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Message 1 - Twins in Tanks

Posted on: 21 November 2003 by Trooper Tom Canning - WW2 Site Helper

Have read this book and it is a fairly good tale of the life of a crew member of AFV's. It is and was an uncommon thing to have brothers serve in the same regiment, but it did happen. My own Regiment 145th R.A.C. ( Africa and Italy) had five cousins in the same squadron - all named Barker from the Halifax area !

Message 1 - Armour Piercing Discarding Sabot

Posted on: 06 January 2004 by Julian Shales - WW2 Site Helper

This query is primarily aimed at veterans of Churchill tanks, Sherman Fireflies and Infantry and Royal Artillery Anti-tank units from Normandy and anyone else who may have some knowledge.

APDS was introduced in June 1944 for 6 Pounder 57mm guns and had a significantly higher penetration performance over other types of AP ammunition, in fact its performance was about twice as good/deep although it lost accuracy over long ranges because of slight variations in the way that the round left the discarding outer sabot which carried it up the gun barrel.

The earliest account for 17 Pounder (76.2mm) APDS seems to be in October 1944 and possibly not for the Firefly.

I understand that just before Normandy Churchill tanks with 6 Pounder Guns were converted to the new British 75mm Ordnance Quick Firing gun and thus were unable to make use of APDS's potentially life saving (their's not the enemy's) properties of this new ammunition. However, some units may have retained some 6 Pounder gun Churchills possibly to specifically use this ammunition.

The infantry were luckier in that they kept their 6 Pounder Anti-tank guns and by mid June 1944 I understand that they may have recieved some APDS rounds to use.

I have been studying Normany for many years and have only come across a very few references to its use.

Do any of you have any memories of this ammunition, whether or not you ever had the need to use it yourself?

Julian Shales

Message 1 - Major Foley

Posted on: 07 January 2004 by Julian Shales - WW2 Site Helper

Thank you very much for writing your Tank Twins book it was a very interesting and fast read.

I apologise for placing my question about APDS against your submission but cannot find a way to delete it as yet. I will raise the subject as a contribution shortly with a bit more history added to it.

I noticed that you referred to Major Foley in your book and I have wondered if that is the same chap who wrote Mailed Fist and Death of a Regiment? The first was very good but I have never found a copy of the latter. If you have not come across Mailed Fist I am happy to lend you a copy.

Regards

Julian