I didnt get the title of the programme , I think it was called 'suicide tanks' or something. It was all about the poor quality and fighting characteristics of many of the allied tanks.
Well anyway, later in the programme it shows you some handheld filming during a tank battle in a german town.First you are told that a sherman M4 is hit and the film actually shows the crew bailing.The horrific thing is the guy has not foot left as he tumbles out trying to escape.The commentator mentions that the guy bled to death which makes veiwing it a little bit morbid.
Then it shows a pershing tank move forward to intercept the german tan, which is a Panther and he is reversing swiftly away from the pershings huge gun. The gunner is interveiwed and he mentions how the panther reversed behind a building and so he took a pot shot at where he thought the tank was THROUGH the building.He is smiling when he says 'I hoped it would go right through and kill the tank'. The film at this point is the most fascinating ive ever seen. The pershing continues to hunt the Panther quite openly as if they are quite sure they can tackle it.Ie they are in the middle of the street moving fast towards the retreating Panther.
Then the gunner says'We suddenly saw the panther and i took a shot on the move, which hit.We then pulled to a stop and i fired and hit again'.
Well this is the amazing shot Id like you all to see, the cameraman actually has the panther in his veiw as it is struck 4 or 5 times! Amazing but sobering because most of the crew are obviously killed in the ensueing inferno!! You actaully see 3 or so holes where the pershings AP go right through, showing up as bright orange circles as they show the burning insides against the black body of the tank.
The last shot of AP is particularly interesting as it really does show how the larger gun of the pershing slices through the armour. The shot is aimed at the thinner side armour behind the tracks and wheels and it hits and rockss the Panther showing a sudden bright ball of flame as you see again the burning insides though the perfectly round AP shell hole. It says the tank burned for 3 days!! and you can well beleive it when you see how furiously the tank burns in the film.
I have to say it was the best piece of documentary film work ive ever seen by the guy who filmed it.I'll keep an eye out for a repeat of this programme an try to get all the names involved as they definately deserve further research.
I now want to see all of this cameramans work.Simply astounding.
made me rethink about how AP shells work i can tell you.They went through the thickest armour like it was butter in the movie.Tony williams you have to see it if you can.A real record of the effectiveness of the later Pershing heavy calibre guns.
AH players after seeing this film may well think twice about how the tanks we drive 'should' stop this or that calibre gun.There are several shots of ap hits on various vehicles and it seemed to show you wasnt safe in a tank. Anything from poor quality armour to an unlucky hit could spell your doom in WW2.Those tank crews were brave bastards!.
