Sherman Tank, Hatches- Can they be locked from the inside?

[Flying10uk]

Last night I watched the Film "Fury" staring Brad Pit and more importantly, to us, a Sherman Tank. The film seems to suggest that once the crew has climb inside the hull and closed down/secured all the hatches they can't actually be locked shut from the inside and the hatches can still be opened from the outside without having to release anything from the inside first. We are talking about a normal standard, as issued, WW2 Sherman Tank with no special modifications.

Is the film correct; there is/was no method of locking the hatches shut from the inside? I can see the logic in being able to open the hatches from the outside if for example the crew had been seriously injured by an A.P. round hit but I can also see the logic in wanting to lock the hatches from the inside if you wish to keep "undesirables" out.

Information

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[Aragorn243]

Sherman tank hatches could be locked very easily by turning a handle on the inside.

They usually were not. At least one hatch was almost always open to provide air to the interior and to allow the tank commander or driver to see where they were going and/or where the enemy was. Visibility from inside a tank is not good. They would typically button up only when subjected to close infantry attack.

[CINDERS]

Try this lot F10 goes through allot of real AFV's knows what its about being an Ex British Tank Commander from the Gulf war he is pretty dry and does not mind sticking it to the designers or operational shortcomings of the vehicles.

[Peter Laidler]

The N Korean and Chinese Infantry were taught to swamp tanks and destroy the observation optics, aerials etc etc with pencil charges. So locking down was the obvious thing to do. Especially as the other tanks could hose them off with MG fire - or the most feared cannister rounds. Think of a 120mm shotgun...........

[matthanne1]

There is a hatch crank on most modern AFVs, I have one used for Soviet designs, for example. Simple keyhole and lever pusher design for driver and commander hatches. Used to open a secured vehicle but not in a combat situation, as that would be hazardous to your health.

[Flying10uk]

That's an interesting video, Cinders, thanks for finding it.

[browningautorifle]

if for example the crew had been seriously injured by an A.P. round hit

If a tank takes a hit from an AP round, the hatches may or may not be needed...the turret will be lying beside the hull. If that doesn't happen, the hatches will be open...

[Aragorn243]

If a tank takes a hit from an AP round, the hatches may or may not be needed...the turret will be lying beside the hull. If that doesn't happen, the hatches will be open...

Not necessarily, the crew just might be hamburger. Supposedly, the Israelis took knocked out Syrian tanks and started them right up after minor repairs and cleaning. Not a job I would want.

[Flying10uk]

If a tank takes a hit from an AP round, the hatches may or may not be needed...the turret will be lying beside the hull. If that doesn't happen, the hatches will be open...

Would it not depend partly on the distance from the tank that the A.P. round was fired, the calibre, where the hit was, angle of hit and a number of other variables as to whether or not the turret is on or off the hull, the hatches are open or closed and the state of the crew?

[old tanker]

On US tanks of my acquaintance, all the hatches could be secured from the inside. When parking the tank, all the hatches were secured from the inside with the exception of the loader's hatch which was secured with a padlock. It was possible on a tank so secured to gain access by tapping on the drivers IR periscope mount cover. With a bit of patience and luck you could get the periscope lid to unlatch, then you could reach in a just manage to unlock the driver's hatch. In practice, if the crew has locked the hatches from the inside and the dude outside can just rip it open like in the movies, he does not need the grenade. He should be wearing blue tights with a big red "S" on his chest.