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Overview
The anti-mine flail was a cumbersome and temperamental, almost comical machine, yet was to play a notable part in World War II mine-clearing operations. The idea of a tank-mounted flail arose during the North African campaign and ad hoc designs saw action whilst the idea was taken to Britain for development. David Fletcher details the development of several variants of the flail, including Matildas, Valentines, Grants, and, of course, Shermans. Using rare photographs and colourful artwork, he also outlines the deployment and limitations of these tanks, and describes the action they saw, noisily beating their way across minefields.About the Author:
David Fletcher currently the historian at the Tank Museum, Bovington, UK
Synopsis
In this title, David Fletcher relates the story of the Sherman Crab Flail using rare sources and photographs. Among the first tanks ashore on D-Day, the "Crab" proved its worth both in its mine-clearing role and as a fighting machine. This book recounts some of its more glorious moments with the famous British 79th Armoured Division and the US Army, giving a detailed exploration of the history of a powerful and innovative machine and the deadly mines it faced.