Lo in june 1944 lightlyarmored and heavilyarmed, tankdestroyers proved effective against panzers by sebastien roblin during the 1940s, the u. Bomber patch ww2 stickers featuring millions of original designs created by independent artists. Today orders were received forming the 776th tank destroyer battalion and the 772 tank battalion into task force spettel for the purpose of occupying and policing the area surrounding lermoos, and fhrwals, and including the villages of biberwier, st. More than a few vets customized their patches with theatermade unit tabs. Army tank destroyer uniform patch, original wwii, very nice us army tank destroyer patch 8 wheel type fully embroidered cut edge no glow. Cafepress grey sloan memorial hospital compass patches patch, 4x2in printed novelty applique patch. 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. Jul 20, 2015 this pin was discovered by audrie sumner.
One year later the national tank destroyer association began phasing out in november of1990. The 614th tank destroyer battalion was a tank destroyer battalion of the united states army active during the second world war. Saufley earned 16 battle stars during world war ii, making her one of the most decorated us ships of world war ii. Vintage wwii patch lot of 5 patches, tank destroyer. Tank destroyer battalion patches flying tigers surplus. The unit was activated in 1942 and trained through the late summer of 1944. The surviving crew members scurried out and retreated into the woods. He again excelled in his duties and progressed rapidly, being promoted to colonel in september of 1954, as commander of the 496th ordnance group. Pop pop served in headquarters company as a truck driver and mechanic for the 609th tank destroyer battalion. The 740 th tank battalion in the battle of the bulge cecil taylor was a tank commander and a member of the 740 th tank battalion, a specialized unit that was assigned to different infantry divisions whenever extra armored support was needed. The division also had the tank and selfpropelled tank destroyer battalions that v corps had attached to it on an almost permanent basis. A tank destroyer force monument located in the armor memorial park, fort knox, ky, was dedicated on october 12, 1989. For example, by the end of january, 1945, the 47 th infantry regiment which fought in france and germany had lost well over 100% of their strength to battle casualties, where men were either killed, wounded, missing, or taken as prisoner of war.
Stug iii widely distributed german selfpropelled gun which was often used in a tank destroyer role as the stuk 40 l48 allowed for. Three companies of the 707th tank battalion, equipped with m4a1 sherman medium tanks, and the 893rd tank destroyer battalion, armed with the m10 tank destroyer, would also support the attack. Us navy uss saufley dd465 1952 living conditions youtube. Entries are listed below in alphanumeric order 1toz. The division landed at utah beach on 24 july 1944 under the command of major general lunsford e. The tank destroyer battalion was a type of unit used by the united states army during world war ii. The casualties suffered by a typical american infantry regiment serving in world war ii were horrendous. When the kansas national guard was reorganized after the war, they called upon capt. This one is the patch used by the 819th tank destroyer battalion, though its uncertain whether it was actually worn by the unit late in world war ii. A company of tank destroyer wacs image from the picture story of camp hood card collection.
Army developed a special weapon to counter the tanks of the german wehrmacht. Near the conclusion of the war the 10th armored saw action with general. 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. The tank destroyer concept envisioned the battalions acting as independent units that would. A very detailed book, i really enjoyed the short biographys in the back of the book of the men who served. Undaunted, the crew in the lead tank destroyer, after surviving several close. The 602nd tank destroyer battalion was originally formed 26 march 1941 as the 2nd infantry division provisional antitank battalion.
Decorate your laptops, water bottles, notebooks and windows. A company of tank destroyers in line image from the picture story of camp hood card collection. Im trying to identify the owner of an ike jacket with a tank destroyer patch on the left shoulder. One variant has the tanks cannon on the left side of the patch, rather than the right. Su100 reliable and heavily armored for a tank destroyer. The new tank destroyer became the 3 gun motor carriage gmc t40 which was to carry the inservice designation of m9. The following section provides individual pages for each unit and provides a short history along with everything we have on the unit, to this point.
Because the 740 th was not permanently attached to a division, it was known as a bastard battalion. Over 150,000 women served in the wac womens army corps and waac womens army auxiliary corps during wwii. Page 1 of 2 101st airborne tank destroyers pocket patch 1970s posted in army and usaaf. The 10th armored division nicknamed tiger division was an armored division of the united states army in world war ii. Herbert martin siercks memorial page this web site is a loving tribute to my grandfather who was a wwii hero. The 100mm l60 gun was one of the best of the war in terms of penetration, barrel life, and design.
It is where i keep a photo of my grandfather one half shows him on a tank destroyer and the half shows the same location years later when he returned to europe years later. Page 1 of 22 tank destroyer ssi and insignia posted in army and usaaf. It is my hope that this site may bring together the families of these men to celebrate their accomplishments during wwii and in life. 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.
