January 1945: Hard going for US tanks at Amonines, Belgium, on the northern flank of the 'Battle of the Bulge'.


Icy road

During the Philippine's campaign the 716th Tank Battalion fought against elements of the Japanese 2nd Armored Division which resulted in some of the rare tank battles of the PTO. Here, “Classy Peg” of Co. C, passes out a Type 97 kai Shinhoto Chi-Ha medium tank knocked out during fighting near Linmangsen while the battalion was supporting the 43rd Infantry Division. Note the hit on the right sponson just below the hull roof on the Japanese tank.

Tank battle

A relatively recent photo of an M4A3E2 &quot;Jumbo Sherman&quot; with a 76mm gun.  The Jumbos were originally armed with the standard 75mm gun, although they were designed for the 76mm, but as they were to presumably be used against static fortifications and troops, it was thought the 75mm short gun was a better choice.  After the inital tanks were delivered, several units began to add armor on to their existing Shermans, especially those M4A3E8's with the 76mm gun creating over 100 &quot;Field Expedient Jumbos&quot;, some of which spearheaded the drive to relieve Bastogne in the Battle of the Bulge.  The Jumbos actually had thicker armor than a Tiger I tank.  --Nick