| Original caption: “A soldier in a foxhole hurls a hand grenade at a tank destroyer at the Commando training camp in Camp Carson, Colorado.” A soldier tosses a sticky bomb at an M10 Wolverine Tank Destroyer that has just passed over his foxhole. Part of antitank training was the use of stinky bombs – a grease-covered sock with explosives inside – and Molotov cocktails, named for Vyacheslav Molotov (February 25, 1890 – November 8, 1986) by the Finns during the 1939-1940 Winter War. Troops in Camp Carson also trained with the bazooka and the M3 37 millimeter (1.45 inch) antitank gun. The M10 Wolverine represented the 1st dedicated tank destroyer. Mounting the M7 3-inch (76 millimeter) gun, armored fighting vehicles like the M10 were designed to counter Blitzkrieg tactics while tanks made the armored breakthrough. In practice, the M10 was used as armor or direct or indirect fire support. Despite its lower high explosive load, the M7 gun’s range was better than some attached artillery’s, especially early in the war. Several antitank units were activated at Camp Carson on July 25, 1942. They were all segregated African American units. The 614th Tank Destroyer Battalion was reorganized as a towed battalion in May 1943. Arrived in England on September 7, 1944, and landed at Utah beachhead beginning October 8. Deployed to Metz. And supported operations against the Siegfried Line nearby in November and December. Shifted to the Hagenau Forest area. Continued to support operations against Siegfried Line fortifications until late March 1945. Performed occupation duties in early April, then joined the race to Innsbruck, Austria, and the Brenner Pass. Attached to the 95th and 103rd Infantry divisions. The 821st Tank Destroyer Battalion arrived in England on April 17, 1944. Disembarked at Omaha Beach on June 26 with towed 3-inch guns. Supported the capture of Saint Lô and the subsequent breakout. The 821st entered Brittany in August and supported the capture of Brest by September 18. Moved east in late September to Holland. Conducted operations against the Siegfried Line in October near Aachen, Germany. Transferred to Ubach, Germany, in November and supported the drive toward the Roer River. Converted to M10s beginning in December, crossed the Roer starting on February 23, 1945, and withdrew from the line during March. Company B supported operations against the Ruhr Pocket in April. The battalion then marched east to the Elbe River. Took up occupation duties on April 27. Attached to: 29th and 35th Infantry divisions. The 822nd Tank Destroyer Battalion arrived at Le Havre, France, on January 23, 1945, with towed guns. Entered line with the 63rd Infantry Division near Sarreguemines on February 7. Crossed the Rhine River on March 27 and reached Heidelberg on April 1. Reorganized as a self-propelled battalion in mid-April, although the battalion possessed some M18 Hellcats by late March. Advanced across Germany, reached Munsterhausen on April 27, and took up occupation duties. Attached to the 36th and 63rd Infantry divisions. The 823rd Tank Destroyer Battalion Arrived in England in April 1944. Landed at Omaha beach on June 24 with towed 3-inch guns. Supported drive on Saint Lô. Fought at Mortain in August. Passed through Belgium and the Netherlands and entered Germany on September 17. Fought along the Siegfried Line in October, including the encirclement of Aachen. Converted to M10s beginning in November. Shifted to the Ardennes in late December and fought to eliminate the Bulge in January 1945. Crossed the Roer River on February 24 and the Rhine on March 24. Raced eastward to the Elbe River at Magdeburg in April. Began military occupation duties on 21 April. Attached to: 29th and 30th Infantry divisions. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0913.jpg |
| Image Size | 756.60 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2928 x 2411 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Army Signal Corps |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | April 24, 1943 |
| Location | |
| City | Camp Carlson |
| State or Province | Colorado |
| Country | United States |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NLR-PHOCO-A-48223911(8) |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
Author of the World War II Multimedia Database