2nd Recce Battalion Welsh Guards, GAD, Tank Casualties, 1945

TNA Catalogue Reference: WO 205/1165

Extract from -

Tank Casualties Survey, NWE 1945 | WW2Talk

See other threads for further Guards Armoured Division data, 1945:
2nd Armoured Battalion GRENADIER GUARDS
1st Armoured Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS
2nd Armoured Battalion IRISH GUARDS


Other Units in same survey:
7th Armoured Division
11th Armoured Division
4th Armoured Brigade
8th Armoured Brigade

 

INDEX


C.9., 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards, 1 Apr 1945
C.13., 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards, 1 Apr 1945

E.10., 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards, 2 Apr 1945

C.84., 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards, 3 Apr 1945

C.8., 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards, 7 Apr 1945
C.19., 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards, 7 Apr 1945
E.2., 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards, 7 Apr 1945

C.83., 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards, 10 Apr 1945
E.3., 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards, 10 Apr 1945

C.10., 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards, 18 Apr 1945

C.1., 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards, 19 Apr 1945
C.22., 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards, 19 Apr 1945

C.6., 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards, 20 Apr 1945

C.12., 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards, 21 Apr 1945
E.12., 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards, 21 Apr 1945

C.11., 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards, 22 Apr 1945

C.20., 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards, 23 Apr 1945

C.82., 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards, 24 Apr 1945

C.7., 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards, 26 Apr 1945

E.5., 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards, 27 Apr 1945
E.13., 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards, 27 Apr 1945

 

FIGURES


25 -
26 -
27 -
28 -


KEY

 

Regiment: 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards

Serial No.: C.9.

Tank:

Mark: IV

W.D. No.: 188637

Date: 1 Apr 1945

Photo No.: 29

Figure No.: 26, 28
26 - http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ww2guards/P2940868_zps531d43f2.jpg
28 - http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ww2guards/P2940870_zpsd85f45db.jpg

Range: 25 yds.

Cause of Damage: H.C. penetrations.

Fire Damage: Confined fire.

Other tanks involved in same incident: C.13.

Circumstances: Moving on road in attack on Enschede aerodrome. Turret at 12 o’clock. Same incident as C.13.

Position of Hit: a) penetration 50 mm. diameter through front end of right side of turret; b ) projectile hit edge of mudguard and penetrated driving compartment through lower rim of Driver’s hatch which must have been open as it was undamaged on the outside.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: a) went into 2” smoke ammunition rack causing minor fire; b ) went into Driver’s instruments, hitting Driver in the head and causing minor fire confined to the Driver’s compartment.

Remarks: Tank seen. Information from R.M.O. and a witness.

Fate of Crew:
Commander: Unhurt in tank, but wounded by small arms fire after baling out.
Gunner: Unhurt.
Operator: Burned, 2 degree burns face. RTD 2/52. Category A.1.
Driver: Killed in tank, top of skull blown off.
Co-Driver: Wounded in tank. Killed after baling out by small arms fire.

 

Regiment: 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards

Serial No.: C.13.

Tank:

Mark: IV

W.D. No.: 188345

Date: 1 Apr 1945

Photo No.: -

Figure No.: -

Range: 40 yds.

Cause of Damage: H.C. (Panzerfaust) penetration.

Fire Damage: None

Other tanks involved in same incident: C.9.

Circumstances: Tank damaged in attack on Entschede aerodrome in same incident as C.9. Turret at 12 o’clock.

Position of Hit: Penetration from the right front through the hinge of the Driver’s visor.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: No fire or internal damage.

Remarks: Tank seen after repair. Information from Commander of another tank present at the incident.

Fate of Crew:
Gunner, Operator and Co-Driver: Unhurt. POW.
Commander: Wounded upper third of right thigh with injury to later cutaneous nerve of thigh. X-rays show 20, 0-50 mgm F.B’s, with many minute (less than 0-5- mgm) particles and 1 fragment assessed as 1/4-1 gm weight, but probably less as it was not equally radio-opaque all over. Also wounded outside by small arms bullet. Tangential T and T wound of back of chest with fractured scapula. Discharged hospital after 8/52 to 4/52 sick leave. Category Not Known.
Driver: Wounded and burnt. a) burns face; b ) “wounded both eyes”. Left eye multiple minute (less than 0-5- mgm) magnet negative intra-ocular F.B’s (X-rays seen). Right eye intra-ocular F.B’s. Loss of vision of left eye and diminished vision right eye on discharge from hospital; c) multiple facial wounds 1/4 - 1/2 cm. diameter. X-ray shows 1, 0-50 mgm F.B. Discharged from hospital 27 August 1945. Category E.

