USMC
D
Letourneau 1999
Wartime History
This tank was manned by a USMC crewmen.
Landed on Arundel Island, it supported US Army 27th Infantry during an assault on September 17, 1943. This was one of two tanks knocked out by camouflaged Japanese 37mm anti-tank guns. The tank's crew escaped the disabled tanks, but the Advance was blunted.
The following day, the attack was resumed with eleven tanks, in two waves supporting each other, and with supporting infantry. This assault pined down and overwhelmed the Japanese.
Wreckage
This impressive wreck is left where it was disabled. Several
holes are visible in the front armour where the 37mm
round disabled it. All its guns are still in place.
Japanese foxholes and positions surround the tank.
Iain
Williams visited this tank in the 1970's:
"There
was a rusted .45 pistol rusted and fused into the interior,
and a pair of dog
tags hanging around the breech of the gun. I guess
since then, these items have been souvineered."
Stuart
