M10, Wolverine, Achilles Self-Propelled Guns

[redcoat2]

British Names

I’ve long used the names ‘Wolverine’ and ‘Achilles’ when playing wargames – but I don’t think those names were actually used much during WW2 – if at all. Here are three different sources on the subject.

British Armour in the Normandy Campaign, 1944 by John D Buckley:

Some 1648 M10s were delivered to the British, where they were occasionally referred to as Wolverines and were deployed in Royal Artillery (RA) anti-tank units throughout the Normandy campaign. Most initially carried the three-inch gun, but the British began refitting their M10s with 17-pdrs. Such vehicles were supposedly titled Achilles, and sometimes rather confusingly Firefly, but as in the case of the nomenclature Wolverine, these names were not widely employed, M10 being the standard reference.

M10 and M36 Tank Destroyers 1942-53 by Steven J. Zaloga:

Over the years, a number of dubious names have been associated with the M10 and M36 tank destroyers. The M10 is sometimes referred to as the Wolverine, an unofficial nickname sometimes used in wartime Chrysler advertising. It was never used by the US Army. The British M10C 17-pdr. Was referred to in at least one post-war report as Achilles, but this name was never widely used by British forces. The M36 is sometimes referred to as the Jackson, but this appears to be an entirely specious, post-war invention. None of these names are used in this account in order to avoid perpetuating these misnomers.

British Tank Destroyer Achilles 17-pdr M10 SP by Wojciech J. Gawrych:

British Designations

During WW11, The British designated the M10 GMC as the 3-in M10 SPM (Self-Propelled Mount) Mk I with the heavy wedge shaped counterweight, and the 3-inch M10 SPM Mk II with the ‘duck-bill’ counterweight. Many references use the name ‘Wolverine,’ however, there is no wartime documentation to support this. There is a possibility that this name was issued post-war in the Canadian Army. In the British designation system, if the main armament was changed to the British 17-pdr gun, it was signified by the letter C. Thus the M10 GMC fitted with the 17-pdr became the 17-pdr M10 SP Mk 1C with the heavy wedge shaped counterweight, and the 17-pdr M10 SP Mk IIC with the ‘duck-bill’ counterweight. After WWII the name ‘Achilles’ was added to the designation.

The names ‘3-in M10’ and ‘17-pdr M10’ may be more historically accurate than Wolverine and Achilles – but the names Wolverine and Achilles are better known by most wargamers.

Armour

I don’t think the 17-pdr M10 received additional armour. The Gawrych book on the Achilles looks at the vehicle in great detail and does not mention any additional armour being added as standard. The photo of a 17-pdr M10 taken during Operation Varsity shows a RA vehicle that has been fitted with a field-expedient sheet metal roof. The Gawrych book also has a photo of a 17-pdr M10 fitted with appliqué armour, but it makes it clear that the additional bolted plates were of a “provisional field based design, since auxiliary armour plates intended for the M10 were never manufactured.”

A New Suggestion - The LBM

The LBM for the British 17-pdr M10 ‘Achilles’ clearly shows an M10. There is a LBM for the Achilles in winspmbt which could be used instead: PM07025. Any new LBM could also be used for the Canadian and Polish Achilles.