MARINE TANKS

IMAGE GALLERY

In this still image from the 1941 newsreel, a CTL-3A light tank of the 1st Light Tank Bn comes ashore off a Navy landing craft at Onslow Beach, New River, NC. Although called a tank, the CTL-3-series was actually in the tankette class of armored vehicles. United News

In this still from the same sequence as above, a CTL-3A maneuvers at speed at Onslow Beach, NC. This vehicle had a crew of two Marines and mounted three .30 caliber machine guns. It had a range of 125 miles with a top speed of 30 mph. United News

In this still image from the 1942 motion picture To the Shores of Tripoli, an M3 light tank of Co B, 2nd Tank Bn negotiates the driving course at Camp Elliott. None of the machine guns are mounted in this tank. 20th Century Fox

In this still image from the 1942 motion picture To the Shores of Tripoli, the same tank as in the above picture negotiates the driving course at Camp Elliott. Most Marine Corps vehicles were painted forest green, which is clearly evident in these two photos. 20th Century Fox

Blizzard, an M2A4 Stuart tank of the 1st Tank Bn, is lowered over the side of USS Alchiba (AK-24) into a waiting tank lighter off the coast of Guadalcanal, August 1942. This photo illustrates the difficulties in loading tanks before amphibious ships became available in the combat zones. The Alchiba was a gallant ship that was torpedoed twice during the Guadalcanal campaign. US Navy Photo

A Marine light tank crew pauses for maintenance during the extremely tough campaign for Arundel Island in the New Georgia Group. Tank platoons of the 9th, 10th, and 11th Defense Bns fought here in support of US Army infantry from 27 August to 19 September 1943. L-R: Pfc Arnold McKenzie, Los Angeles, Calif.; Pfc Joseph Lodico, Sharon, Mass.; Pvt Noel M. Billups, Columbus Ohio; SSgt Douglas Ayres, Los Angeles. USMC Photo

Tank-Infantry Team, Cape Gloucester, a painting by MTSgt Victor Donahue. This painting depicts a 1st Tank Bn M4A1 medium tank. The jungles of New Britain were among the worst tank country on earth. The M4A1 was the first model of the Sherman that Marines used in combat. USMC Art Collection

The crew of an M3A1 light tank of the 3rd Tank Bn poses with their vehicle and small arms on Bougainville, late-1943. USMC Photo

Roi Island, February 1944. The crew of Killer, a medium tank of Co C, 4th Tank Bn, just before embarking for Hawaii after the battle. L-R: Jesse Mason Jr (loader), Petro Kamilos (ass't driver), Frank Mathis (driver), Chris Kotila (gunner), Sgt Joe Bruno (TC & plt sgt) USMC Photo

April 1944, Camp Tarawa, Hawaii. The crew of B40, an M4A2 in Co B, 2nd Tank Bn poses on the front deck of their tank. USMC Photo

During the assault on Saipan in the summer of 1944, an M4A3 medium tank and 75mm Howitzer Motor Carriages provide fire support for Marine infantry. A fording stack is visible mounted to the rear hull of the tank. These devices enabled the tanks to drive through shallow water onto shore. Still image from USMC combat camera film

Probably taken on Guadalcanal after it became a major staging base, this photo shows an LVT(A)-4 Amtank beneath a camouflage net during a training exercise. USMC Photo

Saipan, 1944. An LVT(A)-1 of the 708th Amphibian Tank Bn (US Army). The 708th was attached to the 4th Marine Division in the Marianas and fielded 68 amtanks, 15 of which were the newer LVT(A)-4 type. Still image from USMC combat camera film

Saipan, 1944. A knocked-out LVT(A)-1 of the 708th Amphibian Tank Bn (US Army). This vehicle was armored with 1-inch of steel plate, but as evidenced in the photo, was vulnerable to Japanese antitank weapons. (in this case, likely a high velocity antitank gun.) Still image from USMC combat camera film

Tinian, 1944. A 4th Tank Bn M4A3 fires its 75mm main gun at a Japanese defensive position. Still image from USMC combat camera film

Corsair, a 2nd Tank Bn M4 medium tank, moves off the beachhead at Tinian, 24 July 1944. The deep fording stacks are still attached. The could be easily ditched from inside the crew compartment by pulling a quick-release cable. USMC Photo

Guam, 1944. A column of M4A2 medium tanks of the Tank Company, 4th Marines, rolls across a clearing. A tankdozer follows the lead vehicle. USMC Photo

An LVT(A)-4 Amtank comes ashore at Peleliu, September 1944. This vehicle mounted a 75mm howitzer and carried 100 rounds of main gun ammo stored onboard. Still image from USMC combat camera film

