"Tank Crew Weapons" Topic

What did each individual tank crew member have available when dismounted. What was carried in the tank? I would like to know what the American and German tankers carried normally. Did they all have the same weapon, or did the commander have something different?

I've read of tank crews using pistols and SMGs. Not sure how many SMGs per tank though.

I imagine who had what and how many of them was dependant upon who was unwounded and clearheaded enough to grab the SMG out of the ready rack during the bail out.

I imagine who had what and how many of them was dependant upon who was unwounded and clearheaded enough to grab the SMG out of the ready rack during the bail out.

I think this is far more important than exact issues of weapons per tank crew. Like any other branch they probably scrounged weapons to supplemented official issues but when the crunch came, often had only seconds to clear a burning tank. Getting out alive superceded getting out armed.

Cheers
Mark

Oddball had a Luger.

I agree with above. If you're bailing out of your tank because it has just been hit, probably nothing more than a pistol. If your tank breaks down and you need to do some walking/scouting/perimeter security for awhile, you grab an smg out of the ready rack.

British TCs often seem to have had grenades available – memoirs often mention them throwing them at close quarter enemy – while still in the turret of the tank.

The U.S. standard was the .45 caliber ACP, also known as the "grease gun". This was from WW2 right up through my military service in the mid-80's.

link

Unfortunately, a couple figure manufacturers make soldiers in poses carrying the grease gun. Even though it looks cool (the American Schmeisser), it wasn't to my knowledge carried by infantry troops as a standard firearm. (I'm sure someone will correct me if this was the case). I don't know if every tanker had one, though.

You have all made extremely good points and I agree. Those are very good and useful points, but let me clarify that I want to know what was the standard equiped armament of a tank crew? And yes, were grenades supplied also?

Hi

My dad carried it, but i am not sure he is "typicl". He was SF, carried both a Garand and a M3. Taught me as a youngin that there were too things you never had too much of, ammo and water!

Rocky

Father (British tank driver) was issued with a pistol. Only ever fired it at a tin can. From his notes it seems unlikely that any British tank crews could be thought of as armed soldiers after leaving the tank. Lack of training and practice as much as lack of weapons.

x42

IIRC, the M3 was issued after production of the M1 Thomson was run down.

Damon.

From notes of various incidents of partizans having to leave their tanks, it is always emphasised that they took the machinegun with them.
And a Soviet war movie depicts Soviet and German bailed out tankers combating each other with pistols.

IIRC I have seen a few photos of M3 Stuarts and M4 Shermans showing the standard loads and gear carried and the individual weapons shown were the 1911A1 Colt pistol and the Thompson M1A1. This makes sense in that the M1 and M3 along with the Colt used the .45 ACP round. There was also about 12 hand grenades carried. The M3 "Grease Gun" was issued of course later in the war. But as has always happened in war the TO&E varied with individual tastes and acquisitions LOL. Robert

M3 Stuart
link

Standard equipment for British tank crews were Webley revolvers, there were also one or more SMGs (Thompson or Sten) inside the vehicle and often a Bren gun (mainly for AA use) plus hand grenades. The exact euipment varied with model of tank, stowage available, and no doubt the personal whim of the Regimental CO. Obviously weapons could be carried in the external stowage, but they weren't much use in a turret bin unless operating dismounted.

Many/most crewmen wore their revolvers in combat, and so had them when they bailed out, other gear tended to be left behind.

The degree of weapons proficiency depended on the training regime in the unit. Phil Barker (yes that one) qualified on the Sten, No 4 Rifle, Bren, Vickers, 2" mortar and ATG – he did have a very understanding CO and didn't actually fire all those weapons…

My favourite WW2 Churchill Tank CO, major John Foley, did practice assiduously with his Webley, and earned the sobriquet 'Deadeye Dick'. He had a chance to practice his pistol skills when his tank was knocked out near Brieux on the Orne, and his crew encountered an MG42 team from 12th SS Panzer Div. He shot them with his Webley, missed them completely of course, but they ran away 'with a wail' leaving their MG behind. One of his colleagues was sometimes to be seen on Hill 112 standing on the back of his Churchill engaging the Germans with a Sten whle shouting insults at them.

There was also the "Tanker" Garand M1E5 and T26 variants that were developed for tank crewmen but never saw service. I would assume that the M1 carbine would have been preferred due to their size. Robert

I was on a tank crew from 1985-1989,the M60a3 Patton, and we carried 45 cal. Colts, and 45 cal. "Grease" guns. Probably the same ones that where used by the vets of WW2 in Shermans.

