Crew of an ACS M10 (Wolverine) self-propelled gun, 703rd Tank Destroyer Battalion of the 3rd Armored Division, pose in a pit near the French town of Marigny.


In the pit

Shermans of the US 9th Army in German mud, early 1945. 

 Tracks distribute the weight of a tank, like laying your own road, biting into it with the drive sprocket and pulling yourself along it. However if you belly out in mud, the tracks can spin around and the tank becomes stuck - then it’s out with the tow rope (seen at the ready here on the front right) or shovels and timber are needed to give the tracks purchase.
(Thetankmuseum)

Stuck like glue

M4 Sherman medium tanks were the most numerous battle tanks used by the US and some western allies during WWII. Its productions continued from 1941 to 1945 and 49,234 units were produced. M4 Sherman tank had several variants and there were a number of M4 Sherman-based vehicles including the Mine Exploder T10. It was a remote controlled unit. Its underside was thickened with 25mm steel and the sides were adapted to give room for the huge 96 inch wheels. The rear wheel had a diameter of 72 inches. It weighed 116,400 lbs and could attain a maximum speed of 3kmph while clearing mines and 10kmph on a clear road. The T10 was tested in 1944 but was rejected due to its heavy weight and related drawbacks.