An infantry Marine speaks to the TC of a Charlie Co, 1st Tank Bn TC on the tank-infantry phone attached to this M4A2 medium tank during the Peleliu campaign, September 1944. The crew of this tank has stacked sandbags over the back deck to provide stand-off against Japanese shaped charge munitions. Still image from USMC combat camera film

Infantry Marines and a 1st Tank Bn M4A2 medium tank advance cautiously through a clearing during the Peleliu campaign, September 1944. The TC has only his head sticking out of his hatch to present the smallest target possible against snipers. Still image from USMC combat camera film

A 1st Tank Bn M4A2 medium tank fires its main gun during the Peleliu campaign, September 1944. The 75mm tank cannon was extremely effective against Japanese fortification and troop positions. Still image from USMC combat camera film

A 1st Tank Bn M4A2 medium tank seen in close-up on Peleliu. This was the first welded hull model of the Sherman. The applique side armor and M34A1 gun mantlet were developed in the "blitz" uparmor program to make the Sherman more survivable. Still image from USMC combat camera film

Comet, an M4A3 medium tank of Charlie Co, 4th Tank Bn, pushes forward in support of infantry Marines on Iwo Jima, 1945. This tank carries several modifications to protect against Japanese antitank munitions, including wooden plank armor on the hull, and extra track sections on the turret. Still image from USMC combat camera film

A section of M4A3 medium tanks of the 5th Tank Bn pushes forward on Iwo Jima. As the tank near the frontlines, both crews will maintain a continual scan through their turret optics. These crews are buttoned up to prevent Japanese infantry from throwing grenades into the crew compartments. Still image from USMC combat camera film

Iwo Jima, 1945. Marines work to recover a 3rd Tank Bn M4A3 that has become mired in the volcanic sand. Still image from USMC combat camera film

Iwo Jima, 1945. Overwatched by a gun tank, a flamethrowing tank shoots a stream of napalm at a Japanese fortification. Still image from USMC combat camera film

Iwo Jima, 1945. Aerial view of hell on earth. A flame tank (upper left corner) scorches out an area of Japanese defensive positions. Flame tanks often expended hundreds of gallons of napalm each day in combat. Still image from USMC combat camera film

Okinawa, 1945. A 6th Tank Bn M4A3 medium tank advances in the attack with infantry Marines. The infantrymen are moving close to the tank to use its armor for maximum protection and to destroy close-in Japanese suicide assaults against the tank. Still image from USMC combat camera film

A flamethrower tank burns out a Japanese emplacement. Even though this hillside is wreathed in fire, infantry Marines nearby maintain watchful guard against sudden enemy infantry attacks. Still image from USMC combat camera film

Iwo Jima, 1945. This photo and the three that follow show crewmen of a 3rd Tank Bn M4A3 medium tank uploading 75mm main gun rounds into their tank. The M4A3 was a gasoline-powered model and this tank wears applique armor in vulnerable locations, which was first instituted in the summer of 1943 in the so-called "blitz" up-armor program. Still image from USMC combat camera film

Okinawa, 1945. Tankers upload their M4A3 with 75mm main gun rounds. The Marine Corps was the primary user of this model of the Sherman in the US forces. It carried 97 75mm main gun rounds. Still image from USMC combat camera film

Iwo Jima 1945. Tankers pass up a crate of 75mm main gun rounds. Each wooden ammo crate carried two rounds. After uploading, the crates were usually thrown away or used for firewood. Still image from USMC combat camera film

Iwo Jima, 1945. A tanker passes down a 75mm main gun round to his buddy in the assistant driver's position. The turret wears the improved M34A1 main gun mount, which gave additional armor protection against frontal turret hits. Still image from USMC combat camera film

Okinawa, 1945. A welder attaches sections of improvised skirt armor to the hull of an M4 medium tank, probably of the 6th Tank Bn. These skirts provided stand-off against Japanese shaped charge weapons, satchel charges thrown into the suspension, and IED's. USMC Photo

Okinawa, 1945. A 6th Tank Bn tankdozer fills an anti-vehicular ditch on the northern part of the island. Commanded by LtCol Robert Denig, Jr., the 6th Tanks suffered the following casualties on Okinawa: KIA: 8, DOW: 2, MIA: 0, WIA, 124. The 6th Tanks was equipped with 46 M4A3 gun tanks, and nine flame throwing tanks. Also, 1st Platoon, Company B, 713rd Armored Flamethrower Battalion (US Army) was attached for the campaign. Still image from USMC combat camera film

Okinawa, 1945. A 6th Tank Bn maintenance crew repairs the damaged track of a medium tank on the front lines. The battalion's M32 tank retriever is parked to the right. These specialized vehicles only became available to Marine tank units late in the war. USMC Photo

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