Movie Index    NEXT

VEHICLES & EQUIPMENT USED IN
"THE TANKS ARE COMING"

By Dan Fong, Web Staff

NOTE: See further below for comments
about some of the producer's choices.

 

Identified in producer's footage (from 1950-51):
Number at end of a line is a rough count of vehicles in film.

  • M4A3E9 (75) Sherman Medium Tank: 5
    (including LT. Rossen's Platoon: Californian Jane 1 & 2)
  • M4A3E8 (75W) Sherman Medium Tank: 5
  • M4A3E8 (105) Sherman Medium Tank: 1
  • M4A3E8 (76W) Sherman Medium Tank: 10
  • M4A3E8 (76W) Sherman Dozer Medium Tank: 1
  • M46 Patton Medium Tank 1, Californian Jane: 3
  • M36 Tank Destroyer (Disguised as Panther): 1
  • M7B1 Howitzer Motor Carriage: 6
  • M32 Tank Recovery Vehicle: 1
  • M32B1 Tank Recovery Vehicle: 1
  • M3A1 Halftrack: 5
  • Willy's Jeep: 3
  • Willy's Jeep (Disguised as German Kubelwagon): 1
  • GMC 2-1/2 Ton Truck: 2
  • 88mm Flak 36 German AA Cannon: 1

Identified in historical WWII film clips:

  • M5A1 Stuart Light Tank
  • M24 Chaffee Light Tank
  • M4 (75) Sherman Medium Tank
  • M4 (75) Sherman Dozer Medium Tank
  • M4A1 (75) Sherman Medium Tank
  • M4A1 (75) Sherman Dozer Medium Tank
  • M4A1 (76W) Sherman Medium Tank
  • M4A3 (75W) Sherman Medium Tank
  • M4A3 (75W) Sherman Dozer Medium Tank
  • M4A3 (76W) Sherman Medium Tank
  • M4A4 (75) Sherman Crab Flail Tank
  • M10 Tank Destroyer
  • M18 Hellcat Tank Destroyer
  • M7 Howitzer Motor Carriage
  • T2 Tank Recovery Vehicle
  • Dodge 3/4 Ton Weapons Carrier
  • T34/76 Model 42 Rissian Medium Tank
  • S35 Somua French Medium Tank
  • SDKFZ 231 German 8 Wheeled Armored Car
  • Marder III M German Tank Destroyer
  • Panzer 1 German Light Tank
  • Panzer 2 German Light Tank
  • Panzer 3E German Medium Tank
  • Panzer 38T German Medium Tank
  • Panther German Medium Tank
  • 88mm Flak 36 German AA Cannon
  • 10.5cm leFH18 German Howitzer
  • 15.0cm sFH18 German Howitzer
  • 17.0cm German Gun

Comments:

  M4A3 Sherman Medium Tank:
Not accurate for the time frame of the movie. Did not get to the ETO until 1945. Played the part of CALIFORNIAN JANE 1 and 2 and the other tanks of the company in the movie.

M4A3E8 Sherman Medium Tank:
Not accurate for the time frame of the movie. First saw action with the 4AD in the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. Appears in the opening scenes and was the dozer tank Sully took over to build up the crossing over the dragons teeth.

M46 Patton Medium Tank:
Not accurate for the time frame of the movie. Stood in for the Pershing in the movie. The M46 looks like the M26 but has different engine and gun. M46 also renamed Patton. Production started in 1949.

M36 Tank Destroyer:
Not accurate for the time frame of the movie. Issued to TD units in October of 1944. In the movie it is used as the German Panther tank. It shows up twice.

M32 Tank Recovery Vehicle:
The M32 was the standard tank recovery vehicle along with the M31 during WW2. The 3AD is usually seen with the M31 in the time frame of the movie.

M3A1 Halftrack:
This is the correct vehicle for the Armored Infantry and Armored Engineers of the 3AD during WW2.

M7 Howitzer Motor Carriage:
This is the correct vehicle for the Armored Artillery of the 3AD during WW2.

88mm Flak 36 German AA gun:
This is the only actual piece of German equipment in the producer's original film (i.e., not including the historical film clips).

Return to Top

Movie Index    NEXT