11th Armoured Division, Tank Casualties, 1945

Regiment: 3 Royal Tank Regiment

Serial No.: D.17.

Mark: -

W.D. No.: 335031

Date: 4 April 1945

Photo No.: 38

Figure Nos.: 30, 32
11th Armoured Division, Tank Casualties, 1945

Range: Not Known

Cause of Damage: H.C. penetration

Fire Damage: Confined fire.

Other tanks involved in same incident:

Circumstances: Near WESER Crossing. Stationary when hit. Turret at 12 o'clock.

Position of Hit: Penetration 45 mm. external diameter low down on right hand side of turret just above turret ring. Hole jagged and irregular expanding to 90 mm. diameter internally.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: Local damage round penetration. Fire confined to turret.

Remarks: Tank seen.

Fate of Crew:
Co-Driver: Unhurt
Driver: Unhurt. Wounded outside while sheltering in a ditch after baling out.
Commander: Wounded left buttock (T and T). Wound right calf. RTD 20/52. Category A.
Gunner: Flesh wound neck and right arm. X-rays show ten F.B's 0 - 5- mg below angle of jaw. RTD 6/52. Category A.1.
Operator: Killed

D.17. | WW2Talk

 

Regiment: 3 Royal Tank Regiment

Serial No.: D.19.

Mark: -

W.D. No.: 334998

Date: 4 April 1945

Photo No.: -

Figure No.: -

Range: Not Known

Cause of Damage: H.C. penetration

Fire Damage: None

Other tanks involved in same incident:

Circumstances: Un-ditching another tank, stationary when hit. Turret at 1.30 o'clock.

Position of Hit: Penetration 45 mm. externally and expanding to 65 mm. internally through right hand side of turret near the bomb thrower.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: No major internal damage, but Besa and bomb-thrower had to be replaced. No fire.

Remarks: Tank not seen, but our proforma filled in by B.T.A. Tank repaired locally.

Fate of Crew:
Operator: Unhurt. Wounded outside after escaping.
Rest of Crew: Unhurt.

 

Regiment: 3 Royal Tank Regiment

Serial No.: D.16.

Mark: -

W.D. No.: 335112

Date: 11 April 1945

Photo No.: 33

Figure Nos.: 30, 32, 33
11th Armoured Division, Tank Casualties, 1945

Range: 900 - 1000 yards

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

Fire Damage: Confined fire.

Other tanks involved in same incident:

Circumstances: Approaching ALLER crossing, 2nd tank in line, when hit by ground mounted gun. Turret at 11 o'clock.

Position of Hit: a) penetration which went across front of turret and out the other side. Entrance 87 mm. diameter just below front of Operator's hatch on right hand side. Exit in roughly similar position on left hand side of turret about a foot further forward than entrance. b ) penetration through hull M.G. mounting. Whole mounting removed and scoop out of rim of visor plate.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: a) passed from side to side across turret just below roof without doing much internal damage. b ) after wrenching hull gun off its securing bolts, shot went obliquely across the front compartment to dent its outside wall below the centre of the Co-Driver's hatch and then bounced not the rear wall near its junction with the side wall. Minor fire in this compartment only.

Remarks: Tank examined. Gunner had to remove Commander's body which was blocking the A.R.V.C. before he could get out. Co-Driver out before shot b ) hit.

Fate of Crew:
Driver & Co-Driver: Unhurt.
Commander & Operator: Killed.
Gunner: Wounded. Compound fracture skull right front parietal region. X-ray shows two retained F.B's, one in 100 - 250 mg category and other less than 50 mg. Discharged hospital 13/52. Category E.

 

Regiment: 3 Royal Tank Regiment

Serial No.: D.20.

Mark: -

W.D. No.: 334962

Date: 11 April 1945

Photo No.: -

Figure Nos.: 30, 33
11th Armoured Division, Tank Casualties, 1945

Range: 900 yards

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

Fire Damage: Burnt out

Other tanks involved in same incident:

Circumstances: Leading tank in approach to ALLER crossing when hit by a ground mounted gun.

