In 1941 the War Dept. activated the Tank Destroyer Forces.
There first mission was in the Tunisian Campaign in November of 1942 equipped with an M3 Half-Track that had a
75mm Gun motor carriage. In 1943 the M10 Tank Destroyer saw the beginning of its service. This vehicle with an
open turret and armed only with a high powered 3 inch gun challenged the German Panzers. The M18 "Hellcat"
enter the fighting in 1944. This vehicle was the first full tracked vehicle designed as a Tank Destroyer.
Armed with a 76mm gun this vehicle was the fastest armored vehicle in World War II. The Tank Destroyer forces were
abandoned in the fall of 1945 due to the M26 Pershing with its 90mm gun that burst into combat action.
The men who made up the Tank Destroyer Force had guts to go into battle with very little protection and seek out ,
strike and destroy enemy tanks before they could do harm to US forces. The fatality rate was very high among Tank Destroyer Soldiers.
This exhibit salutes their courage!
Here is a very unique collection item. A motorcycle kidney belt. It is aged but in very good condition. The Tank Destroyer emblem
is painted on the belt. Who ever wore this belt we salute you!
Here are two patches that were worn by
Tank Destroyer Soldiers.
Here is a sneak preview of one of the newest murals
that has been added to the collection. This is a scene from Vietnam with the Scorpion Tank Destroyer overturned and left for scrap.
In the background you can see the Vietnamese going about their business picking rice, as the vehicle is being taken over by vegetation.
In 1941 the War Dept. activated the Tank Destroyer Forces.
There first mission was in the Tunisian Campaign in November of 1942 equipped with an M3 Half-Track that had a
75mm Gun motor carriage. In 1943 the M10 Tank Destroyer saw the beginning of its service. This vehicle with an
open turret and armed only with a high powered 3 inch gun challenged the German Panzers. The M18 "Hellcat"
enter the fighting in 1944. This vehicle was the first full tracked vehicle designed as a Tank Destroyer.
Armed with a 76mm gun this vehicle was the fastest armored vehicle in World War II. The Tank Destroyer forces were
abandoned in the fall of 1945 due to the M26 Pershing with its 90mm gun that burst into combat action.
Here is a very unique collection item. A motorcycle kidney belt. It is aged but in very good condition. The Tank Destroyer emblem
is painted on the belt. Who ever wore this belt we salute you!