 

Regiment: 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards

Serial No.: E.10.

Tank:

Mark: -

W.D. No.: 272054

Date: 2 Apr 1945

Photo No.: -

Figure No.: -

Range: N.K.

Cause of Damage: H.C. (Panzerfaust) scoop.

Fire Damage: None

Other tanks involved in same incident:

Circumstances: At night.

Position of Hit: Roof of turret.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: Fan cowl blown off. Minor internal damage and no fire. Repaired at LAD. Commander was wounded because his head was out.

Remarks: Tank not see. Information from Squadron Second-in-Command and B.T.A.

Fate of Crew:
Operator, Loader and Driver: Unhurt.
Commander: Wounded. a) multiple small pepper wounds, head and neck, and haematoma of right ear. b ) traumatic perforation of right ear drum. Found to have bilateral osteomata causing deafness, unconnected with wounding. RTD 6/52. Category B.1. because of deafness.
Gunner: Wounded. Multiple wounds back of chest. X-rays show 4, 0-5- mgm F.B’s, and 2, 1/4-1 gm F.B’s superficially at level of T7. The latter two were removed at operation. RTD 5/52. Category A. Stay in hospital prolonged by about two weeks for treatment of acne vulgaris.

 

Regiment: 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards

Serial No.: C.84.

Tank:

Mark: VII

W.D. No.: 121806

Date: 3 Apr 1945

Photo No.: -

Figure No.: -

Range: N.K.

Cause of Damage: H.E. hit.

Fire Damage: None

Other tanks involved in same incident:

Circumstances: Not Known

Position of Hit: Left side of turret.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: Severely wounded Co-Driver, and Co-Driver’s hatch open.

Remarks: Tank not seen. Information from B.T.A.

Fate of Crew:
Crew: Unhurt except for -
Co-Driver: Wounded. Traumatic amputation of left arm through humerus. Discharged hospital 12/52. Category E.

 

Regiment: 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards

Serial No.: C.8.

Tank:

Mark: IV

W.D. No.: 189529

Date: 7 Apr 1945

Photo No.: 25

Figure No.: 25, 27
25 - http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ww2guards/P2940867_zps08a67ad5.jpg
27 - http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ww2guards/P2940869_zps056489c0.jpg

Range: 600 yds.

Cause of Damage: A.P. (75 mm. Kw. K. 40) penetration.

Fire Damage: Burnt out

Other tanks involved in same incident: C.19 & E.2.

Circumstances: Stationary when fired at from the left flank by an S.P. gun, which surprised a troop as it was approaching the crest of a hill near Lengerich, and knocked out all but one tank. Same incident as C.19 and E.2. Turret 12 o’clock.

Position of Hit: Penetration 81 mm. diameter through 3rd left side, and then side of hull, making a ragged hole, diameter about 85 x 130 mm.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: Path of shot could not be traced because the inside of the tank was disrupted, but the shot would have gone through the vertical ready round bin on the side of the turret basket. Tank began to burn fiercely at once.

Remarks: Tank seen. Information from Co-Driver.

Fate of Crew:
Driver: Unhurt.
Commander: Burned and wounded. a) 2 degree burns of face, front of right wrist and dorsum of left hand; b ) tangential flesh wound posterior aspect left calf. X-ray no F.B.; c) 1 degree Potts fracture left ankle on baling out, caused by jumping from tank. RTD 9/52. Category A.1.
Gunner: Burns. 2 and 3 degree burns face, cheeks, nose, forehead and lips. 2 degree burns of hands. RTD 24/52. Category not known.
Operator: burned. 2 degree burns left side of face and both hands, palm and dorsum. RTD 5/52. Category A.1.
Co-Driver: burned right side of face. RTD 1/52. Category A.1.

 

Regiment: 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards

Serial No.: C.19.

Tank:

Mark: VII

W.D. No.: 121809

Date: 7 Apr 1945

Photo No.: 24

Figure No.: 25, 27
25 - http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ww2guards/P2940867_zps08a67ad5.jpg
27 - http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ww2guards/P2940869_zps056489c0.jpg

Range: 600 yds.

Cause of Damage: A.P. (75mm. Kw. K. 40) penetrations and scoops.

Fire Damage: Burnt out

Other tanks involved in same incident: C.8 & E.2.