Position of Hit: Penetration through H. gun mounting which it removed.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: Projectile went back into the turret and caused some ammunition to explode. This was probably in the bins round the sides of the turret basket. The Co-Driver was on the direct path of the projectile.

Remarks: Tank not seen. Information from Squadron Leader, B.T.A. and A.F.V. (T).

Fate of Crew:
Commander: Burns face and hands. Resulting scarring required treatment. RTD 17½/52. Category B. for 3/12.
Gunner: Wounded and burnt. 1 and 2 degree burns hands and face. Pen. W. both hands. F.B., size of finger nail, removed right hand. Fracture Middle Phalanx, left hand. Flesh wound inner side of left calf in upper third. Still in hospital end of September. Final Category Not Known.
Operator: burns both hands. RTD in 16/52. Category A.2.
Driver: 2 burns face and hands. RTD in 8½/52. Category A.1.
Co-Driver: Killed.

 

Regiment: 3 Royal Tank Regiment

Serial No.: D.23.

Mark: -

W.D. No.: 334921

Date: 12 April 1945

Photo No.: 34

Figure Nos.: 30, 33
11th Armoured Division, Tank Casualties, 1945

Range: 300 yards

Cause of Damage: A.P. (88 mm.) penetrations and scoops

Fire Damage: None

Other tanks involved in same incident:

Circumstances: Not Known. Turret at 12 o'clock.

Position of Hit: a) scoop on the right driving sprocket. b ) jagged penetration at junction of glacis and lower front glacis plates roughly opposite Driver. c) penetration 85 mm. diameter at the junction of the edge of the mantlet and the side of the turret.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: a) caused the crew to bale out; b ) large jagged hole, little damage inside driving compartment; c) projectile passed back and dented the base of the ammunition bin directly behind the breech of the 77 mm. gun, damaged the enclosed round, but did not explode it.

Remarks: The cracking and flaking of the armour round hits b ) and c) can be seen from the photos.

Fate of Crew: Unhurt

 

Regiment: 3 Royal Tank Regiment

Serial No.: D.21.

Mark: -

W.D. No.: 335342

Date: 13 April 1945

Photo No.: 33

Figure Nos.: 30, 33
11th Armoured Division, Tank Casualties, 1945

Range: 1200 yards

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

Fire Damage: None

Other tanks involved in same incident:

Circumstances: Leading tank clearing a wood on the right hand side of the road up which it was proceeding slowly when fired at by a gun concealed in another wood ahead of it. The second round hit the ground near the tank. Turret at 3 o'clock.

Position of Hit: Penetration 88 mm. diameter through lower front glacis plate at its extreme right hand corner and out again through the floor plate. Also hit the suspension arm of the right hand front bogie.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: Projectile passed through the forward part of the driving compartment. The floor was badly bent and all the fitting battered. Shot hit the Driver.

Remarks: Tank seen.

Fate of Crew:
Commander & Gunner: Unhurt
Operator: Trivial wound right buttock. RTD 1/52. Category A.1.
Driver: Killed. Hit by shot and disintegrated.
Co-Driver: Unhurt.

 

Regiment: 3 Royal Tank Regiment

Serial No.: D.50.

Mark: -

W.D. No.: 335017

Date: Not Known

Photo No.: -

Figure No.: 32
11th Armoured Division, Tank Casualties, 1945

Range: Not Known

Cause of Damage: H.C. scoop

Fire Damage: None

Other tanks involved in same incident:

Circumstances: Not Known. Fired at from right flank.

Position of Hit: Scoop on the right hand side of the hull under the track guard at the level of the Driver's hatch. Track guard bent up to jam hatch.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: Hit was near the fuze box which was burnt out, the flash and smoke from it caused the crew to abandon the tank, which was later repaired by L.A.D.

Remarks: Tank not seen. Information from Squadron Leader. Driver escaped through the Co-Driver's hatch, since his own could not be opened.

Fate of Crew: Unhurt.

 

Regiment: 2 Fife and Forfar Yeomanry

Serial No.: D.43.

