7th Armoured Division, Tank Casualties, 1945

Discussion in 'RAC & RTR' started by dbf, Apr 6, 2013.

  1. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Regiment: 5 Royal Tank Regiment

    Serial No.: C.58.

    Mark: IV

    W.D. No.: 188384

    Date: 30 March 1945

    Photo No.: -

    Figure Nos.: 26, 29
    7th Armoured Division, Tank Casualties, 1945

    Range: 15 - 20 yards

    Cause of Damage: H.C. penetration

    Fire Damage: None

    Other tanks involved in same incident:

    Circumstances: Night attack, moving slowly down a road. Turret at 12 o'clock.

    Position of Hit: Jagged penetration 75 mm. diameter through tutee M.G. mounting. Deep splash marks on gun barrel.

    Course & Effect of Projectiles: Inside of hole 50 mm. diameter below M.G., considerable distortion of the relatively thin metal plates that overlie the turret armour. No other internal damage.

    Remarks: Tank seen. Infantry on the back of the tank were unhurt.

    Fate of Crew:
    Commander: Perforated ear drums. RTD 9½/52 Category A.1.
    Gunner: Multiple peppering wounds right face, hands, shoulder and knee. X-rays show multiple 0 - 50 mg F.B's in arm. Fracture upper ⅓ ulna and median nv. injury. Still in hospital 5 October 1945.
     
  2. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    P2940913_zps447a110f.jpg
    Regiment: 5 Inniskilling Dragoon Guards

    Serial No.: C.54.

    Mark: IV

    W.D. No.: 188046

    Date: 7 April 1945

    Photo No.: 27

    Figure Nos.: 25, 29
    7th Armoured Division, Tank Casualties, 1945

    Range: 200 - 300 yards

    Cause of Damage: A.P. (50 mm.) scoop

    Fire Damage: None

    Other tanks involved in same incident:

    Circumstances: Leading tank going over a level crossing South of BREMEN. Turret at 12 o'clock.

    Position of Hit: a) scoop on the front of the turret just below the bottom right hand corner of the mantlet. Dent 45 mm. in diameter and 25 mm. deep; b ) scoop on the turret roof, through the fan cowl, and the Gunner's periscope into the A.R.V.C. shattering the three front periscopes.

    Course & Effect of Projectiles: No apparent internal damage. Commander and Operator both had their heads out and were hit by fragments.

    Remarks: Tank seen, but was sealed, so detailed internal examination could not be made. The secondary damage, i.e. that to the A.R.V.C. was though to have been done by splash.

    Fate of Crew:
    Gunner, Driver & Co-Driver: Unhurt.
    Commander: Wounded. Multiple wounds face and neck, right shoulder and arm, and left hand. X-rays show 250 - 500 mg F.B. in muscles of back of neck and small F.B. (0 - 5- mg) above it. RTD 8/52. Category A.1.
    Operator: Wounded. Wound left arm and forearm with fractured lower ⅓ humerus and upper ⅓ ulna. Radial nerve injury. X-rays show 0 - 50 mgm (2) F.B's and 3 F.B's 250 - 1000 mgs later removed from arm. Superficial wound left chest wall and left loin. Still in hospital 30 September 1945. Final Category Not Known.
     
  3. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    P2940912_2_zpsa82a9993.jpg

    Regiment: 5 Inniskilling Dragoon Guards

    Serial No.: C.49.

    Mark: IV

    W.D. No.: 188355

    Date: 8 April 1945

    Photo No.: 26

    Figure Nos.: 25, 29
    7th Armoured Division, Tank Casualties, 1945

    Range: 1200 yards

    Cause of Damage: A.P. penetration

    Fire Damage: None

    Other tanks involved in same incident:

    Circumstances: 5th tank in a column, stationary on a straight road, up which they were about to advance. The projectile was said to have hit the road in front of the tank and bounced up and hit the top of the turret which was at 12 o'clock.

    Position of Hit: Shallow scoop - obliquely across the roof of the turret, going through the fan cowling, and back to penetrate the A.R.V.C. just to the right of the rear periscope which was directed forwards.

    Course & Effect of Projectiles: Periscopes broken. No internal damage. Commander was hit by the projectile. Gunner and Operator injured by secondary fragments.