British crew were also issued Enfield no 2 revolvers, which had the hammer bobbed specifically for their use (couldn't catch on the tank that way).

A little more googling into your question, firezouave, and it appears for the US Army was 2 x .45 ACP grease guns and remainder 1911 .45 pistols per tank crew was the standard.

So just at the break point to count the crew as SMG armed.

T-43 driver's LMG was very easy to pull out- so if they had a moment they did. Ton of Photos available with people running around with these. Standard issue was pistols, I am sure some took PPSHs…

The various US Army tanks have firearms racks built into the tank to hold the Thompson or the Grease Gun. The Thompson was a private venture purchased by the Army and is still being made and sold. The Grease Gun was a replacement version made under contract to the Army because it was way cheaper than the Thompson and much easier to make.

The .45s were issued to the individuals, the submachine guns were issued to the vehicle. Typically two or three, different tanks will vary some. Also the machine guns could be dismounted too. Most US tanks show tripods mounted on the exterior of the vehicles for use when the machine gun was taken out of it's usual spot.

Troops also trained using the .30 caliber machine gun as an a light assault weapon too. Not the M1919A6 version either, but the standard tank version. They use a special glove and hold the barrel. Very John Wayne looking.

Mike "Bunkermeister" Creek
bunkermeister.blogspot.com

German Panzer crews were issued with pistols – vehicles often also had an MP-40, and whatever else they could beg/borrow/steal and stow on the tank – as noted, what they actually took with them when they bailed out depended on the circumstances, but certainly on the Russian Front Panzer crews had a lot to fear from enemy troops

Zaloga in his Osprey book" US Army Tank Crewman 1941-45: European Theater of Operations, 1944-45" mentions individual weapons on page 18.
Robert

link

Some British tank crews also kitted themselves out with a 2-inch mortar; this would be fired from the turrt-top by the commander and was used to lay smoke – either for defensive purposes or for target-marking.

Crews "normally" carried either nothing or a pistol.
In theory there were various weapons in various tanks and even some of the vehicle weapons could be removed.
The mg34 could be removed out of a lot of the co-driver mounts on german tanks.
I suppose if you're in an area infested with soviet infantry and you know burning to death is the least of your problems… Maybe then you take the time to unscrew the mg34 out it's ball mount.
I seem to recall one account of wittman's tank in villers bocage where the machine gun was dismounted in this way.
The AA mg34/mg42 could also be removed and lugged.

A number of british tanks had the 2 inch mortar fitted into the turret top. Are you talking the commander placing his 2 inch mortar on top of the turret and firing it that way? Not heard of that one.

As said above the co-driver's DT LMG in the T34 was intended to be dismounted so the crew could defend the vehicle if it was immobilised. Though I have my doubts that it would have been at the forefront of their attentions as they bugged out.

AON,

Yup – it's mentioned in one or two accounts and I've seen a photo of a Churchill with the (loose) mortar lying next to the commander's cupola.

The 2" mortar is mentioned more than once in fathers notes. I had thought it fixed but never checked that out. Father mentioned it used for signalling.

x42

According to the Kstn German tankers were issued with a pistol and each tank had a SMG available.

link

Greaseguns where used right up through Desert storm. Our mechanics where issued them if they where crew for the Tracked recovery vehicle.

They hated shooting them on the range, so I got to burn through the extra ammo for them, if I helped clean. Talk about a kid in a candystore.

British crew were also issued Enfield no 2 revolvers, which had the hammer bobbed specifically for their use (couldn't catch on the tank that way).

From what I have heard, it was however rather difficult to actually hit somebody with one of these.

"From what I have heard, it was however rather difficult to actually hit somebody with one of these."

Rubbish! If you get a good swing from behind and bring it down quickly enough in one smooth strike you'll hit 9 times out of ten..(more if the target is asleep)

I found this site very informative. Robert

"Organization of Vehicles, Personnel, & Small Arms

The following Table of Organization & Equipment (T/O & E) details the authorized strength of a WWII independent tank battalion during the early part of the Italian Campaign. The 752nd operated under this T/O & E from the time it first arrived in Italy, until a slightly modified T/O & E was put into effect at the start of Winter 1944-1945.

The list shows the full compliment of personnel by rank, the small arms they carried, and the vehicles to which they were assigned. The list scrolls on and on, and in doing so it demonstrates the sheer size and power of a WWII tank battalion. A few minor modifications were made to reflect some known deviations that existed in the 752nd Tank Battalion. "

link

you had to hold them sideways to fire so they swept left to right in a fanning motion, if you fired them straight they would kick up to the left, they only fired on full auto..no selector switch..