Jagdpanther versus M-36 Jackson. Germany, March 17, 1945.

A German Jagdpanther destroyed by US M36 belonging to 899th Tank Destroyer Battalion. Germany, March 1945.

A German Jagdpanther destroyed by US M36 belonging to 899th Tank Destroyer Battalion. Kaimig rural area, near the town of Hargarten, Germany, March 17, 1945.

Jagdpanther versus M-36 Jackson

A German Jagdpanther (1) destroyed by Americans M36 belonging to the 899th Tank Destroyer Battalion.

The 899th TD Battalion was attached to the 9th Infantry Division as antitank support. The battalion had received the month before the new M36 and some M36B1 (M4A3 Sherman chassis with the turret of the M36).

Both types of tank destroyers were armed with powerful 90-mm M3 anti-tank gun, derived of the M1A1 antiaircraft gun.

This gun was also installed in the U.S. M26 Pershing heavy tanks, who fought in Europe in 1945 (2).

Their anti-tank ballistic characteristics were similar to those of the German 8.8-cm Flak 36 anti-aircraft gun and its version for installed tanks Tiger I heavy carriage: 8.8 cm Kampfwagenkanone 36 L/56 (8.8 cm KwK 36 L/56).

The 899 TD Battalion was one of the first American armored units cross the bridge at Remagen, the March 8, 1945.

Ten days later, on March 17, the battalion was facing in open field, in the rural area of Kaimig, with armored elements belonging to one German Panzer Division (3).

This agricultural area was near Hargarten, village located north east of the bridge at Remagen, of which was about ten kilometers.

In this unusual bout (3), between these two types of tank destroyers divergent conceptually, at least one more Jagdpanther was destroyed.

In No. 123 Jagdpanther photo shows two 90-mm impacts. on the rear side corresponding to the engine compartment.

It is also quite likely that this Jagdpanther No. 123 previously received other direct impacts on his frontis inclined.

This type of frontal impact, would have also received another Jagdpanther mentioned above. This was shot in the left chain and another pierced his armor sloped front glacis. Because of these two shots, the Jagdpanther was destroyed and burned.

It should be noted that the M36 tank destroyer that appears in the photograph, and that certainly participated in this fight, not intact, but does not show too many outward signs of being hit, at least directly, by one of the powerful guns of August, 8-cm. (PaK 43/3 L/71) of Jagdpanthers. NOTE: After writing this text I have obtained a similar picture, but higher resolution, which itself is seen an impact on the front glacis M36. This picture is going to go up in the next post.

(1) Schwerer Panzerjäger V (8.8 cm PaK 43/3 L/71) "Jagdpanther" (Sd.Kfz. 173). Belonging to schwere Heeres-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 654 (KG Paffrath).

(2) Only the first 20 M26 (T26E3), which were deployed in Europe in January 1945, participated in combat operations during World War II.

(3) In the last months of the war panzer some companies belonging to Pz.Div., Tank destroyers were added "Jagdpanther" instead of the usual tanks Panther and Panzer IV. This was especially so in the Panzer Lehr Division and the 116th Panzer Division.

You see, in relation to the "Tank Destroyer Battalion": http://www.tankdestroyer.net/

and also this curious study in PDF:

http://www.bobvetsneks.com/Reports/Infantry%20Narratives/Carter,%20Daniel%20M.%20MAJ.pdf

THE OPERATIONS OF THE 899TH TANK DESTROYER BATTALION (ATTACHED TO THE 4TH INFANTRY DIVISION) FOR THE PERIOD OF 2 - 18 JUNE 1944 ON THE NORMANDY PENINSULA (NORMANDY CAMPAIGN)

(Personal Experiences of a Battalion Operations Officer)

schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 654:
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/schwPzJAbt/schwPzJAbt654-R.htm

********************************

Un cazacarros alemán Jagdpanther contra un cazacarros norteamericano M-36 Jackson

Un cazacarros alemán Jagdpanther(1) destruido por M36 norteamericanos pertenecientes al 899º Batallón Cazacarros (899th Tank Destroyer Battalion).