Mark: -

W.D. No.: 335123

Date: Not Known

Photo No.: -

Figure No.: -

Range: Not Known

Cause of Damage: A.P. penetration and scoops.

Fire Damage: None.

Other tanks involved in same incident:

Circumstances: Not Known.

Position of Hit: a) scoop on the hinge of the Driver's visor which was partially open; b ) penetration through the side of the hull low down between the wheels; c) scoop on cover of engine compartment.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: a) and c) caused no internal damage, but a) caused the crew to abandon the tank; b ) set off a single H.E. round which is said to have done minor damage inside the turret.

Remarks: Tank not seen. Known to have been back - loaded and repaired.

Fate of Crew: Unhurt.
Commander: Killed after escaping.

 

Regiment: 2 Fife and Forfar Yeomanry

Serial No.: D.45.

Mark: -

W.D. No.: 334919

Date: 30 March 1945

Photo No.: -

Figure No.: -

Range: 10 yards

Cause of Damage: H.C. penetrations and scoops.

Fire Damage: Minor. Confined fire.

Other tanks involved in same incident:

Circumstances: Not Known.

Position of Hit: a) penetration through right side of turret roughly level with the Operator's hatch; b ) penetration into engine compartment. Several other hits on the road wheels and turret rear stowage bin.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: It was said that a phosphorus grenade as set off by the penetration, but there was not major internal damage. Tank was repaired. Operator was forward using his periscope and the clothes on his back were burnt by the projectile, but he was unhurt. Order of shots Not Known.

Remarks: Tank not seen. Information from B.T.A. Squadron Officers and Operator.

Fate of Crew:
Gunner, Operator, Driver & Co-Driver: Unhurt.
Commander: Wounded. Right jaw with multiple F.B's in his face and neck. X-rays show 1, 0 - 50 mg. and 1, 250 - 500 mgs. F.B. Both were removed from his jaw. 2, 0 - 50 mgs. F.B's in the wrist. RTD 17/52. Category A.1.

 

Regiment: 2 Fife and Forfar Yeomanry

Serial No.: D.40.

Mark: -

W.D. No.: 335037

Date: 10 April 1945

Photo No.: -

Figure No.: -

Range: Not Known

Cause of Damage: H.C. penetration.

Fire Damage: Confined fire.

Other tanks involved in same incident:

Circumstances: Not Known.

Position of Hit: Penetration through visor plate in front of the Co-Driver.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: Projectile said to have set off a single H.E. round in the bin behind the Co-Driver, and that this caused the injuries to the members of the turret crew, and also the fire that occurred. It was thought that there was not fire in the front compartment. Co-Driver probably hit by H.C. jet. Other members of the crew injured by the fragments from the H.E. shell.

Remarks: Tank not seen. Information from the Squadron Officers.

Fate of Crew:
Commander: Minor burn left eye. RTD 2/52. Category A.1.
Gunner: Wounded and burnt. Extensive 2, 3 and 4 degree burns of buttocks, and inner sides of thighs. Compound fracture of head of right Tibia and pen. wound knee joint. Still in hospital 22 September 1945.
Operator: Burns of hands. Compound fracture left Tibia and Fibula. Still in hospital 22 September 1945.
Driver: Wounded and burnt. 1 degree burns face. Superficial wounds left scapula region and left buttock. F.B. (size Not Known) removed from buttock. Wounds healed in 1½/52. Was under psychiatric treatment for a further 5/52 and categorised C.1. for psychiatric reasons.
Co-Driver: Killed. Severely mutilated.

 

Regiment: 2 Fife and Forfar Yeomanry

Serial No.: C.69.

Mark: VI

W.D. No.: 120563

Date: Not Known

Photo No.: -

Figure No.: -

Range: Not Known

Cause of Damage: H.C. penetration.

Fire Damage: None

Other tanks involved in same incident:

Circumstances: Not Known

Position of Hit: Penetration through rear corner of engine compartment into the radiator which was slightly damaged.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: Radiator only damaged.

Remarks: Tank not seen. Information from Squadron Officers.

