Quote:
Originally Posted by copeab
Actually, even in WWII a "destroyed" tank could often eventually be returned to service, although you might need a scrub brush and bucket to get the crew out of it ...
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Ahhh, but the crew survived in the M-1!
The problem with the Sherman was that it had weak armor, a poor gun and half-way decent mobility. It was already out-dated by the time of its combat debut at El Alemain.
The combination of thin armor, ammunition racks on both sides of the crew compartment and gasoline as fuel lead to the Sherman's more familiar nickname of the "Ronson" (lights the first time, every time was the jingle). Hate to say it, but a scrub brush wasn't enough to remove crew remains, according to after action reports, an entrenching tool had to be used to scrape up the remains. Its a sad statement that after seeing how bad US tank designs were, the same ole practice was kept up until the 1980s. The M-60A1 (my first tank) still had hull ammo racks on either side of the driver, a ammo rack in the turret bustle, and floor ammo racks on the left side and underneath the main gun.