British Sherman V (M4A4) Crab Flail Tank in front of burning buildings in Arnhem Netherlands - April 14, 1945
The Idea for the Flail Tank is commonly attributed to a South African Officer; Captain Abraham du Toit.
The idea was that a rotating drum with chains attached could be placed in front of an armored vehicle to detonate buried land mines. A test rig was constructed in South Africa and results were so encouraging that du Toit was sent to the UK to develop the idea.
First tested and used by British/Commonwealth units in North Africa using converted Matilda Tanks, the early hastily developed flail system was unreliable and often broke down.
One unexpected effect was that the noise, dust and terrifying appearance of an approaching flail tank caused several Axis infantry units to surrender.
The Sherman Crab, put into production in 1943 by the British using converted Sherman tanks was undoubtedly the most successful WW2 Flail Tank, incorporating the lessons learned of earlier attempts.
IWM - Hewitt C. H. (Sergeant) Photographer
“Clean Up” day at the Deadwood Terra Gold Stamp Mill, one of the Homestake Mills, Terraville, Dakota 1888.
9/24/1967 Mobile Riverine Force. The US Naval Ship, USS Colleton APB-36 is used by the MRF as a troop ship, berthing all the troops of the MRF and is equipped with a floating pier for all smaller boats. On the top of the ship is a helipad to accommodate air traffic.USN Image
Gaspar Felix Tournachon, “Nadar,” credited with taking the first successful aerial photograph in 1858.
