Gun Motor Carriage M10 (Wolverine / Achilles)

The M10 3-inch Gun Motor Carriage was the principle allied tank destroyer of the Second World War. The British produced their own version of the M10 Wolverine known as the Achilles. The idea of the Wolverine tank destroyer came about after the successes of melding of the M4A2 Sherman Medium Tank chassis with a 105mm howitzer gun platform. The idea in US Army Doctrine was to devise fast-moving armored column formations that could provide maximum firepower and anti-tank function.

Initially seeing much action in France and Italy under the control of British armed forces, the Wolverines (Achilles when in the British inventory) were upgraded to use the British 17-pounder main gun (becoming the Achilles Mk IC). The British variant, with the larger main gun, proved to be the more effective model of the Wolverine.

A 90mm main gun was trialed by US forces but failed to succeed in that the turret proved barely capable of utilizing the smaller 76.2mm main gun. Sloped armor was used to improve turret armor protection though the turret itself was open-topped, exposing the crew to enemy fire and the elements.

As the war went on, the idea of the tank destroyer concept faded and the Wolverines were used more in conjunction with air support and reconnaissance groups for mostly assault purposes. The main gun, also, at war's end, was to lose much if it's flare as a potent anti-tank instrument with enemy armor becoming considerably thicker. In the end, the Wolverine would be relegated to a supportive role in standard armor formations across the Allied fronts. France and Italy would also go on to utilize the M10 Wolverines to some extent.

The M10 Wolverines would soon be replaced by the newer M36 gun platforms which featured the heavier and more powerful 90mm main guns. The M36 also featured the open-topped turret and was late in production thus also mostly relegated to a assault-only role.

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Last Updated: 9/21/2009