive and defensive capabilities. The m36 tank destroyer, formally 90 mm gun motor carriage, m36, was an american tank destroyer used during world war ii.

The t67 gun motor carriage was the third step in a series of designs that led to the m18 76mm gun motor carriage hellcat and was armed with the same 75mm gun as early sherman tanks the first in the series was the t42 37mm gun motor carriage. Organization and tactics of tank destroyer units fm 1815. The m10 tank destroyer was an american tank destroyer of world war ii. Battalion, cavalry squadron, or air force squadron. Chock full of period photographs, techniques and anecdotes of the soldiers tasked with hunting and. Le republicain newspaper the front page of a french newspaper shows a cartoon of a tank destroyer and men of the 8th tank destroyer battalion providing a peacefull christmas always for the people of france. Every td unit is listed along with its actions during the war.

While us antitank doctrine changed, rendering all the tank destroyers obsolete postwwii, many of these vehicles were supplied to other nations. Jul 31, 2010 tank destroyer forces by lonnie gill, 1992, turner pub. Formally called the 3inch gun motor carriage, m10, it was the most important u. Hunnicutt series, this book is heavy with us army official photos of the test vehicles some are not clear, but thats the nature of what the army did, photographically, in documenting armored development. Tank killersa history of americas world war ii tank. Army tank destroyer doctrine in world war ii from the leavenworth papers and the tank killers. All the materials we receive are digitized and available to read online or download. They separated the german combined arms formations and destroyed the pieces, halting the offensive. A history of americas world war ii tank destroyer force. The centauro is a family of italian military vehicles originating from a wheeled tank destroyer for light to medium territorial defense and tactical reconnaissance.