The US M10 was the most produced US tank destroyer of WWII. The British M10s were called Achilles IIC because of the modification of the main gun from a 3 inch gun to a quick-firing British 17 Pounder. The conversions took place at the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich. The Mk. IC had a diesel engine while the Mk. IIC had a gasoline engine. Even the gun of the Mk. IIC was having difficulty against the heavy armor of the German Panthers and Tigers. Gradually the M36 Jackson with its heavier armor began to take over from the M10 and Achilles. The 803rd Tank Destroyer Battalion originated as the 103rd Anti-Tank Battalion on September 30, 1940 made up of men from the Washington National Guard. On February 10, 1941 the unit was federalized and re-designated the 803rd TD Battalion on December 12, 1941. On June 24, 1943 the 803rd left for England and were sent into to battle with their M10s at Omaha Beach June 13, 1944. They took part in the capture of St. Lo in July, fought their way across Northern France, Belgium and Holland and reached the Siegfried Line in September. The 803rd TDB took part in actions at such well known laces as Aachen, Hurtgen Forest, the Ardennes in time for the Battle of the Bulge. From here the battalion once again fought against the Siegfried Line and converted to M36s in February 1945. Their battles continued as they fought their way across the Rhine River and helped end the Ruhr Pocket before pivoting south through Austria and finally into Czechoslovakia.
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