    Remarks: Tank seen.

    Fate of Crew:
    Driver and Co-Driver: Unhurt
    Commander: Killed
    Gunner: Deep wound scalp with ? [sic] injury to the skull. Two "small" F.B's (size Not Known). Discharged in 21/52. Category E.
    Operator: Wounded right shoulder with fractured humerus. X-rays show 1, 5 - 20 gm F.B. in humerus, and 2, 100 - 250 mg F.B's in soft tissues. Still in hospital 5 October 1945.
     
  4. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    P2940912_4_zps8f5183d8.jpg

    Regiment: 5 Inniskilling Dragoon Guards

    Serial No.: C.53.

    Mark: IV

    W.D. No.: 188695

    Date: 8 April 1945

    Photo No.: 26 [Photo 263484]

    Figure Nos.: 25, 29
    7th Armoured Division, Tank Casualties, 1945

    Range: 1200 yards

    Cause of Damage: A.P. (88 mm.) scoop

    Fire Damage: None

    Other tanks involved in same incident: C.49.

    Circumstances: Leading tank of a column, static on a straight road up which they were about to advance. Shot is said to have hit the road before hitting the tank. The tank fired back simultaneously and knocked out the German gun. Turret 12 o'clock. Same incident as C.49.

    Position of Hit: Scoop out of the front edge of the glacis plate. The shot went on to scoop the visor plate, centrally on the inner edge of the H. gun mounting.

    Course & Effect of Projectiles: No internal damage.

    Remarks: Tank seen, but as it was sealed no detailed internal examination could be made.

    Fate of Crew: Unhurt.
     
  5. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Regiment: 5 Inniskilling Dragoon Guards

    Serial No.: C.72.

    Mark: VI (95)

    W.D. No.: 120564

    Date: 10 April 1945

    Photo No.: -

    Figure Nos.: 25, 28
    7th Armoured Division, Tank Casualties, 1945

    Range: 100 yards

    Cause of Damage: A.P. (75 mm. Pak. 40 S.P.) penetration

    Fire Damage: None

    Other tanks involved in same incident: C.71.

    Circumstances: Static in WILDESHAUSEN. Regiment were harbouring for the night in the village, a German S.P. came down the street and hit a number of vehicles before itself being destroyed. Turret 12 o'clock. Same incident as C.71.

    Position of Hit: Penetration 80 mm. diameter through right side of hull towards the rear and, across the top of the track (which was scarred) entering the hull level with the back of the fighting compartment.

    Course & Effect of Projectiles: The shot went across the corner of the crew compartment and into the engine where it appeared to have broken up into small pieces. The engine itself was not severely damaged and had not caught fire.

    Remarks: Tank seen. S.P. seen and gun identified as 75 mm. Kw. K. 40.

    Fate of Crew:
    Commander, Driver & Co-Driver: Not in the tank when it was hit.
    Operator & Gunner: Unhurt
     
  6. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Regiment: 5 Inniskilling Dragoon Guards

    Serial No.: C.71.

    Mark: VI (95 mm.)

    W.D. No.: 120511

    Date: Not Known

    Photo No.: -

    Figure Nos.: 25, 29
    7th Armoured Division, Tank Casualties, 1945

    Range: 100 yards

    Cause of Damage: A.P. (75 mm. Kw. K. 40 S.P.) scoop

    Fire Damage: None

    Other tanks involved in same incident: C.72.

    Circumstances: Static in WILDESHAUSEN. Regiment harbouring for the night in the village. A German S.P. came down the street and hit a number of vehicles before being itself destroyed. Turret 12 o'clock. Same incident as C.72.

    Position of Hit: Shot went obliquely through the right hand idler to scoop the right hand side of the front of the glacis plate.

    Course & Effect of Projectiles: No internal damage.

    Remarks: Tank seen. Crew not in the tank when it was hit.

    Fate of Crew: Unhurt.
     
  7. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    P2940927_zps7e37bbff.jpg
    Regiment: 5 Inniskilling Dragoon Guards

    Serial No.: F.22.

    Mark: VI

    W.D. No.: 271209

    Date: 17 April 1945

    Photo No.: 41

    Figure Nos.: 35, 38
    7th Armoured Division, Tank Casualties, 1945

    Range: 500 yards

    Cause of Damage: A.P. 75 mm. penetration.