Circumstances: Stationary when fired at from left flank by an S.P. gun, which surprised a troop as it was slowly going up to the crest of a hill near Lengerich, and knocked out all but one tank. Turret at 11 o’clock. Same incident as C.8 and E.2.

Position of Hit: a) Ragged penetration 95 x 120 mm. diameter through the left side of the hull above track guard under the rear end of the turret; b ) 74 mm. diameter smooth penetration in lower rear corner of the left rear side plate of the turret; c) 82 mm. diameter ragged penetration to the left of the engine just below the track guard; d) 81 mm. diameter penetration through the left side wall of the hull above the track guard, under the front end of the turret; e) scoop at junction of left side and roof to the turret.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: The first shot missed. a) was the first shot to hit and it killed the Operator and wounded the Gunner and Commander, who baled out. The Driver was unhurt and stayed in as he was not given the order to evacuate. The path of this shot could not be traced. It started a small fire; b ) was the second shot to hit and after it, the Driver baled out. It went across the turret and bounced off the opposite wall into the 2” smoke ammo. rack; c) penetrated into the engine and was not traced; d) went across the tank through the upper end of the vertical pillar at rear end of the partition between the Co-Driver’s and Driver’s compartments. The basal portion of this round (75 mm. Kw. K. Pak 40 A.P.C.B.C.) was found embedded, side foremost, in the wall of the hull on the right of the Driver’s compartment. The order of shots, c, d and e is not known.

Remarks: Tank seen. Information from Driver.

Fate of Crew:
Driver: Unhurt.
No Co-Driver in tank.
Commander: Wounded a) traumatic amputation left leg below knee; b ) severe wounds right leg with compound fracture right fibula and much loss of muscle caused by T and T wound; c) small wound left chest wall with fractured rib. Discharged from hospital on crutches to sick leave, 1 August 1945.
Gunner: Wounded. a) posterior to anterior T and T wound middle 1/3 left upper arm with compound fracture humerus. X-ray shows no F.B’s; b ) 4” long laceration from 1” above mid-point between eye-brows to right parietal area with small depressed fracture of outer table frontal bone forehead; c) 2” long laceration left occipitoparietal area; d) 2” long laceration back of neck; e) flesh wounds over right and left scapulae; f) flesh wound left loin. Still in hospital 25 September 1945.
Operator: Killed by shot a). Driver looked round after shot a) to find him slumped down. Body eventually disintegrated by fire and explosion of contents of tank.

 

Regiment: 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards

Serial No.:E.2.

Tank:

Mark: -

W.D. No.: 271937

Date: 7 Apr 1945

Photo No.: -

Figure No.: -

Range: 600 yds.

Cause of Damage: A.P. (75 mm. Kw. K. 40) penetration.

Fire Damage: Confined fire.

Other tanks involved in same incident: C.8. & C.19.

Circumstances: Stationary when fired at from left flank by an A.P. gun which surprised a troop as it was slowly going up to the crest of a hill near Lengerich and knocked out all but one tank. Turret at 11.30 o’clock. Same incident as tanks C.8. and C.19.

Position of Hit: Ragged hole about 75 x 100 mm in left side of hull behind edge of 4th left bogie.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: Shot passed through the edge of the inner shelf of the 4th left bogie before penetrating side of hull and went on through an ammunition rack in an upward and forward direction to scoop a piece of metal off the turret opposite the junction of the right front and rear side turret vertical plates. Projectile not found. Crew compartment burnt out, but engine not burned.

Remarks: Tank seen.

Fate of Crew:
Commander: Wounded. Severe wound left knee posterior aspect of knee shot away, and all vessels severed and joint comminuted. Mid-thigh amputation done on day of wounding. Discharged hospital after 18/52. Category E.
Gunner: Burnt. 2 degree face and left wrist. RTD 2/52. Category A.
Leader: Killed.
Operator: Wounded and burnt. Wound left calf. 2 degree burns face and left wrist. RTD 7/52. Category A.1.
Driver: Burns face, hand and head. RTD 3/52. Category A.

 

Regiment: 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards

Serial No.: C.83.

Tank:

Mark: IV

W.D. No.: 188290

Date: 10 Apr 1945

Photo No.: -

Figure No.: -

Range: N.K.

Cause of Damage: H.E. hit.

Fire Damage: Minor, confined fire.

Other tanks involved in same incident:

Circumstances: Not Known

Position of Hit: H.E. hit on back deck over engine.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: Broke oil pipes and caused engine to catch fire. Fire put out. Damage minor, repaired by LAD.

