Salvage Sailor Posted December 23, 2011 Share #1 Posted December 23, 2011 Aloha Everyone, I came across this photo today clearly showing the defensive measures taken by USMC tankers in the Pacific Theater to protect their vulnerable hatches. I've seen references to this in several personal accounts and publications, but this is the best photo I've ever seen of the use of penny nails in a combat zone. usmcphoto109641 Photo caption: Iwo Jima, February 21, 1945. Burrowed in the Sand: A Marine medium tank that couldn't navigate the soft volcanic sand on Iwo, is track deep in a pit off the beach. This loose sand of the island proved an asset to the Japanese defenders. Official U.S. Marine Corps Photo [USMC Archives Box 5, Folder 3] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Meatcan Posted December 23, 2011 Share #2 Posted December 23, 2011 verrrrry interesting! makes the Sherman look like some sort of hedgehog. I've not seen that photo before. Thanks for posting! Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blitz67 Posted December 23, 2011 Share #3 Posted December 23, 2011 Could this be the same tank? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blitz67 Posted December 23, 2011 Share #4 Posted December 23, 2011 Could this be the same tank? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m1ashooter Posted December 23, 2011 Share #5 Posted December 23, 2011 Is that concret added to the sides? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted December 23, 2011 Author Share #6 Posted December 23, 2011 Looks like concrete. In the photo I posted, those are wooden boards attached to the tank hull. Both methods were counter-measures to thwart magnetic anti-tank mines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blitz67 Posted December 23, 2011 Share #7 Posted December 23, 2011 I think the wooded boards were attached to the concrete, look at the steel coming out of the concrete, looks like bolts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted December 23, 2011 Share #8 Posted December 23, 2011 Another with concrete and wood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted December 23, 2011 Share #9 Posted December 23, 2011 More nails... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted December 23, 2011 Share #10 Posted December 23, 2011 They used a lot of methods to uparmor their tanks. The Japanese 47mm guns were perfectly capable of knocking out a Sherman and were relatively easy to conceal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1944 Posted December 23, 2011 Share #11 Posted December 23, 2011 Interesting looking Photos there of the Sherman Tank's great Pictures :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted December 23, 2011 Share #12 Posted December 23, 2011 Interesting looking Photos there of the Sherman Tank's great Pictures :thumbsup: Google Sherman tank on Iwo and check out all the photos. I think Iwo may have been the most photographed battle in the Pacific. And decent quality photos too. I have several Sherman photos from that battle alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeeper704 Posted December 24, 2011 Share #13 Posted December 24, 2011 Not to mention those bastards fully loaded with explosives running towards the Shermans. Or trying to climb on top to behead or stab the occupants. Erwin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1944 Posted December 24, 2011 Share #14 Posted December 24, 2011 Google Sherman tank on Iwo and check out all the photos. I think Iwo may have been the most photographed battle in the Pacific. And decent quality photos too. I have several Sherman photos from that battle alone. Hey Jim Thanks for the Information there it is appricated on this side for sure. i sure will check that out and have a look at those photos Thanks Buddie :thumbsup: :thumbsup: Tomás. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usmcski Posted December 24, 2011 Share #15 Posted December 24, 2011 I built an Iwo 5th TB Sherman a few months back, and a GREAT reference is Tank Warfare on Iwo Jima. The book is jam-packed with photos and color profiles of 3rd, 4th, and 5th TB Shermans, each battalion used various measures to protect their tanks against Japanese anti-tank guns and magnetic mines. Here's a quick pic of my Sherman, it's got all the mods typical of 5th TB: penny nails on the turret hatches, cages over the driver's hatches, concrete/wood planking on the hull and bogies, and wading exhausts. Enjoy! Semper, Ski.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted December 24, 2011 Share #16 Posted December 24, 2011 Ski, That is a great looking model!! I think you have it all covered. Very nice work!! :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfields Posted December 25, 2011 Share #17 Posted December 25, 2011 So what was the purpose of the nails? I've never seen or heard of such a thing before. Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
empireguns Posted December 31, 2011 Share #18 Posted December 31, 2011 Thats some great photos and kudos for your model building skills magnificent model. The nails kept the enemy soldiers from accessing or attaching items to the tops of tanks the weakest armor is on top (I think) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve1987 Posted January 1, 2012 Share #19 Posted January 1, 2012 Great pics! Is it just me - or does anybody else prefer the plain jane look of the M4A1 Shermans used by the Marines at Cape Gloucester before they added all these crazy anti-personal defences? -Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harlan Posted January 2, 2012 Share #20 Posted January 2, 2012 Thanks for the great photos guys. I had never even heard of the concrete on the sides and had only seen tracks welded on for added armor. I have an armored 'Iterphone' for a Sherman and it's heavier than you could imagine. I can barely lift it. These were mounted on the rear of Shermans for soldiers outside to communicate with the tank crew. The weight of this thing gives you a idea of how much a whole Sherman must have weighed. (No, I have no idea why I bought it - seemed like the thing to do at the time) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted January 2, 2012 Share #21 Posted January 2, 2012 Now that is cool. It would look great hanging in my man cave!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harlan Posted January 3, 2012 Share #22 Posted January 3, 2012 You'd have to be sure to find a good stud in the wall first! It's been sitting in the corner of my man cave for years. I've thought about selling it, but I'd about have to sell it to someone in person. I can't even imagine how much it would cost to ship it, and I'd have to make a wooden crate to hold it! Impulse buying at Militaria shows because something looks cool doesn't always work out so well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Driver Posted January 4, 2012 Share #23 Posted January 4, 2012 Found this photo in an Iwo P51 pilot's stuff. Another of those Marine Shermans. This one took a pounding The wood/concrete bit was to stop magnetic mines I believe and the nails on the hatches to keep the bad guys from trying to open hatches and drop grenades in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted January 4, 2012 Share #24 Posted January 4, 2012 Great photo! Thanks! My guess is this one was a victim of a mine. The Japanese used aerial bombs that proved devastating to any tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
37thguy Posted January 4, 2012 Share #25 Posted January 4, 2012 Great photo! Thanks! My guess is this one was a victim of a mine. The Japanese used aerial bombs that proved devastating to any tank. Also looks like it was then stripped. The engine appears to be gone, for one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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