    Fire Damage: None

    Other tanks involved in same incident:

    Circumstances: Rounding a corner North of SOLTAU and was fired at as soon as it appeared. Turret at 3 o'clock.

    Position of Hit: Upper edge of glacis plate just internal to Co-Driver's hatch.

    Course & Effect of Projectiles: Shot guttered the top of the glacis plate between the fan cowl and the Co-Driver's hatch, then went back into the turret through the junction of the turret ring and the roof of the front compartment. It hit the underside of the 37 mm. gun.

    Remarks: Tank seen.

    Fate of Crew:
    Commander: Unhurt
    Operator: Superficial flesh wounds right thigh and leg. RTD 2½/52. Category A.1.
    Driver: Severe wound occipital region of hand with fracture of skull. Discharged in 18/52. Category E.
    Co-Driver: Superficial wound face and left thigh. Wounds lower arm and upper forearm from which F.B. (size Not Known) was removed. RTD 6/52. Category A.1.
     
  8. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    P2940908_3_zpsec410986.jpg
    Regiment: 5 Inniskilling Dragoon Guards

    Serial No.: B.22.

    Mark: 1 c

    W.D. No.: 269992

    Date: Not Known

    Photo No.: 22

    Figure Nos.: 17 - 20
    7th Armoured Division, Tank Casualties, 1945

    Range: 15 yards

    Cause of Damage: H.C. scoop

    Fire Damage: Confined fire

    Other tanks involved in same incident:

    Circumstances: Entering STADTLOHN, H.C. fired from a house on the left of the street. Turret 2.30 o'clock.

    Position of Hit: Shot went through an empty ammunition box slung across the front of the tank, to scoop the top of the glacis plate on the medial side of the projection carrying the Co-Driver's periscope. The scoop was 50 mm. long an d25 mm. deep at its upper end.

    Course & Effect of Projectiles: Fire was confined to the Co-Driver's compartment and about two thirds of the rounds stowed there had exploded. The cause of the fire was obscure, it started slowly and is thought to have originated in kit etc carried on the front and extended inside through the hatch which was probably blown open by the explosion.

    Remarks: Tank seen.

    Fate of Crew: Unhurt. Operator Killed by M.G. fire while escaping.
     
  9. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    P2940916_3_zps4b57741a.jpg
    Regiment: 5 Inniskilling Dragoon Guards

    Serial No.: C.51.

    Mark: IV

    W.D. No.: 188529

    Date: Not Known

    Photo No.: 30 [Photo - 188649]

    Figure Nos.: 25,29
    7th Armoured Division, Tank Casualties, 1945

    Range: 100 - 120 yards

    Cause of Damage: A.P. (88 mm.) penetration.

    Fire Damage: None

    Other tanks involved in same incident:

    Circumstances: The tank was going down a road when it was fired at from short range by a camouflaged German gun which was knocked out by the tank after it had been hit. Turret at about 12 o'clock.

    Position of Hit: Penetration 88 mm. diameter through the left hand bottom corner of the visor plate.

    Course & Effect of Projectiles: No internal damage. The shot removed the Co-Driver's hatch and damaged the side stowage bin.

    Remarks: Tank seen. The Co-Driver baled out after the hit. The rest of the crew continued to fight the tank.

    Fate of Crew: Unhurt.
     
  10. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    P2940913_2_zps8317abc7.jpg
    Regiment: 5 Inniskilling Dragoon Guards

    Serial No.: C.57.

    Mark: V

    W.D. No.: 121778

    Date: Not Known

    Photo No.: 27

    Figure Nos.: 25, 29
    7th Armoured Division, Tank Casualties, 1945

    Range: 100 yards

    Cause of Damage: A.P. scoop

    Fire Damage: None

    Other tanks involved in same incident:

    Circumstances: On a level crossing outside BASSUM, advanced very slowly round a corner and was fired at from close range by a ground mounted anti-tank gun. Turret at 12 o'clock.

    Position of Hit: Shot scooped the extreme left hand side of the lower front glacis plate and went on to damage the axle of the front idler.

    Course & Effect of Projectiles: No internal damage.

    Remarks: Tank seen.