Remarks: Tank not seen. Information from B.T.A.

Fate of Crew:
Crew: Unhurt.

 

Regiment: 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards

Serial No.: E.3.

Tank:

Mark: -

W.D. No.: 272061

Date: 10 Apr 1945

Photo No.: -

Figure No.: -

Range: 60 yds.

Cause of Damage: H.C. penetration.

Fire Damage: None

Other tanks involved in same incident:

Circumstances: Not Known

Position of Hit: Penetration through the upper part of rear right turret side plate.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: No fire and minor internal damage, repaired in LAD.

Remarks: Tank seen after repairing. Information from Squadron Second-in-Command.

Fate of Crew:
Driver: Unhurt.
Commander: Wounded. a) flesh wound upper arm F.B. removed. b ) flesh wound left forearm “very large” F.B. removed from front of elbow. c) flesh wound back scapular region with F.B. shown on X-ray. RTD 22/52. Category C.2. for 3/12.
Gunner: Wounded. Two small tangential wounds occipital region. RTD 4/52. Category A.1.
Loader: Killed.
Operator: Killed.

 

Regiment: 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards

Serial No.: C.10.

Tank:

Mark: IV

W.D. No.: 188534

Date: 18 Apr 1945

Photo No.: -

Figure No.: 26, 27
26 - http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ww2guards/P2940868_zps531d43f2.jpg
27 - http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ww2guards/P2940869_zps056489c0.jpg

Range: N.K.

Cause of Damage: H.C. penetration.

Fire Damage: None

Other tanks involved in same incident:

Circumstances: Tank moving at about 2 m.p.h. near Visselhovede when fired at from a wood by infantry. Turret at 10 o’clock.

Position of Hit: Penetration through left side hull under the track guard below the rear end of Co-Driver’s hatch.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: The jet went into the CO2 bottle on the right hand side of the Co-Driver. Minor damage to tank which was repaired by LAD.

Remarks: Tank seen after it had been repaired. Information from tank Commander.

Fate of Crew:
Turret crew: Unhurt.
Co-Driver: Wounded. Multiple small wounds left arm, left hand and back, with radial nerve injury. RTD 10/52. Category A.1.

 

Regiment: 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards

Serial No.: C.1.

Tank:

Mark: IV

W.D. No.: 188554

Date: 19 Apr 1945

Photo No.: 29

Figure No.: 26, 27
26 - http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ww2guards/P2940868_zps531d43f2.jpg
27 - http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ww2guards/P2940869_zps056489c0.jpg

Range: 5 - 10 yds.

Cause of Damage: H.C. penetration.

Fire Damage: Burnt out

Other tanks involved in same incident:

Circumstances: Moving slowly forwards in Visselhovede. Turret at 12 o’clock.

Position of Hit: Penetration diameter about 50 mm. outside, 100 mm. inside through left side turret near roof towards rear end of turret.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: Turret began to burn immediately, and the turret crew baled out. The Driver did not get out at once but remained in the tank for “3 minutes”. Eventually the tank was completely burnt out.

Remarks: Tank seen. Information from Driver and Troop Leader.

Fate of Crew:
Commander: Wounded. a) large lacerated wound front and radial side of right forearm and wrist and tenar eminence, median nerve palsy. X-ray “fracture of radial styloid, several F.B’s”; b ) hospital notes do not state any other wounds but state “small F.B. removed from right sternocalvicular joint, and another present root of neck level D1 and another level C4-5.” Still in hospital 4 October 1945. Final category Not Known.
Gunner: Wounded. a) two wounds head, one penetrating skull left temporal region and one in frontal region in the midline near the vertex; b ) several trivial facial wounds. RTD 18/52. Category C.2 with residual speech defect.
Operator: Died of Wounds. Wounded and burnt; a) extensive superficial burns with severe burns left eye; b ) fracture of mandible. Cause of death, oedema of glottis.

 

Regiment: 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards

Serial No.: C.22.

Tank:

Mark: VII

W.D. No.: 187879

Date: 19 Apr 1945

Photo No.: -

Figure No.: -

Range: N.K.

Cause of Damage: H.E. hit.

Fire Damage: None

Other tanks involved in same incident:

Circumstances: Tank stationary. Near Ottingen.

Position of Hit: H.E. hit on top right hand side of front of turret.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: Minor damage. Repaired in LAD.

Remarks: Tank not seen. Information from B.T.A.

