Chapter · 3:29:52-3:32:57

American tank crews arrive in Britain confident in the Sherman

New Shermans, Salisbury Plain training and generous gunnery allocations shaped American crews' confidence before combat in Europe.

Notes

American armoured units arriving in Britain needed requisitioned buildings, huts and tented camps to accommodate a large overseas force. Charles Evans recalled welcoming the Sherman after the equipment his unit had previously used. The Kasserine experience had helped push light tanks towards reconnaissance, increasing the importance of the medium tank. New Shermans issued in Britain were normally followed by up to six weeks of training on Salisbury Plain. Each tank battalion of the 4th Armoured Division received twenty training rounds per tank, a generous allocation compared with British provision.