temujin77

What kind of tank is it in this photograph?

WW2DB: [Photo] African-American troops of the US Army 24th Infantry Division advancing behind a tank, near Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, circa early 1944

Thanks!

__________________
Pete
World War II Database

Shamus

That would be an M4 Sherman methinks....but considering my track record lately

__________________
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but
it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.

temujin77

LOL, I know what you mean Shamus, that's why I gave up trying to pretend I can identify aircraft and tanks like some kind of expert. Instead, I now leave it up to the *real* experts!

TopHatter

Obviously a Sherman of some kind...the question is, which variant?

Shamus

According to the divisional history of the 24th,they never fought on Bougainville .

Shamus

According to the 24th Division history,they fought on Hollandia and Leyte,Plus the 34th Infantry Regiment was attached to the 41st Infantry Division for the Invasion of Biak.Also,no mention of African American soldiers in the Division.

temujin77

Hm really? But it said so on United States National Archives' website:

"14. "Negro troops of the 24th Infantry, attached to the Americal Division, wait to advance behind a tank assault on the ***[anese], along Empress Augusta Bay on Bougainville." 1944. 111-SC-202491 (african_americans_wwii_014.jpg)"

temujin77

Ooh, did I mistakenly assumed the 24th is a division instead of a smaller unit?

Shamus

Nope,the 24th is a division,but the soldiers in this picture(If the battle is correct)are from the 25 Infantry Regiment of the 93rd Infantry Division.Here is a portion of the Division history-On March 21, 1944 the commanding general, United States Army Forces in the South Pacific area ordered the 93rd Infantry Division to move its 25th Combat Team to Empress Augusta Bay Perimeter on Bougainville Island with the least practically delay. The combat team was composed of the 25th Indantry Regiment, 593rd Field Artillery Battalion, 596th Field Artillery Battalion, Company A of the 318th Combat Engineer Battalion, Company A of the 318th Medical Battalion, one platoon of Company D, 318th Medical Battalion, 93rd Reconnaissance Troop, a detachment of the 93rd Signal Company, a detachment of the 793rd Ordnance Company, and a detachment of the 93rd Military Police Platoon.

Interesting history for both divisions.

smilingassassin

It appears to be an M4A3 Sherman given its welded upper hull and lack of tread skirts. IIRC the M2 version was identical except it had tread skirts while the A1 vesion had the rounded cast upper hull.

__________________
Facts to a liberal is like Kryptonite to Superman.

-- Larry Elder

sappersgt

Idle thought. Did the 24th Division fight in Korea? I was thinking black troops (Truman's desegregation) and Shermans.

Edit: Saw your post on the battle group. I was under the impression that during WWII black troops were limited to noncombatant roles due to segregation. Would the ordnance or Engineer company would fit that description?

__________________
Reddite igitur quae sunt Caesaris Caesari et quae sunt Dei Deo
(Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things which are God's)

Shamus

Yep,they did Sarge,but they are not known as an African-American Division like the 93rd was in WWII.

dalem

In WWII several all-black units saw direct combat - mostly artillery battalions if I remember correctly, but I can remember reading of at least one all-black TD (SP) unit in Europe and I think a regiment in the 34th (?) division? All from memory, sorry.

-dale

Shamus

Good one Dale-761st Tank Battalion

Shamus

They rescinded that restriction later in the war due to political pressure I believe at least in part by Eleanor Roosevelt.