M10 Achilles IIC - Canadian S 290465

lillejens · #1 05-06-09, 11:57

Does anybody have any information on this tank destroyer - I have found the following through Missing Lynx:
S290465
19 Mar 45 Issued to 259 Corps Delv Sqn (1st Corps), Received from 171 Veh Pk
08 Apr 45 Issued to B Sqn 1st Cnd Corp, Received from 259 Corps Delv Sqn (1st Corps)
31 May 45 Issued to 167 Veh Pk 1517AOD, Received from B Sqn 1st Cnd Corps.

The vehicle was delivered from Canada to Denmark in the 50'es along with 47 other M10 Achilles.
In 2006 our small private museum had the vehicle handed over from the Danish Army (as a loan) - since then we have repaired it to a runner.
Pictures can be supplied - if anyone is interested.

Please give any information on this vehicles.

Regards
lillejens

lillejens · #2 07-06-09, 19:12

IMG_0857.jpg P6012546.JPG P5312534.JPG

This is pictures from last weekend, where the M-10 was presented for the public for the first time.

As written above we found the number S290465 under several layers of paint and the information on the number came from a canadian - 08 Apr 45 Issued to B Sqn 1st Cnd Corp. The vehicle is from 1943 and it must have a history from 43 to 45 especially because it has two serious shots in the front (transmission area) - one ricochet and one repaired piercing shot. It could have had a completely different number before S290465 and can have belonged to a different unit, but again there is no information at the Royal Artillery Museum and nothing from Bovington. Maybe someone here on the forum knows more??
Anyway there should exist a war diary from B Sqn 1st Cnd Corp 4 Canadian Corps.

Best regards
lillejens

tankbarrell · #3 08-06-09, 09:13

The WD number you found would only ever have been issued to that one vehicle. They were not transferred.

It is hard to find histories for individual vehicles, hopefully you will get lucky and either find a listing or better still a photo!

Niels V · #4 08-06-09, 18:59

here are some more pictures

John McGillivray · #5 08-06-09, 22:29

The time period of March-April 1945 is when the 1st Cdn Corps transferred from Italy to North West Europe. The only two units that would have used 17pdr M-10s were the 4th Anti-Tank Regiment RCA of the 5th Canadian Armoured Regiment; and the 7th A/T Regt. RCA of the 1st Cdn Corps Artillery. Both Regiments would have had two batteries of towed 17pdrs and two SP btys with 17pdr M-10s.

Note that the 4th A/T Regt were using 3 inch M-10s in Italy which were replaced by 17pdr M-10s after the move to NWE. 7th A/T Regt was using 17pdr Valentines (Archers) in Italy. These were returned to the British in Italy and the Regiment received 17pdr M-10 in NWE.

lillejens · #6 09-06-09, 20:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by John McGillivray

The time period of March-April 1945 is when the 1st Cdn Corps transferred from Italy to North West Europe. The only two units that would have used 17pdr M-10s were the 4th Anti-Tank Regiment RCA of the 5th Canadian Armoured Regiment; and the 7th A/T Regt. RCA of the 1st Cdn Corps Artillery. Both Regiments would have had two batteries of towed 17pdrs and two SP btys with 17pdr M-10s.

Note that the 4th A/T Regt were using 3 inch M-10s in Italy which were replaced by 17pdr M-10s after the move to NWE. 7th A/T Regt was using 17pdr Valentines (Archers) in Italy. These were returned to the British in Italy and the Regiment received 17pdr M-10 in NWE.

Hi John - thank you for your answer. Your information correspond with what we found out - i.e. that it must have been part of 4th A/T Regt - B squadron - We have marked it as B2 (second vehicle in B squadron) - the information on Italy and 3 inch M-10's and the receavement of new Achilles is new to us and very interesting. That of course explains the high WD number.

lillejens

lillejens · #7 09-06-09, 20:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Niels V

here are some more pictures

Tak Niels - I hope You had a nice time at the Græsted Veteran Træf - I can see from the pictures, that you must be one of the DMKF-boys - anyway one of the pictures is from the evening before the actual opening. Right?

Niels V · #8 10-06-09, 10:54

Hej Jens
Yes the Græsted show was really great this year, many different vehicles lots to see.
It was nice to see some of your stuff also.
There are some pictures from the show here http://www.ghrvpk.dk/graested2009.htm if any one wants to see.
Yes I am menber of DMKF and GHRVPK and accutualy spent quit a lot time talk to your group...
Cheers

lillejens · #9 09-06-09, 20:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by tankbarrell

The WD number you found would only ever have been issued to that one vehicle. They were not transferred.

It is hard to find histories for individual vehicles, hopefully you will get lucky and either find a listing or better still a photo!

Tankbarrel - thank you for your answer. This helps ok - but of course it would have been interesting with a history before the one allready mentioned. The WD number is quite high - I haven't seen that high a number in Normandy for instance?