Fate of Crew: Unhurt.

 

Regiment: 2 Fife and Forfar Yeomanry

Serial No.: D.41.

Mark: -

W.D. No.: 335032

Date: Not Known

Photo No.: 39

Figure No.: 30
11th Armoured Division, Tank Casualties, 1945

Range: Not Known

Cause of Damage: H.C. penetration

Fire Damage: None

Other tanks involved in same incident:

Circumstances: Not Known.

Position of Hit: Penetration through rear of engine compartment roughly in the centre just below the top of the exhaust.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: No major internal damage.

Remarks: Tank seen.

Fate of Crew: Unhurt.

 

Regiment: 2 Fife and Forfar Yeomanry

Serial No.: D.42.

Mark: -

W.D. No.: 335000

Date: Not Known

Photo No.: -

Figure No.: -

Range: 1500 yards

Cause of Damage: A.P. penetrations.

Fire Damage: Burnt out

Other tanks involved in same incident:

Circumstances: Not fully known. Was hit on the ELSDORF road between OSNABRUCK and the WESER.

Position of Hit: a) passed over the tank, close to the top of the turret; b ) penetration through the side of the hull into the engine compartment; c) penetration through the side of the turret.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: Shot b ) set the tank on fire immediately.

Remarks: Tank not seen. Information from B.T.A. and Squadron Officers. Crew abandoned the tank after shot b ).

Fate of Crew: Unhurt.

 

Regiment: 2 Fife and Forfar Yeomanry

Serial No.: D.46.

Mark: -

W.D. No.: 335030

Date: Not Known

Photo No.: -

Figure No.: -

Range: 20 yards

Cause of Damage: H.C. scoops.

Fire Damage: None.

Other tanks involved in same incident:

Circumstances: Second tank inline facing a road block. Hit by a Panzerfaust Klein, fired from in front.

Position of Hit: a) scoop on the mantlet; b ) scoop on the H. gun mounting.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: No internal damage.

Remarks: Tank not seen. Information from Squadron Leader. Driver got out to investigate and was killed by fire from the road block. Commander got out to see what had happened to him and was similarly killed. Gunner and Co-Drive got out to see what had happened to them both, and were killed. Operator stayed at his wireless and was unhurt.

Fate of Crew: Unhurt - all crew except the Operator were killed outside.

 

Regiment: 2 Fife and Forfar Yeomanry

Serial No.: D.47.

Mark: -

W.D. No.: 335014

Date: Not Known

Photo No.: -

Figure No.: 30

Range: Not Known

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

Fire Damage: None

Other tanks involved in same incident:

Circumstances: Not Known. Turret at 12 o'clock when seen.

Position of Hit: Penetration about 75 mm. diameter through rear of engine compartment. Roughly in centre, just below top of exhaust.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: The projectile penetrated the engine compartment, but did not appear to have done very much damage to the engine. It did not go into the fighting compartment.

Remarks: Tank seen.

Fate of Crew: Unhurt.

 

Regiment: 2 Fife and Forfar Yeomanry

Serial No.: D.51.

Mark: -

W.D. No.: 335131

Date: Not Known

Photo No.: -

Figure No.: -

Range: Not Known

Cause of Damage: H.C. scoop

Fire Damage: None

Other tanks involved in same incident:

Circumstances: Not Known

Position of Hit: Hit on roof of turret

Course & Effect of Projectiles: Minor damage to tank.

Remarks: Tank not seen. Repaired by L.A.D.

Fate of Crew:
Commander: Killed (severe head wound).
Rest of Crew: Unhurt.

 

Thanks Neil for adding that vivid account.

Edit: Since deleted by Grimmy who has since left the forum.

 

Neil, I've found a few problems trying to reconcile data from the file with sources elsewhere. I will check the original page to see if I've made a typo. Otherwise, it's a matter of incorrect information either being given to the Officers involved in the survey, or a typo in the report itself. On another thread it was discovered that the wrong month was noted on the file, and in yet another the date did not match the date on the two other tanks noted as being attacked in the same incident, being one day out.