15-272 Garand Picture of the Day

[Mark in Rochester]

A platoon leader of C/4th Tk Bn leads infantry inland. Note the fording stacks have been dropped as soon as possible after landing. This battalion fought no enemy tanks, but all operated the M4A2 medium tank, plus a few dozen 'Satan' light flame tanks, on Saipan. (USMC Photo)

Information

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[CINDERS]

So the M-1 carbine GI on the Rt does it have the grenade launching attachment and the GI behind the Rt track is that a BAR.......even way back then King Kong was news who was the actress in the original B/W

[Tom in N.J.]

Fay Wray....

[fboyj]

I think you right on both counts cinders. Hard to tell with the Marine with the BAR but look at his belt. That looks like the pouches for the BAR magazines

[M1903Guy]

On the left rear of the Sherman, the telephone box looks open with the wire leading to either the Marine with the M1 withBayonet mounted (can't tell if he's holding the handset or grabbing a smoke) or the Marine in front of him. Given the proximity of the the radioman, I'd guess the Marine with the M1 is the platoon leader. Had those rear mounted phones for coordination with dismounted troops up until quite late. The turbine engines on the M1s push too much hot air for anyone to stand behind them long.

[browningautorifle]

I never felt comfortable using the tank phone. Half the time they didn't work and then you're behind a monster that can service reverse out of "Danger" because no one knows your there. I was missed by inches once like that.

[CINDERS]

Cannot say the theater of operations but it appears to have the wading gear still attached on the rear hull or if it has the props as they are obscured by the soldiers I do not know why the guys on the Rt side are not under cover unless the tankers have just dispatched the threat. One pretty lame question is that a napalm tank behind the turret for a flame thrower as it seems very exposed for such nasty stuff, as if the poor old M-4's reputation for flammability was not bad enough.......

[RT Ellis]

If the caption information is accurate you have a choice of Saipan or Tinian. I would guess Saipan. Oops, just noticed the caption specifies the location as Saipan, 1 - 0 for me. I looked up the Marine 4th Tank Battalion history and it only mentions the use of the Satan configuration by 4th Tank Battalion on those two islands. BTW the Marine flame thrower tanks were also known as Ronsens but not for the reason M4s were said to be called that term in the ETO.

The M4 is equipped with a wading trunk, not flotation gear, so is not a dual drive tank. As far as I know M4DDs were only used in the ETO.

Notice the addition of wood planking on the side of the hull to defeat the attachment of magnetic mines. This scene is the ideal infantry-tank team with the tank providing the firepower and the infantry keeping enemy sappers from closing on the tanks.