Moore’s Manoeuvres
Craig Moore reveals how a number of German Panther Tanks were disguised as US M-10 Gun Motor Carriages for the 1944 Ardennes Offensive
On February 9, 1945, Col HN Toftoy of the US Army Ordnance submitted a technical intelligence report on four German Panther tanks found to be disguised as US Army M10 Gun Motor Carriage Tank Destroyers near Malmedy in the Belgium Ardennes, during the Battle of the Bulge. The vehicles were examined by 2nd Lt MS Hochmuth of the Ordnance Technical Investigation Team No.1 attached to the First US Army.
All four vehicles had been knocked out. “These tanks were carefully and cleverly disguised as M10 Gun Motor Carriages with the utmost attention given to details,” Hochmuth explained. “It is believed that the work was done by enemy maintenance units rather than at the factory.”
As the Panther tank does not lend itself to being easily disguised as the open-topped M10, several alterations were required. The distinctive cupola was removed from the turret, and in its place, two semi-circular hatch covers were hinged to the turret top to cover the opening.
The Panther Tank was disguised with sheets of metal cut to match the similar dimensions of the armour pla…
