Pics. of combat destroyed/damaged tanks.

Hi, I am a newbie. Can anyone direct me to any websites that displays pics. of the above. I am also very interested in locating any websites that feature combat storys of the British 17 pdr.gun ( either tank mounted or as a towed weapon ) in action.

I know that it is not within the scope of this website, but I have a firsthand report of the use of tanks versus infantry in Vietnam in the late Sixties/early Seventies if anyone wants to hear about it. At the time I was serving with the British Army of the Rhine but was detached to the Australian Army and then attached to the US Army.
Marlin.

 

It is, and we do!

Please post it in our 'Vietnam' topic in 'Non World War II History', or make a new topic in 'Post WWII Tanks'

And welcome aboard Marlin!

 

The horrors of war on Panzerworld

By the way, the Germans spoke favourably of the 17 pdr. at Arnhem (I presure, they refer to it as a low-profile, powerful anti-tank gun with a long gun).

Christian

 

Other DGS

I suggest you to do a search on DGs such as Tanknet with 17-pdr or 17 pounder.
One example
http://63.99.108.76/forums/index.php?showtopic=9287&hl=17-pdr
HTH

 

As far as I know, the airborne units dropped at Arnhem were unable to take anything heavier than 6pdr guns with Bren carriers in their Hamilcar gliders. On the other hand, I have seen the 17pdr guns on display at the Oosterbeek Airborne Museum. I don't know if these were brought in from the air, and consequently if they were ever used at Arnhem itself (which the units of XXX Corps never reached).

 

The 17-Pdr were airlanded there, and they were towed by ex 2-Pdr Portée trucks (tne OOOOOLD Matchbox 1/76th scale combination).
There was a thread long time ago on Maple Leaf Forum.
HTH.

 

There's a difference between air droppings and air landings. I believe that gliders were used for Market Garden (and I've seen that 17 pdr. as well - quite a few scrapnel holes in it, too).

Christian

 

I did mention in my post that 6pdr guns with Universal carriers were carried in by gliders, however since the 17pdr is considerably larger than the 6pdr I doubted whether even the Hamilcar could carry the load. SOW, do you have any source to back up that claim?

Re: 17pdr at Oosterbeek - yes it does! It seems the double gun shield saved the crew more than once...

 

The Horsa could carry 6,900 lb. and the Hamilcar could carry 17,000 lb. The 17 pdr. weighed 4,624 lb. Thus, it would be theoretically possible to put it on a Horsa (though with little room to spare for crew and ammunition), and definitely possible for the Hamilcar.

Christian

 

The problem is that these guns would have to be moved once on the ground, for which the British used Bren (Universal) carriers, which weighed 5 tons (something like 10,000 lbs?).

 

Considering its weight, it would still be possible to move it around by the crew.

Christian

 

What I wrote in a previous message:

"The 17-Pdr were airlanded there, and they were towed by ex 2-Pdr Portée trucks (tne OOOOOLD Matchbox 1/76th scale kit combination).
There was a thread long time ago on Maple Leaf Forum.
HTH."

 

Righto.

I simply hadn't heard of this before... Thanks!

 

I thought the geramns mastered the TD?

 

The 17pdr AT gun is quite a powerful gun, and using APDS ammunition it was much more impressive than any other Allied AT gun of the period. Of course the Germans had respect for a gun that could destroy even their most heavily armoured tanks at range.

 

Roel wrote:

It was impressive. But no panacea.
There was a shatter gap problem and an accuracy problem related to separation of the sabots from the penetrator. It tended to richochet off well sloped armor.
It was however the best antitank gun the Allies possessed.

 

Shattergap, for the most part, effected American ammunition. Not British.

 

Actually, the most significant shatter gap problem (that had the most effect on combat ) was the uncapped British 2 lbers versus face hardened German armor though it was also a problem(later on) with US 76mm ammo