When 5 German Panthers Attacked — This Sherman Gunner’s 5 Shots Destroyed Them All

Comments · 425

• AN

  @anthonyjones1545 · 10 months ago

  At 11 mins into the video there's a photo of a sherman firefly and it's crew..the fella on the bottom right is my grandfather  serving with the Scots greys..I believe the photo was taken in England just before d -day..he fought in North Africa Italy and Europe also briefly an s.o.e..he got injuried repelling a german attack on caen and got evacuated to wales where he met his wife and worked as a bus driver after the war...sergent major William Coulson. Will never forget him the man was a legend

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• MI

  @michabell4567 · 10 months ago

  I am now 60 years old and have watched this document from the city of Eindhoven in the Netherlands. My dad who has passed away last year told me that he as a boy was given chocoIade bars from American and Brittish troops deployed here in anticipation of unrolling operation Market Garden. I am most grateful to the young men who came here as normal civilians and suddenly dropped here in Europe and help to free Europe. All these men were heroes and it has been an exceptional generation indeed. Thank you all.

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• EC

  @EchoesofJapaneseSoldiers-e2r · 2 months ago

  What a remarkable story. Your grandfather lived a life of courage, sacrifice, and service that most of us can only imagine. Men like Sergeant Major William Coulson are true legends and should never be forgotten. Thank you for keeping his memory alive and for sharing this with us. Respect!

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• WW

  @WW2Uncovered-i3k · 1 month ago

  “Sometimes the impossible solution is the only solution.” That perfectly captures the Firefly story. A tank conversion nearly rejected by bureaucracy became the weapon British crews desperately needed against Panthers and Tigers. What impresses you more: the 17 pounder’s firepower or the crews who learned how to exploit it under enormous pressure?

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• PW

  @pw6582 · 10 months ago

  Absolutely amazing generation who returned to civilian life after their heroic actions.

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• WW

  @WW2WarBirds123 · 3 weeks ago

  “Sometimes the impossible solution is the only solution.” The Firefly’s story shows how battlefield necessity can overcome bureaucracy and conventional thinking. A rejected hybrid became one of Britain’s most important answers to German heavy armor. Do you think the Firefly deserves more recognition alongside the Sherman, Panther, and Tiger?

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• RI

  @richardelliott1 · 6 months ago (edited)

  I served in the 4th/7th RDG many years later.  It was A Sqn 4th/7th RDG in which Sgt Harris and Tpr MacKillop served in this engagement.  I've walked through the engagement on a number of occasions, with veterans who were there and without.  Harris's tank did knock out the 5 panthers but I don't recognise your description of the action at all.  It was all at close range, there was no line of panthers approaching abreast or in line.  What is without doubt though is that the extraordinary bravery and skill shown on that day did much to boost tank crew's confidence following the disastrous British tank losses at Villers-Bocage on the preceding day.  Whilst Harris and MacKillop did superbly, arguably the real heroes that day were the men of the 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry who suffered 150-200 casualties.  They were commanded by Major John Mogg who took command when their CO was killed early in the engagement.

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• EL

  @ElectricTownsAmerica · 7 days ago

  Dude, welding a massive 17-pounder gun onto a Sherman hull and taking out 5 Panthers in just 6 minutes is absolute LEGENDARY status! 🔥 While military bureaucracy was crying that 'this gun won't fit,' two guys secretly built a prototype and changed the game... McKillip literally enabled cheat codes! 5 shots, 5 kills, zero misses! 💪🇺🇸🇬🇧

• BI

  @billballbuster7186 · 10 months ago

  The Ministry of Supply did claim that the 17 Pounder would not fit into a Sherman turret, Brighty and Witheridge proved them wrong using a rigid mounting. But the Firefly conversion was designed by W.G.K Kilbourn, a Vickers tank engineer. It was he that modified the gun mounting, recoil system, radio box and loaders hatch as well as moving ammunition to armoured bins on the floor of the tank. His conversion Blueprints were used by Royal Ordnance Workshops to re-work Sherman Mki, Hybrid MkI and MkV to Firefly. Production reached 2,150 UK and 100 US that arrived too late for combat.<br><br>The 17 Pounder A/Tk Gun was designed in 1940, while APDS ammunition entered service in 1944. There were initial accuracy issues as the muzzle brake did not allow for clean separation of the sabot pettles. These were modified curing the issue, tanks leaving the factory after August 1944 were good. Older guns were modified in the field by teams of ROF engineers.<br><br>It should be said almost all complaints about the Firefly came from the Americans to explain why they rejected building the Firefly in 1943, after the British sent a turret and blueprints. The crews that actually fought in the Firefly had nothing but praise for it. The gun was also mounted in A30 Challenger (200), 17Pdr SP M-10 (1,150) and 17Pdr SP Valentine (800) in WW2. With Centurion Mk1 &amp; 2 (200) and 17Pdr SP Avenger (200) Post-WW2.

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• WW

  @WW2Legendsb · 10 months ago

  A calm, well-trained Sherman gunner who knew how to exploit those weaknesses could absolutely turn the odds around — and this story is a perfect example.

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• CH

  @chrisrobinson827 · 2 days ago

  Great story and video, explaining the conflict in context, implications, outcomes, humanity, and duty. Keep up the great work.

• PA

  @paulbailey2124 · 10 months ago

  Excellent video, ingenuity and true valour showed by many in that era. &nbsp;The Mosquito aircraft similarly rejected by ‘those in the know’ also became the best multi role aircraft during WWII. &nbsp;Cheers from Cambridgeshire UK

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