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Introduction
Established in early 1943, the 6th South African Armoured division was a mechanised division representing the bulk of South Africa’s heavy armour during WW2. The division was composed of South African volunteers and integrated Allied forces. Under the command of Major General W.H.E. Poole, the division was trained in Egypt for much of 1943, before being deployed into the invasion of Italy alongside the British, Americans, and other Allies.
Over the course of the campaign, the 6th South African Armoured Division distinguished itself highly, including during the liberation of Florence and battles in the Apennine Mountains. It played a vital role in disrupting German defensive lines, utilising its tanks effectively, despite often being significantly outmatched by Axis armour. The Italian campaign was an absolute hellish slog, against well entrenched German forces, but the South Africans consistently managed to do more with less. By the end of the war, the division had a well-earned reputation as an effective fighting force, leaving a lasting legacy in South African military history.
The vehicle covered in this suggestion is the M3 Grant in South African service. The M3 Grant tank, a variant of the M3 Lee medium tank, was developed early in World War II as a stopgap vehicle until more thoroughly designed vehicles could be brought into service. Introduced in 1941, it was unique in its design, featuring a 75 mm main gun mounted in a sponson on the hull and a secondary 37 mm gun in a turret. The M3 Grant was supplied to British forces through the Lend-Lease program, where it gained a mixed reputation in the North African campaign.
The 6th South African Armoured Division operated the M3 Grant tank during its early phases of training, while mustering in Egypt in preparation for deployment in the Italian Campaign. The Grant was initially supplied to the division in 1943, helping to train South African tank crews in tank operation and armoured tactics. Though the Grant’s was replaced by Sherman tanks for front-line duties, it played a crucial role in acclimating the south african crews, who had previously never partaken in large scale armoured warfare.
Specifications
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Images
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