70 th anniversary of D-Day

[Potstubsdustbins]

For those interested a few facts about the British 17 pounder anti tank gun which was also fitted to the Sherman tank known as the Firefly.

When fitted to the Sherman during WW2 the gun in the later stages of the war used as its main armour defeating round a APCBC with a velocity of some 2900fps this could penetrate 111mm of armour at 2000 yards.

It was so successful that when the new tank came on line the Centurion Mk1 it retained the 17 pounder but used an APDS round with a velocity of some 3950fps this could penetrate 161mm of armour at 2000 yards.

[Nicos]

This explains the problems with the bocage ( enclosed small fields) quite well.

Innovation Lessons from the Battle of Normandy | Sviokla

This is the countryside where I live now.
Most of the 'hedgerows' also have huge glacial boulders up to 4ft in diameter integrated into them.
You really wouldn't want to either cross that pathway, or go along it knowing there were snipers just watching you approach.

very brave lads I think.

[bearded bloke]

Somewhere there is footage of a sherman breaking through a "hedgerow" in the Bocage,not found it yet but this is quite interesting ...

... there are 4 more prior to this that make up the tank campaign in Normandy.

[bearded bloke]

Ere we go .........