    Fate of Crew: Unhurt.
     
  11. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Regiment: 5 Inniskilling Dragoon Guards

    Serial No.: C.55.

    Mark: IV

    W.D. No.: 188040

    Date: Not Known

    Photo No.: -

    Figure No.: -

    Range: 10 yards

    Cause of Damage: H.C. scoop

    Fire Damage: None

    Other tanks involved in same incident:

    Circumstances: Moving up a narrow tract when fired at from a flank.

    Position of Hit: Hit on the edge of the track roughly in the centre of the tank, track was broken and the underlying bogie wheel damaged.

    Course & Effect of Projectiles: No internal damage.

    Remarks: Tank not seen. Information from Squadron Officers. Repaired by the L.A.D.

    Fate of Crew: Unhurt.
     
  12. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    P2940917_4_zps63c59499.jpg

    P2940917_3_zps22e58615.jpg

    Regiment: 5 Inniskilling Dragoon Guards

    Serial No.: C.56.

    Mark: IV

    W.D. No.: 189448

    Date: Not Known

    Photo No.: 31

    Figure Nos.: 26, 28, 29
    7th Armoured Division, Tank Casualties, 1945

    Range: 20 yards

    Cause of Damage: H.C. penetrations

    Fire Damage: None

    Other tanks involved in same incident:

    Circumstances: Entering a wood outside WILDESHAUSEN, near BREMEN. Turret at 12 o'clock.

    Position of Hit: a) penetration, 40 mm. diameter through the right hand side of the turret roughly in its centre and about a foot forward from the back of the turret; b ) penetration 50 x 65 mm. into the fan cowling on the roof of the Co-Driver's compartment, with deep splash marks on the visor plate above and inside the H. gun mounting.

    Course & Effect of Projectiles: No apparent internal damage and no fire.

    Remarks: Tank seen. It was sealed so that a detailed internal examination could not be made.

    Fate of Crew: Unhurt in the tank. The Co-Driver was killed and the Gunner wounded outside after escaping.
     
  13. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    P2940918_3_zpsc9095f00.jpg

    Regiment: 5 Inniskilling Dragoon Guards

    Serial No.: C.73.

    Mark: VI

    W.D. No.: 120498

    Date: Not Known

    Photo No.: 32

    Figure Nos.: 26, 29
    7th Armoured Division, Tank Casualties, 1945

    Range: 50 yards

    Cause of Damage: H.C. penetration

    Fire Damage: None

    Other tanks involved in same incident:

    Circumstances: Moving into SOLTAU. Turret forward.

    Position of Hit: Penetration 50 mm. diameter through front of the turret between bottom left hand corner of the mantlet and the turret ring.

    Course & Effect of Projectiles: Tank sealed, but no appearance of major internal damage.

    Remarks: Tank seen. It was not possible to trace the Gunner's clinical notes.

    Fate of Crew:
    Commander: Unhurt
    Gunner: Wounded, but no details available.
    Operator: Wounded. Flesh wound right foot and ankle. Large F.B. removed from over the medial cuneiform bone. RTD in 28½/52. Category B.2.
    Driver & Co-Driver: Unhurt.
     
  14. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Regiment: 5 Inniskilling Dragoon Guards

    Serial No.: C.74.

    Mark: IV

    W.D. No.: 188735

    Date: Not Known

    Photo No.: -

    Figure No.: -

    Range: 40 yards

    Cause of Damage: H.C. scoop

    Fire Damage: None

    Other tanks involved in same incident:

    Circumstances: Outside IBBENBUREN, details Not Known.

    Position of Hit: Hit a bogie wheel on one side (which Not Known) the rubber of the tyre caught fire and the side armour of the hull was dented.

    Course & Effect of Projectiles: Tank went on fighting but was not a runner, later repaired at the L.A.D. No internal damage.

    Remarks: Tank not seen. Information from Squadron Officers.

    Fate of Crew: Unhurt.
     
  15. KevinT

    KevinT Senior Member

    Some named tanks from dbf post. Most are obvious from the photos.

    7th Armoured Division
    5th Inniskilling Dragoon Guards
    Cromwell
    T188695 AULD JEANNIE post no. 44

    If anyone can put names against the WD census number please post them.

    Cheers

    Kevin
     

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