Rescue in the Sugar Cane

[aznation]

While on the FultonHistory.com website I ran across this advertisement/story about Chrysler tanks. I thought the drawing and the story behind it was pretty neat.

[aerialbridge]

Very cool drawing and ad copy. Thanks for taking the time to download and post.

[The Rooster]

Cool Post Matt !

 

Heres some info on the escape hatch in Sherman Tanks.

 

The escape hatch on early Shermans with a full turret basket was only really usable by the driver and co-driver. The driver would have to climb over the transmission to get to it, but the area was pretty large to get through. The reason the turret crew couldn’t use it, or it would be hard for them to use it, was the turret basket on early Sherman models it was fully screened in. There were openings, so the loader could reach the hull sponson ammo, but to use these, the turret had to be in the right place and not facing forward. These openings, when turned towards the co-driver or driver would allow them access to the turret, or the turret crew to the hull.

 

When they decided the initial ammo storage layout was too dangerous, they removed the screening, and the ready rounds, making access to the hull for the turret crew much easier, but there was still the turret basket floor, and the braces attaching the floor to the turret to get in the way. As the Sherman matured, the basket on the second generation Shermans was cut back to a half basket, and then eventually removed. Once this was done, using the floor escape hatch was much more convenient for the turret crew.

The Shermans escape hatch was located just behind the 1-inch thick armor under the driver and BOG, where it was only half an inch thick. Far enough back there was not much of a chance of the crew being seen as they exit. The hatch was not used for just escape, I’ve read many accounts of the hatch being used to rescue wounded and or just pinned down men under heavy machine gun fire. The men would be told to lay still, and the tank would be directed onto them by the infantry in the area, in some cases one of them riding in the tank and when close the man on the ground would make sure the tank was going to straddle him and then waited to be run over. Once the tank was over the man, the escape hatch was dropped, the man pulled in and the tank would back out. This could be repeated as needed in the Pacific since in many cases the Japanese had nothing that could take on the Sherman locally.

One final thought on the escape hatch, the reason it was fairly large and far back under the hull was that there were no torsion bars to worry about getting in the way. Later US tanks did have hull escape hatches, but they were usually further forward due to torsion bar use, and different driver’s location. You can see this on the M26 Pershing, where the escape hatches, there was one each for the driver and co-driver, were right under driver and co-drivers station. In some cases large mines could blow this escape hatches up into the crew compartment, injuring the driver or co-driver. This could take place on a Sherman, but no crew member was right over the hatch.

 

[aznation]

Posted Today, 10:36 PM

Very cool drawing and ad copy. Thanks for taking the time to download and post.

 

You're welcome. I thought so. Kind of reminded me of the escape hatch on Fury.

 

Posted Today, 10:46 PM

Cool Post Matt !

 

Heres some info on the escape hatch in Sherman Tanks.

 

Thanks Dave. That's some very interesting information on the escape hatch. I appreciate you adding that. -- Matt

[mikie]

That was interesting. Thanks for sharing!

Mikie

[sgtdorango]

Thanks rooster and aznation that was a fun informative read??....mike