Fate of Crew:
Crew: Unhurt in tank.
Crew baled out and the
Commander was killed, and the
Co-Driver wounded outside.

 

Regiment: 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards

Serial No.: C.6.

Tank:

Mark: IV

W.D. No.: 189556

Date: 20 Apr 1945

Photo No.: -

Figure No.: -

Range: N.K.

Cause of Damage: A.P. scoop and mine.

Fire Damage: None.

Other tanks involved in same incident:

Circumstances: Tank was fired at by A.P. from left side and one of the bogies towards the rear was hit. It put down smoke and reversed, but ran onto a mine, and was hit again by A.P. from the right side. The crew then baled out.

Position of Hit: a) A.P. scoop left suspension towards rear end of tank (no evidence on examination of tank, though the outer half of the 3rd left bogie was missing); b ) A.P. scoop damaging 3rd and 4th bogies.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: No fire and no internal damage caused by A.P.

Remarks: Tank seen. Information from a member of the crew.

Fate of Crew:
Crew: Unhurt.

 

Regiment: 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards

Serial No.: C.12.

Tank:

Mark: IV

W.D. No.: 189488

Date: 21 Apr 1945

Photo No.: 30

Figure No.: 26, 27
26 - http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ww2guards/P2940868_zps531d43f2.jpg
27 - http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ww2guards/P2940869_zps056489c0.jpg

Range: N.K.

Cause of Damage: H.C. scoop.

Fire Damage: None

Other tanks involved in same incident:

Circumstances: Turret found at 11 o’clock.

Position of Hit: a) H.C. penetration through 75 mm. barrel a foot from the mantlet; b ) H.C. projectile hit Commander in head.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: a) hurt no one, but b ) killed the Commander and wounded the Gunner who was in the tank, and the Co-Driver who was dismounted guarding a POW.

Remarks: Tank seen. Information from Driver and Troop Leader.

Fate of Crew:
Operator and Driver: Unhurt.
Commander: Killed.
Gunner: Wounded. a) peppering of back, with multiple small penetrating wounds with multiple small F.B’s seen in X-ray; b ) corneal F.B’s in left eye; c) found to have nerve deafness probably unconnected with wounding. RTD 5/52. Category B.1.

 

Regiment: 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards

Serial No.: E.12.

Tank:

Mark: -

W.D. No.: 271961

Date: 21 Apr 1945

Photo No.: -

Figure No.: -

Range: Not Known

Cause of Damage: H.E. hit.

Fire Damage: None.

Other tanks involved in same incident:

Circumstances: Not Known

Position of Hit: H.E. hit on right side of hull to right of Driver.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: Minor damage. Driver’s hatch closed. Crew unhurt.

Remarks: Tank not seen. Information from B.T.A.

Fate of Crew:
Crew: Unhurt.

 

Regiment: 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards

Serial No.: C.11.

Tank:

Mark: IV

W.D. No.: 188241

Date: 22 Apr 1945

Photo No.: -

Figure No.: -

Range: N.K.

Cause of Damage: H.C. (Panzerfaust) scoops.

Fire Damage: None

Other tanks involved in same incident:

Circumstances: Moving down a road in the evening, when fired at by German infantry who had been thought to be dead, since they were lying in a ditch. Turret at 12 o’clock.

Position of Hit: a) hit from half left rear on 75 mm. barrel near its tip; b ) glancing blow from half left rear on side of tank bouncing off to explode on the road.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: a) made 75 mm. gun unserviceable and wounded Operator.

Remarks: Tank not seen. Information from tank Commander.

Fate of Crew:
Commander, Gunner and Driver: Unhurt.
Co-Driver: Not carried.
Operator: Wounded. Contusion of right shoulder. RTD 2/52. Category A.1.

 

Regiment: 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards

Serial No.: C.20.

Tank:

Mark: VII

W.D. No.: 121812

Date: 23 Apr 1945

Photo No.: 29

Figure No.: -

Range: 50 yds.

Cause of Damage: H.C. (Panzerfaust) penetration.

Fire Damage: Burnt out

Other tanks involved in same incident:

Circumstances: Fired at by Panzerschrek from a farm building 50 yards away. Turret at 12 o’clock.

Position of Hit: Hit from the left rear in the engine compartment. Exact position of hit unknown. Tank had been used for experiments with Panzerfaust before it was examined.

Course & Effect of Projectiles: Tank completely burnt out.

Remarks: Tank seen. Information from Troop Leader.

Fate of Crew:
Crew: Unhurt.