The Nightmare America Strapped on Top of an M4 Sherman Tank

World War II became a catalyst for the emergence of weapons that had been unimaginable only a few years before, but one of them would shake infantrymen to their core. It was the multiple rocket launcher, a spectacularly devastating tool that was as effective for enemy morale as it was for their numbers. From the horrified scream of the German Nebelwerfer that routed American green recruits at the Battle of the Kasserine Pass to the mournful wails of Stalin's organ that made German soldiers flee for their lives when they heard its strange sounds outside the gates Moscow, the emerging technology turned out to be a terrifyingly effective weapon.

After the Americans saw the sheer power of the German and Soviet rocket launchers, they decided to create their version. But while the Nebelwerfer was a towed launcher and the Katyusha was mounted on a truck, the United States decided to go a step further and mount its novel weapon on a Sherman

tank

. With the mobility and heavy armor of the mighty Sherman, the T34 Calliope rocket launcher would soon become the most terrifying rocket launch system of the war. When the Germans were finally forced into an increasingly desperate defensive war, the Calliope would strike fear into the last Nazi strongholds, its maddening song echoing across the Saar and leading the Allied advance while foreshadowing the inevitable fall of the Third Reich. ..

Fuel Nightmare The Germans had introduced multiple rocket launch systems since the beginning of the war. Developed in secret as early as the early 1930s, the Nebelwerfer was designed as a highly versatile launcher capable of unleashing anything from grenades to cutting-edge rockets to terrifying chemical warheads. Fortunately for all involved, the Germans refrained from using chemical weapons, but were more than willing to launch their novel electrically activated finless rockets at the unsuspecting Allied armies. Although not as devastating as conventional artillery solutions - especially against fortified targets - the multiple rocket launcher proved to be an effective weapon that cost a fraction of the cost of artillery fire.

Not only that, but the Germans soon discovered that the enormous light spectacle and the haunting, relentless wails the weapon produced had a significant effect on the psychological state of the unfortunate men who received the cannons. During the first engagement between German and American troops at the Battle of the Kasserine Pass in Tunisia, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel unleashed a Nebelwerfer battalion against the inexperienced American defenders. The attack, complemented by rampaging Panzer units descending from the hills, engulfed the Allies in a terrifying display of blazing lights, smoke, fire and overwhelming noise that led many to believe they were facing an insurmountable force of unprecedented lethality. .

The impressed soldiers then began to abandon their posts, leading to a chained retreat that ended in a crushing defeat. After that, the rocket launcher became a crucial psychological warfare weapon, much easier and cheaper to deploy than conventional artillery solutions. However, the Germans would soon get a taste of their own medicine; During their foray into the Soviet Union, they were violently introduced to the Katyusha, or Stalin's organ, as the weapon would soon be nicknamed for the sound it emitted. This truck-mounted rocket launcher would crush the will of many Germans thanks to its overwhelming display of power. A new player Aware of the devastating capabilities of rocket launchers, the United States was eager to develop its own solution.

Like German and Soviet weapons, the United States sought a cheap, highly mobile system to produce and deploy using already available vehicles. By 1943, rocket launchers were not uncommon and had lost their significant impact on soldiers. However, they still offered fantastic cover against unarmored personnel and were still a much more affordable solution for artillery units. Despite being late to the rocket-launching game, the Americans had one essential advantage: They could learn from German and Soviet mistakes. As revolutionary as the Nebelwerfer was, it had numerous disadvantages that became even more prominent as the war dragged on. For one thing, the rocket launcher expelled enormous amounts of smoke and dust, forcing the crew to operate it remotely.

Additionally, the remote control procedure and the need for a tow vehicle made it difficult to reposition the unit after firing, leaving it vulnerable to rapid counterattacks. Stalin's organ solved the problem by using a highly mobile truck as a rocket launching platform. Still, the lightly armored vehicle was a vulnerable target that lacked the means to defend itself against infantry attacks and had to be constantly escorted by other vehicles and military personnel. For the United States, the solution was obvious: mount the weapon atop a heavily armored but highly mobile

tank

that could not only move after an attack but also defend itself against infantry or other armored fighting vehicles.

