The Taking Of The Nijmegen Bridge September 18th 1944

[Deadstick]

The Nijmegen Bridge over the Maas /Waal Canal was one of the targets in operation market garden, on the 18th September at about 08.30 am elements of the US 82nd Airborne Div made a heroic crossing of the canal in flimsy row boats, i have been there and that canal is very wide so no mean task and they managed to take both ends of the Bridge to make way for the British XXX Corp spearheaded by the Guards Armoured Division, interesting thing the first tank over the Bridge was from Capt Peter Carringtons group Grenadier Guards, he became a Member of Parliament after the war, i believe there were three Shermans the first to cross the Bridge followed by Irish Guards infantry.

 

[1srelluc]

I wonder why that Brit (Cruiser, Mk VIII, or Cromwell, can't tell exactly) tank had a star on the back?

 

[Deadstick]

I wonder why that Brit (Cruiser, Mk VIII, or Cromwell, can't tell exactly) tank had a star on the back?

That white star was to signify that they were allied tanks, maybe to avoid friendly fire from the air.

 

[1srelluc]

That white star was to signify that they were allied tanks, maybe to avoid friendly fire from the air.

Perhaps as I've seen WW-2 Brit-made trucks and Bren Carriers with a white star on the side before.

 

[Deadstick]

Perhaps as I've seen WW-2 Brit-made trucks and Bren Carriers with a white star on the side before.

Yes that was the reason for the star.

 

[1srelluc]

Yes that was the reason for the star.

LOL....Yeah the round bullseye might not have worked-out too well.

 

[Deadstick]

LOL....Yeah the round bullseye might not have worked-out too well.

Did you know the British modified the Sherman M4 with a 76.2 mm 17lb anti tank gun so they could go up against the German heavy Panthers and Tigers?

 

[1srelluc]

Did you know the British modified the Sherman M4 with a 76.2 mm 17lb anti tank gun so they could go up against the German heavy Panthers and Tigers?

Yep, the Firefly.

Sherman Firefly - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[AZrailwhale]

LOL....Yeah the round bullseye might not have worked-out too well.

Actually, with how often attacking aircraft missed their targets, perhaps a bullseye might not be such a bad idea.