I think these commanders at the time had faulty understanding, and the myth continues today, that petrol fuelled tanks were intrinsically prone to instantaneous fuel fires when hit.

In fact once ignited diesel has more heat output and is more difficult to extinguish, the main reason for the petrol fire myth is poor design in ammunition stowage.

The initiator is shell propellant and far more dangerous than petrol or diesel oil, it really makes no difference what the fuel is when just one case is ruptured and the resulting virtual aerosol of propellent charge is ignited.

German tanks did not catch fire readily at all and almost entirely owing to good design and therefore protection of the main gun ammunition. So much so that the average lay-man here at least has a belief that WWII German tanks were all diesel powered because when hit immediate fires didn't occur.

I think Hanno can add something to this, especially the Sherman mods that saw appliqué armour placed in the vulnerable places and IIRC some research that suggests American crewed Shermans went on fire at a rate 5 times greater pro rata than equivalent British operated vehicles because of the US practice of sneaking in extra main gun rounds wherever they could be tucked away.

R.