M4 Duplex Drive question

[Mobhack]

Originally Posted by Warhero

I just played bit Omaha beach-type battle (US attack vs. German defend) june 1944 (from some reason today) and I noticed that M4 Duplex Drive's are not allowed to fire during "swimming phase". I didn't got any to the shore to see if they can fire then... Well, I'm not expert about this type of tanks so I ask: were DD tanks really not able to fire anything before they reach beach sand?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DD_tank

Only if you wanted to hit the sea about 3 metres in front of the tank, and through the flotation screen, since you are completely under sea level when swimming in a DD. So you could get one shot at the sea and simultaneously sink yourself. not a brainy idea.

The flotation screen is also why direct or indirect fire at swimming DDs, though less accurate, can and will sink them - it only needs a tear in a flimsy canvas screen (or a large shell near-miss throwing plumes of water over it) and it plummets to the bottom like a stone. Any severe waves can broach the screen, to the same effect, and it appears that one unit attempting to traverse the sea diagonally to the correct target when they were dropped off at the wrong point had that problem.

Several DD units looked at the Normandy sea state, and made the decision to take the landing craft right into the beach and go over the bows as they considered it unsafe to try to swim in.


Andy