user1000 Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 Found an article about m-36s armored tops being used as a field modification This is from the US 628th Tank destroyer history Enemy artillery employment in the Hurtgen-Bergstein area was the heaviest encountered. The artillery fire was such as to confine tank crews to their tanks for hours at a time and air bursts and shrapnel caused many casualties to the men in the open M-36 turrets. One Co. "C" M-36 hit a mine in the vicinity of Bergstein, on 6 Dec. 1944 and the crew climbed into another M-36 for protection. Shortly afterwards, however this other M-36 Glider Landing Field, East Of Wessel with both crews aboard received a direct hit in the open turret with a white phosphorous shell. As the result of this experience, plans were immediately started to build an armored turret top for all T. D. vehicle. This modification for all M36 Tank Destroyer vehicles was finally completed in January, 1945, and proved invaluable in combat on a number of subsequent occasions. At one time Company "C' had only one M-36 out of twelve operational either due to being destroyed, knocked out by mines, or lacking crews. However, largely because of the untiring and aggresive efforts of the men in the Company, and the efforts of the Company and Battalion Motor Maintenance crew, recovery and repairs were completed so that seven M-36's were operational the next day. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
user1000 Posted January 1, 2017 Author Share Posted January 1, 2017 Interesting. I wonder if Germans were shooting smoke shells at them to exploit open tops? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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