'Halt for a brew', Sicily, 1943

'Halt for a brew', Sicily, 1943 

The crew of a M4 Sherman tank of 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) halt on a road for a mug of tea during the Sicilian campaign. The Sherman tank was comparatively fast, mechanically reliable and easy to manufacture and service. It performed well against most Axis tanks of the time, but the standard Sherman, fitted with a 75 mm gun, was significantly inferior in both armour and armament to the German Panther and Tiger.

From an album containing 246 photographs compiled by Major W H J Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters).

Tiger I 1/72 Sicily 1943 schwere Panzer-Abteilung 504

Tiger I 1/72 Sicily 1943 schwere Panzer-Abteilung 504

Sturmgeschütz III Ausf. F/8 coded “35” from III./Pz.Rgt. HG of Fallschirm-Panzer-Division 1. Hermann Göring, Sicily, July-August 1943,

StuG III Ausf. F/8 Italy 1943

Italian Renault UE, Sicily, July 1943

Italian Renault UE, Sicily, July 1943. The Germans sent about 64 UEs Chenillettes at the end of 1943. Most were kept in Italy and many based in Sicily as infantry ammunition suppliers when Operation Husky began in July 1943. Some were captured and served with US infantry some time during the campaign. There is no known photo of a US captured Renault UE tankette or in Italian service. This illustration is purely a recreation. 

Sherman IIi

M3