| 3 Nazi German soldiers run past a M4A4 Sherman “Crab” flail mine-clearing tank leading Task Force C into Saint Lô on Route D6. on the evening of July 16, United States Army 29th Infantry Division Commander, Major General Charles Hunter Gerhardt (June 6, 1895 – October 9, 1976), organized a special armored column under the assistant division commander, Brigadier General Norman D. (“Dutch”) Cota (May 30, 1893 – October 4, 1971), to be held in readiness for a powerful sweep into Saint Lô. Named Task Force C (after Cota), it comprised the Division Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop (less 1 platoon), a platoon of 5 Shermans of the 747th Tank Battalion, the Reconnaissance Platoon of the 821st Tank Destroyer Battalion, Company B of the 803rd Tank Destroyer Battalion, a platoon each of Canon Company and Anti-Tank Company of the 175th Infantry Regiment, a platoon of the 121st Engineer Battalion, a detachment from the 29th Military Police Platoon, a Civil Affairs detachment, and 2 artillery observer parties. Leading the column would be the Sherman “Crab” flail mine-clearing tank. On July 18, having fought to St Lo’s doorstep, the 29th Infantry Division launched Task Force Cota with a mission to break into, seize and secure the town. A mixed force, it was accompanied by 3 Signal Corps photographers: 1st Lieutenant Earl W. Witscher (November 1, 1916 – April 16, 2006) and Technician 5th Class Robert Leiter (September 25, 1921 – July 8, 2011) from the 165th Signal Photo Company, and Technician 4th Class Anthony-James Ryan (June 17, 1921 – April 15, 2006) from the 166th Signal Photo Company accompanied the column as it advanced down the Isigny Road to gain a foothold in the town. 1 of them took this photo. 2 M4A4 Sherman “Crab” Flail tanks – “Hun Chaser” and “Hiwassee” – appear in Signal Corps footage shot during the Battle of St. Lô in mid-July, 1944. They have tactical markings indicating 29th Headquarters of the 17th Armored Engineer Battalion, 2nd Armored Division. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0414.jpg |
| Image Size | 1.07 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 2936 x 2376 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Army Signal Corps |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | July 18, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | |
| Country | France |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NLR-PHOCO-A-65638(207) |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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