Shermans versus Panzer IVs in Italy

7th December 1943: A first hand account of a battle when the the "work horse" tanks of the Allies and the Wehrmacht come up against each other

A Sherman tank of 50th Royal Tank Regiment near Caldari, 17 December 1943.

A line of Sherman tanks and their crews await the order to mount up and advance, September 1943

American tank plowing through heavy mud and across a ditch along the Italian front. Crew members are: in turret, L-R, 1st Sgt. Claud Right of Onida, South Dakota, Commander, and Cpl. J. P. Herdeck of Chicago, Ill., Gunner: seated in hatches, L-R, Cpl. Carl M. Temy of Fort White, Florida, Assistant driver, and Cpl. William A. Kelly of Rockway, N.J., Driver. Italy. 3 December 1943.

Much of Italy was not a 'tank country' - but when they could be brought into action, they could transform the situation.

Hit it with probably third shot and pumped in a few more until it brewed up.

The 44th Royal Tank Regiment had been out of the battle since Sicily, reorganising and re-equipping - they now had Sherman Mk IIIs. From November 1943 they had been heavily engaged on the west coast of Italy. Now they were moving forward to support the Canadian infantry, which had attacked a village ahead of them.