The Effective M10 Tank Destroyer in 34 Brilliant Images

Jesse Beckett
M.Strīķis CC BY-SA 3.0
M.Strīķis CC BY-SA 3.0

In late 1941 the United States entered the Second World War, and it soon became clear that armored warfare was going to be an integral part of this war. Upon realising this, new tactics were drawn up, and their tank destroyer divisions were adapted to this new style of warfare.

The US established its tank destroyer doctrine, the spear that would be used to fight the devastating German tanks in Europe. To be the tip of this spear, a standardized armored fighting vehicle capable of bringing harm to the seemingly invincible German tanks was needed.

The vehicle that was to be used as this tip, was the Gun Motor Carriage M10. This modified Sherman chassis had reduced armor in exchange for a powerful 76.2 mm M7 gun capable of penetrating 92 mm of armor at 1,000 yards.

The M10 would become the the most produced US tank destroyer with over 6,400 made in all variants. It was a significant tank, as it led the way for the future tank destroyers made by the US like the M36 Jackson and M18 Hellcat.

The most distinct feature of the M10 was its open topped turret. This design choice differed from European tank destroyers, who conventionally used a casemate design with the gun fixed to the hull. This allows for a lower silhouette, ideal for defensive actions.

2nd French Armored Division M10, Halloville, France 13 November 1944
2nd French Armored Division M10, Halloville, France 13 November 1944

 

30th Infantry Division And 823rd Tank Destroyer Battalion M10 Germany 1945
30th Infantry Division And 823rd Tank Destroyer Battalion M10 Germany 1945

 

32nd Division M10 named “Hells Kitchen” on beach at Saidor Dutch New Guinea 1944
32nd Division M10 named “Hells Kitchen” on beach at Saidor Dutch New Guinea 1944

 

157th Infantry Regiment Supported By M10 Tank Destroyers Of A Company 645th Tank Destroyer Battalion Under Fire In Town Of Niederbronn France
157th Infantry Regiment Supported By M10 Tank Destroyers Of A Company 645th Tank Destroyer Battalion Under Fire In Town Of Niederbronn France

 

629th Tank Destroyer Battalion near Courtil, Belgium 20 January 1945
629th Tank Destroyer Battalion near Courtil, Belgium 20 January 1945

 

632nd Tank Destroyer Battaliont crew on M10 in Saidor 1944, PTO
632nd Tank Destroyer Battaliont crew on M10 in Saidor 1944, PTO

 

684th Tank Destroyer Battalion, Aachen October 1944
684th Tank Destroyer Battalion, Aachen October 1944

 

701st Tank Destroyer Battalion in the Monte Terminale area of Italy during the campaign in the North Apennines. 3 March 1945
701st Tank Destroyer Battalion in the Monte Terminale area of Italy during the campaign in the North Apennines. 3 March 1945

 

818th Tank Destroyer Battalion France
818th Tank Destroyer Battalion France

 

Civilians leave for Allied lines as M10 enters Aachen, 1944
Civilians leave for Allied lines as M10 enters Aachen, 1944

 

Free French 3rd Algerian Division In Omia Italy 1944
Free French 3rd Algerian Division In Omia Italy 1944

 

GI’s and German POW take cover by M10 28 February 1945
GI’s and German POW take cover by M10 28 February 1945

 

Knocked out M10 February 1944 Italy
Knocked out M10 February 1944 Italy

 

M5 And M10 of 2nd Armored Division In Tesey Sur Vire France 1944
M5 And M10 of 2nd Armored Division In Tesey Sur Vire France 1944

 

M10 And M4 Tanks On Production Line At Ford Plant 1943
M10 And M4 Tanks On Production Line At Ford Plant 1943

 

M10 blasts German machine gun position in Rome 6 June1944
M10 blasts German machine gun position in Rome 6 June1944

 

M10 during IV Corps Maneuvers in Oregon 1943
M10 during IV Corps Maneuvers in Oregon 1943

 

M10 Fontainebleau France 23 August 1944
M10 Fontainebleau France 23 August 1944

 

M10 named “Accident” of Company ‘A’, 703rd Tank Destroyer Battalion – Saint Jean de Daye 11 July 1944
M10 named “Accident” of Company ‘A’, 703rd Tank Destroyer Battalion – Saint Jean de Daye 11 July 1944

 

M10 of the 5th Army firing at night, 20 February 1945
M10 of the 5th Army firing at night, 20 February 1945

 

M10 Tank Destroyer And Harley Davidson In Percy France 08 1944
M10 Tank Destroyer And Harley Davidson In Percy France 08 1944

 

M10 Tank Destroyers On Production Line At Ford Plant 1943
M10 Tank Destroyers On Production Line At Ford Plant 1943

 

M10 with Hedge Cutter 803rd Tank Destroyer Battalion Übach Germany 1944
M10 with Hedge Cutter 803rd Tank Destroyer Battalion Übach Germany 1944

 

M10, M4, Jeep And 2.5 Ton Truck 76th Infantry Division Speicher 1945
M10, M4, Jeep And 2.5 Ton Truck 76th Infantry Division Speicher 1945

 

St Fromond France 703 Tank Destroyer Battalion 3 Armored Division
St Fromond France 703 Tank Destroyer Battalion 3 Armored Division

 

Tank Destroyer Heads To Battle Lines At Bir Marbott Pass East Of El Guettar In Tunisia 1943.
Tank Destroyer Heads To Battle Lines At Bir Marbott Pass East Of El Guettar In Tunisia 1943.

 

Tank Destroyer In Italy
Tank Destroyer In Italy

 

Tank destroyer M10 firing as artillery against Germans in Italy
Tank destroyer M10 firing as artillery against Germans in Italy

 

Tank Destroyer passes WWI Memorial in Lonlay-l’Abbaye, 1944
Tank Destroyer passes WWI Memorial in Lonlay-l’Abbaye, 1944

 

Tank Destroyers At Ford Plant In Detroit 1943
Tank Destroyers At Ford Plant In Detroit 1943

 

Tank Destroyers Head For Front In Tunisia 1943
Tank Destroyers Head For Front In Tunisia 1943
M10 with Hedge Cutter 803rd Tank Destroyer Battalion Übach Germany 1944Another article From Us: 28 Images of Tiger 1 Wrecks
Tank Destroyers of 30th Infantry Division Magdeburg Germany 1945
Tank Destroyers of 30th Infantry Division Magdeburg Germany 1945

jesse-beckett

jesse-beckett is one of the authors writing for Tank Roar