“Sergeant Thurman Horton – and there are thousands like him – has an answer for Axis armor in a hard-hitting M-10 ‘panther.’” [Intro to an article by Jack O’Brine]
Sgt. Horton is a 27-year-old commander of a rolling panther in the 630th Tank Destroyer Battalion, 79th Division. Jack O’Brine’s magazine article describes the M-10 panther (“which can destroy a tank at 2,000 yards with a single solid hit”) and the training that Horton underwent to be the crew commander:
“As prospective commander, Horton got the works. He learned to be artilleryman, driver, mechanic, Ranger, map-reader, camouflage expert, radio-telephone operator, reconnaissance expert, and father confessor. And don’t discount the importance of the latter. For to maintain a happy tank-destroyer crew you must listen to and relieve all manner of minor woes. That may explain the ‘Old Man’ tag on Horton . . .”
Other members of Horton’s crew include a driver, a gunner, an assistant gunner, and a radio operator who also assists in the driving. “When they get orders to stalk enemy tanks, they employ the skill and audacity of Indians, darting and slithering from cover to cover. . . the rolling panthers are the beauties with big sockeroo, and commanders like Sgt. Thurman Horton will see that the enemy finds it out.” [quoted excerpts from the article]
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The M-10 tank destroyer was a crucial part of U.S. armored forces during World War II, but its open-topped turret made its crew particularly vulnerable to enemy fire and shrapnel. While exact casualty numbers for M-10 crews are difficult to pinpoint, studies of U.S. tank losses suggest that for every tank destroyed, approximately one crew member was killed or wounded. Given that the M-10 had a five-person crew, this means that casualties were a significant risk, especially in intense combat situations.
The vulnerability of tank destroyer crews was heightened by the fact that their vehicles were designed for mobility and firepower rather than heavy armor protection. Unlike standard tanks, which had enclosed turrets, the M-10 relied on speed and positioning to engage enemy armor effectively. This made crew members more exposed to artillery, small arms fire, and air attacks.
One of the most brutal battles where M-10 tank destroyer crews suffered heavy losses was the Battle of the Hürtgen Forest in late 1944. This battle, fought in dense woodland terrain, was particularly deadly for U.S. forces, including tank destroyer crews. The M-10s were vulnerable to German artillery, mines, and ambushes, and their open-topped turrets left crews exposed to shrapnel and sniper fire.
Another significant engagement was during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, where M-10 tank destroyers played a crucial role in stopping German armored advances. Despite their effectiveness, many crews were lost due to the overwhelming firepower of German tanks like the Panther and Tiger, which had superior armor and firepower.
[Sources: Wikipedia, DupuyInstitute.org, WarfareHistoryNetwork.com, and NationalInterest.org]
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