El “899º Tank Destroyer Battalion” estaba agregado a la 9ª División de Infantería como soporte anti-carros. El batallón había recibido el mes anterior los nuevos M36 así como algunos M36B1 (Chasis del Sherman M4A3 con la torreta del M36).

Ambos tipos de cazacarros estaban armados con el potente cañón anti-tanque M3 de 90-mm., derivado del cañón antiaéreo M1A1.

Este cañón también se instaló en los carros pesados norteamericanos M26 Pershing, que combatieron en Europa en 1945(2).

Sus características balísticas anti-tanque eran similares a las del cañón antiaéreo alemán de 8,8-cm Flak 36 y también a su versión para carros de combate, instalada en el carro pesado Tiger I:  8,8 cm Kampfwagenkanone 36 L/56 (8,8 cm KwK 36 L/56).

El 899º Batallón TD fue una de las primeras unidades blindadas norteamericanas en atravesar el puente de Remagen, el 8 de marzo de 1945.

Diez días después, el 17 de marzo, el batallón se enfrentaba en campo abierto, en la zona rural de Kaimig, con elementos blindados pertenecientes una Panzer División alemana(3).

Esta zona agrícola estaba próxima a Hargarten, población situada al noreste del puente de Remagen, del que distaba unos diez kilómetros.

En este combate poco usual(3), entre estos dos tipos de cazacarros conceptualmente divergentes, al menos otro Jagdpanther más resultó destruido.

En el Jagdpanther Nº 123 de la fotografía se aprecian dos impactos de 90-mm. en el lateral trasero correspondiente al compartimento del motor.

También es bastante probable que este Jagdpanther Nº 123 recibiera con anterioridad otros impactos directos en su frontis inclinado. 

Este tipo de impactos frontales, los habría recibido también el otro Jagdpanther mencionado anteriormente. Éste recibió un impacto en la cadena izquierda y otro que le atravesaba el blindaje inclinado del glacis delantero. Como consecuencia de esos dos disparos, este Jagdpanther resulto destruido e incendiado.

Hay que advertir que el cazacarros M36 que aparece en la fotografía, y que sin duda participó en este combate, no está intacto, aunque no muestra demasiados signos externos de haber sido alcanzado, al menos directamente, por alguno de los potentes cañones de 8,8-cm. (PaK 43/3 L/71) de los Jagdpanthers. NOTA: Después de escribir este texto he obtenido una foto similar, pero de mayor resolución, donde sí se aprecia un impacto en el glacis frontal del M36. La fotografía la voy a subir en el siguiente post.

(1) schwerer Panzerjäger V (8,8 cm PaK 43/3 L/71) « Jagdpanther » (Sd.Kfz. 173). Perteneciente al schwere Heeres-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 654 (KG Paffrath).

(2) Sólo los 20 primeros M26 (T26E3), que fueron desplegados en Europa en enero de 1945, participaron en acciones bélicas durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial.

(3) En los últimos meses de la guerra a algunas compañías panzer, pertenecientes a las Pz.Div., se les agregaron cazacarros "Jagdpanther" en lugar de los habituales carros de combate Panther y Panzer IV. Esto ocurrió así, especialmente, en la División Panzer Lehr y en la 116 Panzer División.

Puedes ver, en relación a los “Tank Destroyer Battalion”: http://www.tankdestroyer.net/

y también este curioso estudio en PDF:

http://www.bobvetsneks.com/Reports/Infantry%20Narratives/Carter,%20Daniel%20M.%20MAJ.pdf

THE OPERATIONS OF THE 899TH TANK DESTROYER BATTALION (ATTACHED TO THE 4TH INFANTRY DIVISION) FOR THE PERIOD OF 2 - 18 JUNE 1944 ON THE NORMANDY PENINSULA (NORMANDY CAMPAIGN)

(Personal Experiences of a Battalion Operations Officer)

schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 654:
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/schwPzJAbt/schwPzJAbt654-R.htm

Spanish Republican Field Armored Truck. Barcelona, Spain, 1936.

Spanish Republican Field Armored Truck, Type 2, performed in the collectivized factory "Constructora Field" of Barcelona to support of the anarcho-syndicalist CNT columns, in the Aragon front. Late summer of 1936.