Thus the T34 Calliope was born. The Allied High Command had planned to use the new rocket launcher in the first landings in Normandy, as they believed the additional firepower would be a game-changer against the heavily fortified German positions in France. They were also confident that having the ability to saturate a large area with artillery-sized projectiles in a matter of seconds and without the cost of deploying cumbersome and highly vulnerable artillery units could have a massive impact on the success and speed of the raid. ally in Europe. Rocket Tank Development of the Calliope was quick and easy, with American engineers opting to use equipment and resources already available to troops to ensure rapid deployment.

They selected the M4 Sherman as the platform for the rocket launcher, as it was one of the most used armored vehicles on the Western Front. In addition, it provided the system with the mobility and protection necessary to be as effective as possible. A rack of 60 plastic tubes was mounted on top of the tank, each of which was designed to launch a 114-millimeter M8 rocket. The rocket launch facility was attached to the Sherman's main turret so that the rockets were pointed at the same location as the main gun was pointed. The gun's aiming configuration gave it a huge advantage over other rocket launch systems, as it could correct course on the fly and no crew member had to be exposed.

Furthermore, the 60-rocket capacity far exceeded the 6-rocket configuration of the Nebelwerfer and even the larger version of the Katyusha, which had 48 launch tubes. Meanwhile, the American rocket launcher had a range of 4 kilometers, making it a powerful and agile rocket launch system unlike any other weapon of its kind. Setbacks The haste with which the weapon was invented would eventually lead to several problems. Due to its high center of gravity, the Calliope was deemed unsuitable for landing operations. It was therefore removed from the D-Day landing operations scheme. Instead, 30 Shermans were equipped with the launcher for the subsequent raid on the German borders, but another defect prevented the Calliope from seeing action in 1944.

What's more , M4 Shermans that carried rocket launchers could not use their main gun with the rocket array mounted. to its towers. As such, the tanks had to eject the frame using a specialized ejection system to transform back into a normal Sherman and use its main gun. As the initial 30 Calliopes were about to be used for the first time on the Western Front against German defenses, the Wehrmacht launched the Ardennes Offensive, which would become the Battle of the Bulge and force the Allies to convert all T34 available on regular aircraft. Shermans to contain the offensive. Combat action As promising as the Calliope concept was, it would not be until 1945 that the rocket launch system would be used in combat.

Five armored divisions were supported by Calliope-equipped Sherman tanks for the final advance into Germany. The T34s entered battle during the Wehrmacht's darkest hour as it fought to defend its homeland from the relentless advance of the Allies. Under such circumstances, the American rocket launcher proved invaluable due to its psychological weapon attributes. With defeat approaching, the sight of an imposing Sherman tank equipped with a fearsome array of rocket launchers was a deeply demoralizing affront. When the system was unleashed, it launched a terrifying storm of 60 rockets, each of which screeched ominously while leaving an ominous trail of fire and smoke in the sky.

The rockets then hit the ground violently in a saturating barrage that could destroy entire platoons if not properly covered. As the tired and exhausted German troops struggled to stay alive as their regime crumbled, Calliope's attacks struck terror into their hearts, forcing numerous groups to abandon the fight. However, the psychological effect that T34 had could only go so far. In absolute numbers and military statistics, the weapon was considered poor, rarely causing significant damage to German assets and having to switch to tank mode more often than not. As if that were not enough, the Calliope's high profile made it a prime target for German anti-tank crews, who could often identify the T34 across the battlefield and prioritize its destruction over all other Allied vehicles.

For those reasons, the Calliope was a disappointing solution that could never achieve the effectiveness its creators intended nor the reliability of the Nebelwerfer and Stalin's organ. Still, the design was crucial in the development of other influential rocket weapons, such as the T72 and M17. Thanks for watching Dark Docs! For more compelling military content, click your screen and check out our other Dark Documentary channels, where we delve into the fiercest battles in modern history and the innovative technology used in them. Stay tuned!