Stopping the Panzers

[sapper740]

Originally Posted by John McGillivray

The gunners found that there was no need to lead the target because with an m/v of 4050 F/S the tungsten shot would reach a target at 900 yards in about 1/8 of a second.

Must be that New Math they're teaching these days!

[John McGillivray]

Originally Posted by sapper740

Must be that New Math they're teaching these days!

That was partly my error. The quote in the book is;
“ …it was deployed and used to engage targets at 900 yards or less – in fact, seldom more than 500 yards. At that distance the tungsten dart reached its target in about an eight of a second ;… ‘

500 yards at 4050f/s it should be about 3/8 of a second, and 900 yards in about 5/8 of a second.

[maple_leaf_eh]

I have been rereading the regimental history of the 27th Armoured Regiment which was one third of 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade. The fortress position in mentioned as a nighttime formation on the night of 6 June, and elsewhere.

The Fireflies were unfortunately bullet magnets. The immediate shakeout after the landings was that Troop Leaders had the Fireflies, and suffered badly. Of the twenty Lts who landed, six were killed and three more wounded in the first three days. Almost 50% casualties. Then they changed tanks and gave the Fireflies to Sergeants.

[cletrac (RIP)]

So the tank is crossing at 30 mph at 500 yards. That's 16.5 feet he travels in that 3/8 of a second. At 900 yards he's moved over 28 feet. I'd be hanging on a bit of lead I think. Those boys wouldn't have much luck shooting a running deer!

[John McGillivray]

Originally Posted by cletrac

So the tank is crossing at 30 mph at 500 yards. That's 16.5 feet he travels in that 3/8 of a second. At 900 yards he's moved over 28 feet. I'd be hanging on a bit of lead I think. Those boys wouldn't have much luck shooting a running deer!

WWII German tanks going 30 miles cross country? With tanks like the Panther you wouldn’t have to shoot them. You would just wait for the fools to destroy their suspension and final drives.

[Jon Skagfeld]

I've just finished reading the book.

Bottom line...the 3rd Cdn Div did its assigned invasion task...i.e. "Stopping the Panzers".

I wondered why the Canadians landed with American SP Priests, while the Americans landed with Canadian built Sextons?

All in all, a good addition to my D Day library.

[John McGillivray]

Originally Posted by Jon Skagfeld

I've just finished reading the book.

I wondered why the Canadians landed with American SP Priests, while the Americans landed with Canadian built Sextons?
.

Jon, it was the British on Gold Beach who landed with the Sextons and not the Americans. The original Sexton I was built to fill a British order.
The Americans tried to land with 105mm guns firing from DUKWs, but due to high seas all but two were swamped and sunk well short of the beach.

[Roger Lucy]

I found it a convincing book and his use of Allied archival material is very good. On the German side it's weaker, and based on secondary source English language accounts. I think he overestimates the strength of 21Pz a lot of whose armour was French or obsolescent German kit. I can't imagine even a Canadian anti-tank gunner (who on occasion were known to mistake Staghounds for Panthers) could confuse a 9 tonne Lorraine Schlepper with a PaK40 for a 50 tonne Tiger. There is no such thing as an SP 10cm Czech howitzer nor a German 1.8mm mortar (talk about "Neede guns")

Originally Posted by Jon Skagfeld

I wondered why the Canadians landed with American SP Priests, while the Americans landed with Canadian built Sextons?
.

You will find the answer to that on page 111 of Canada's Pride, the Ram Tank and its Variants" Service Publications, 2014.
The Sexton would indeed have performed marvelously in this role as landing trials in 1943 showed its superiority to the Priest. However
" As part of the invasion force the field regiments of 3rd Canadian Infantry Division were to be equipped with SPs, but had to start training by 1 October 1943. The CAOS could only expect to have 46 Sextons on hand by then, while the WO could provide 96 M7s 105mm SPs immediately. On 2 August 1943, First Canadian Army decided to accept the M7 as a “reasonably good substitute” for the Ram SP. "
I found it interesting to learn therefore that one British Field Regiment did land with Sextons, but in November 1943 with the dispatch of 5 CAD to Italy and reequipping 19 Field Rgt RCA with Priests, all surplus Canadian Sextons were handed over to the Brits and it was agreed that Future Canadian Sexton support and requirements would be met from the British stocks.

[John McGillivray]

Originally Posted by maple_leaf_eh

I have been rereading the regimental history of the 27th Armoured Regiment .

Where did you get the copy of their history. I have copies of the histories of 1st Hussars and Fort Garry Horse.

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by John McGillivray

Where did you get the copy of their history. I have copies of the histories of 1st Hussars and Fort Garry Horse.

I have had this copy for decades. It was a private publication in 1958. I can copy sections for you, but the book stays with me!