When pop pop joined the battalion, he liked the patch that shows a tiger eating a tank. The battalion participated in five major campaigns normandy, northern france, rhineland, ardennesalsace, and central europe, primarily with the 1st infantry division. This vehicle retained all of the form and function of the m3 tank though with a revised, openair, octagonal superstructure added to fit the length and height of the 3 gun. Herbert martin siercks, 894th tank destroyer battalion, wwii veteran european theater united states army. Tanks are armoured fighting vehicles designed for frontline combat, combining operational mobility and tactical offensive and defensive capabilities. Dad trained with 824th tank destroyers, fought as a rifleman replacement at selestat in colmar pocket with 636th tank destroyer batallion. Most of these vehicles had the hull of a sherman tank and.
As military tactics had continued to evolve and fast movement was vital, the use of tanks with infantry support became a cornerstone of ground operations. Right ltc kenneth wallace, 30th infantry regiment, 3rd infantry division on the right, discusses the surrender of berchtesgaden with the mayor and other local officials, in the square in front of the war memorial, 4 may 1945. Arriving on the normandy coast in october, they moved to the metz, france, area, seeing their first action in late november. Genuine us army 819th tank destroyer battalion patch wwii. World war 2 saw a dizzying array of tank destroyers deployed, some allnew designs while others were built from existing vehicles. Ww2 tank destroyer division panther patch gift long sleeve tshirt. Churchill crocodile, covenanter, cromwell tanks, crusader iii, harry hopkins viii, humber armored car, m3 lee, matilda ii, matilda scorpion, tetrarch. Symbolic of the defining event of the 20th century, the memorial is a monument to the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of the american people. This patch will be sold with all the other patches i recently purchased in about 10 patch albums. The item up for bid is an original wwii 661st tank destroyer battalion patch.
The medal commemorates military service during world war ii and is awarded to any member of the united states military, including members of the armed forces of the government of the philippine islands, who served on active duty, or as a reservist, between. 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. There are those that are fully embroidered, embroidered on twill and on wool, and some which feature bullion embroidery. The tank destroyer on the other hand is specifically designed. The battle of the bulge is known by many as this was a famous battle with huge losses on both sides. Tank destroyer vehicles were new types of tanks that made their first appearance on the battlefield in world war ii. The battle of the bulge was an operation, when the germans tried in a last attempt to broke through the. Activity of the 823rd tank destroyer bn during the bulge.
This site is dedicated to the men that served our country in tank destroyers. The 740th tank battalion in the battle of the bulge. The 5th armored victory division was activated on 10 october 1941, and reached the united kingdom in february 1944. The tank destroyer units were formed in response to the german use of massed formations of armored vehicles units early in wwii. American tanks and tank destroyers in ww2 world war photos. Thought i would show some variations of tank destroyer patches for my friend erwin. Elements of the 31st tank battalion serving with the 823rd tank destroyer were released from this assignment to return to their own organization. Tank destroyer units were broken into three groups, brigades, groups and battalions.
I know the 702nd tank destroyer bn was attached to the 2nd armored division for the duration of the war. To start browsing, please select a photo album below. Honor flight network hold at all costs by don smart. The world war ii victory medal is a campaign medal of the united states military which was created by an act of congress in july 1945. An m10 tank destroyer from the 773rd tank destroyer battalion, attached to the 90th infantry division, here in action near bavigne, luxembourg on january 10th 1945 nara danny parker. Links are provided for any other web based information we are aware of. On 15 december 1941, the unit became one of the first four designated as a tank destroyer. Formally called the 3inch gun motor carriage, m10, it was the most important u.
Flag images indicative of country of origin and not necessarily primary operator. Kopcsak, all american football end in 1931 and 1933 and division artillery g3 became the executive officer. However, only a few people know of the the colmar pocket during the allied alsace campaign to free this part of france from the nazis. Then the rear tank destroyer was hit by an 88mm shell that pierced its thin armor and killed the commander and gunner.
Even though he has passed away, his memory will live on forever. The world war ii memorial honors the 16 million who served in the armed forces of the u. A light german counterattack in the early hours of 21 december 1944, was repulsed with the destruction of a mark vi, and a quarterton truck full of soldiery. The battalion was formed in 1944 to support the 3rd army led by general george patton. During the european theater of operations the 10th armored division was part of the twelfth united states army group and was originally assigned to general george s. There are a total of 42 ww2 tank destroyers 19391945 in the military factory. It appears that 601st tank destroyer batallion was attached to the 103d division as part of task force selestat. M9 gun motor carriage 3inch gun motor carriage t40 tank.
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