Photo ID: British M10 Tank Destroyer in Normandy

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EKB
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Photo ID: British M10 Tank Destroyer in Normandy

#1

Post by EKB » 12 Sep 2021, 11:51

...

Does anyone know the unit ID, exact location and date, names of crew or others in the picture.
Click on image for larger view.

British M10 in Normandy copy.jpg
Last edited by EKB on 13 Sep 2021, 07:16, edited 1 time in total.

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AETIUS 1980
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Re: Photo ID: British M10 Tank Destroyer in Normandy

#2

Post by AETIUS 1980 » 12 Sep 2021, 12:23

This is a photo taken south of Wn 08 on June 6th as part of the advance towards Ouistreham (which explains the reduced railway line).
Regards


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Re: Photo ID: British M10 Tank Destroyer in Normandy

#3

Post by Michael Kenny » 12 Sep 2021, 13:11

IWM B5086 and markings are visible in a photo of another M10 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item ... /205128357

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Re: Photo ID: British M10 Tank Destroyer in Normandy

#4

Post by Sheldrake » 13 Sep 2021, 18:07

You might get a better response from WW2talk. There are people there how know everything about the provinance British AFVs. http://ww2talk.com/index.php

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Re: Photo ID: British M10 Tank Destroyer in Normandy

#5

Post by EKB » 14 Sep 2021, 09:30

Thanks all for replies. I just posted a similar message on the WW2Talk forum.

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Re: Photo ID: British M10 Tank Destroyer in Normandy

#6

Post by Jack Nisley » 15 Sep 2021, 23:52

This is IWM B5088 of 20th Anti-Tank Regiment supporting 2nd East Yorks. It's in the Battle Zone Normandy Sword Beach history/tour book by Sutton Publishing. Part of 8th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division.

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Re: Photo ID: British M10 Tank Destroyer in Normandy

#7

Post by Sheldrake » 16 Sep 2021, 10:02

AETIUS 1980 wrote:
12 Sep 2021, 12:23
This is a photo taken south of Wn 08 on June 6th as part of the advance towards Ouistreham (which explains the reduced railway line).
Regards
Ouistreham wasn't the objective of 2 Yorks. I thought, but had not checked the detailed match with the image, that this was part of the advance to objectivres Sole and Daimler to the south of the port.

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Re: Photo ID: British M10 Tank Destroyer in Normandy

#8

Post by AETIUS 1980 » 16 Sep 2021, 10:08

My fault, I should have said southeast of Ouistreham although that's how I understood it. The reduction of 2 and 4./Art.Rgt.1716 having been made separately, not to mention Stab I./Gr.Rgt.736.
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Re: Photo ID: British M10 Tank Destroyer in Normandy

#9

Post by AETIUS 1980 » 16 Sep 2021, 10:08

South West, still sorry.

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Re: Photo ID: British M10 Tank Destroyer in Normandy

#10

Post by EKB » 17 Sep 2021, 06:44

...

I'm not sure if I understand the British Army's command arrangements in a combined arms situation. If one infantry battalion was working with one M10 anti-tank battery, which headquarters would control the movement and fire mission of the vehicles?

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Re: Photo ID: British M10 Tank Destroyer in Normandy

#11

Post by Michael Kenny » 17 Sep 2021, 07:19

EKB wrote:
17 Sep 2021, 06:44
...

I'm not sure if I understand the British Army's command arrangements in a combined arms situation. If one infantry battalion was working with one M10 anti-tank battery, which headquarters would control the movement and fire mission of the vehicles?
They were all in 3rd Infantry Division so I do not think any conflict could arise.

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Re: Photo ID: British M10 Tank Destroyer in Normandy

#12

Post by Michael Kenny » 17 Sep 2021, 08:37

Did the light railway (pink line) only run along the road just behind the beaches? If so then the photo was taken nowhere near Ouistreham and more likely at La Breche where 2 E Yorks landed.
Screenshot_1j14.jpg
This would match with another IWM photo of an M10 in a well-known sequence of wounded sheltering behind a couple of Churchill AVRE.
B5085   79th Assault Squadron, 5th Assault Reg, R E,  Queen Red beach, Sword.jpg
B5086  M10  20th AT Reg  Queen Red beach, Sword.jpg
B5095  AVRE Queen beach, Sword.jpg
B5096 AVRE 6 June.jpg
The landings are not something I know that much about so this is all new to me.


https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item ... /205201948
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item ... /205128357
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item ... /205205821
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item ... /205201953

As an aside note how the IWM B numbering is not strictly sequential as B5095 was clearly taken before B5086

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Re: Photo ID: British M10 Tank Destroyer in Normandy

#13

Post by AETIUS 1980 » 17 Sep 2021, 09:23

Morning
These last photos were taken during the fights that were faced and on the Wn 20. Note that this is one of the most fierce fights carried out on June 6 with significant losses. 126 for the 1st South Lancashire (including its captain), 206 for the 2nd East Yorks hire and 159 for the 5th Assault Rgt / 22nd Dragoon. For its part, the section deployed by 10./Gr.Rgt.736 (Leutnant der Reserve NESSEL) will be wiped out after a little less than 4 hours of resistance.
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Re: Photo ID: British M10 Tank Destroyer in Normandy

#14

Post by AETIUS 1980 » 17 Sep 2021, 09:23

Not section but platoon. Still sorry

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Re: Photo ID: British M10 Tank Destroyer in Normandy

#15

Post by Michael Kenny » 17 Sep 2021, 10:55

AETIUS 1980 wrote:
17 Sep 2021, 09:23
Morning
These last photos were taken during the fights that were faced and on the Wn20.
Which is at Le Breche. The photo of the M10 across the railway lines must have been taken east of Wn20. It is the only area with no houses around the track.
Screenshot_115I.jpg

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