M10 Achilles Tank Destroyer

This M10 was on display at Bovington.

The M10 tank destroyer was an American tank destroyer of World War II. The prototype of the M10 was conceived in early 1942, being delivered in April of that year.

After appropriate changes to the hull and turret were made, the modified version was selected for production in June 1942 as the 3-inch Gun Motor Carriage M10. It mounted a 3-inch (76.2 mm) Gun M7 in a rotating turret on a modified M4A2 Sherman tank chassis.

On a previous visit the  M10 Tank Destroyer was painted in winter camouflage.

M10 Tank Destroyer

I have a few 15mm Flames of War Self Propelled, Achilles, of the British variant of the American M10 Tank destroyer armed with the powerful British Ordnance QF 17 pounder anti-tank gun in place of the standard 3″ (76.2 mm) Gun M7.

M10 Tank Destroyer

This M10 Tank Destroyer in winter camouflage was on display at Bovington Tank Museum. This is a British variant armed with a 17 pounder anti-tank gun.

M10 Tank Destroyer

The M10 tank destroyer was an American tank destroyer of World War II. The prototype of the M10 was conceived in early 1942, being delivered in April of that year. After appropriate changes to the hull and turret were made, the modified version was selected for production in June 1942 as the 3-inch Gun Motor Carriage M10. It mounted a 3-inch (76.2 mm) Gun M7 in a rotating turret on a modified M4A2 Sherman tank chassis.

I have a few 15mm Flames of War Self Propelled, Achilles, of the British variant of the American M10 Tank destroyer armed with the powerful British Ordnance QF 17 pounder anti-tank gun in place of the standard 3″ (76.2 mm) Gun M7.

Basecoating the Flames of War British 17pdr SP Achilles

The 17 pounder, Self Propelled, Achilles was a British variant of the American M10 Tank destroyer armed with the powerful British Ordnance QF 17 pounder anti-tank gun in place of the standard 3″ (76.2 mm) Gun M7. With a total of 1,100 M10s converted, the 17 pdr SP Achilles was the second most numerous armoured fighting vehicle to see service armed with the 17 pounder gun, behind the Sherman Firefly.

Having given the model a white undercoat, and as I had run out of Humbrol Dark Green, I gave the models a complete spray of Warpaint British Armour.

Flames of War British 17pdr SP Achilles

Flames of War British 17pdr SP Achilles

Next stage will be painting some of the details and the crew.

Flames of War British 17pdr SP Achilles

Flames of War British 17pdr SP Achilles

See the workbench feature on the British M10 / 17pdr SP Achilles.

Undercoating the Flames of War British 17pdr SP Achilles

Flames of War British 17pdr SP Achilles

The 17 pounder, Self Propelled, Achilles was a British variant of the American M10 Tank destroyer armed with the powerful British Ordnance QF 17 pounder anti-tank gun in place of the standard 3″ (76.2 mm) Gun M7. With a total of 1,100 M10s converted, the 17 pdr SP Achilles was the second most numerous armoured fighting vehicle to see service armed with the 17 pounder gun, behind the Sherman Firefly.

Purchased a couple of Flames of War blister of the M10. They were on sale and cheaper than normally. Within each blister you get a resin hull and turret, metal parts and plastic tracks. Interesting to note that though both models have the same code and were purchased at the same time from one retailer, one came with a complete resin turret, whilst the other had a turret which was part resin and part metal! The resin turret is much crisper and nicer than the metal component. I decided that I would make these up as 17pdr armed SP Achilles variants and not as M10s.

I gave the two models a white undercoat.

Flames of War British M10 / 17pdr SP Achilles

In this rear view you can see the difference between the two turrets.

Flames of War British M10 / 17pdr SP Achilles

Flames of War British M10 / 17pdr SP Achilles

Flames of War British M10 / 17pdr SP Achilles

See the workbench feature on the British M10 / 17pdr SP Achilles.

Flames of War British M10 / 17pdr SP Achilles

The 17 pounder, Self Propelled, Achilles was a British variant of the American M10 Tank destroyer armed with the powerful British Ordnance QF 17 pounder anti-tank gun in place of the standard 3″ (76.2 mm) Gun M7. With a total of 1,100 M10s converted, the 17 pdr SP Achilles was the second most numerous armoured fighting vehicle to see service armed with the 17 pounder gun, behind the Sherman Firefly.

Purchased a couple of Flames of War blister of the M10. They were on sale and cheaper than normally. Within each blister you get a resin hull and turret, metal parts and plastic tracks. Interesting to note that though both models have the same code and were purchased at the same time from one retailer, one came with a complete resin turret, whilst the other had a turret which was part resin and part metal! The resin turret is much crisper and nicer than the metal component. They went together well, though I found it was easier to glue the sides of the tracks to the hull rather than rely on gluing the locating pegs. It was useful that each side has a different number of pegs so the silly and obvious mistake of gluing the tracks on backwards can be avoided.

Flames of War British M10 / 17pdr SP Achilles

Flames of War British M10 / 17pdr SP Achilles

I decided that I would make these up as 17pdr armed SP Achilles variants and not as M10s.

Flames of War British M10 / 17pdr SP Achilles

As they were open-topped, I did glue the crew into the turret compartment.

Flames of War British M10 / 17pdr SP Achilles

Apart from the different turrets, both models are pretty identical.

Flames of War British M10 / 17pdr SP Achilles

These will make for a nice anti-tank platoon.

Flames of War British M10 / 17pdr SP Achilles

See the workbench feature on the British M10 / 17pdr SP Achilles.

Flames of War British M10 / 17pdr SP Achilles

 British 17pdr SP Achilles

The 17 pounder, Self Propelled, Achilles was a British variant of the American M10 Tank destroyer armed with the powerful British Ordnance QF 17 pounder anti-tank gun in place of the standard 3″ (76.2 mm) Gun M7. With a total of 1,100 M10s converted, the 17 pdr SP Achilles was the second most numerous armoured fighting vehicle to see service armed with the 17 pounder gun, behind the Sherman Firefly.

Purchased a couple of Flames of War blister of the M10. They were on sale and cheaper than normally.

Flames of War British M10 / 17pdr SP Achilles

Within each blister you get a resin hull and turret, metal parts and plastic tracks.

Flames of War British M10 / 17pdr SP Achilles

Interesting to note that though both models have the same code and were purchased at the same time from one retailer, one came with a complete resin turret, whilst the other had a turret which was part resin and part metal! The resin turret is much crisper and nicer than the metal component.

Flames of War British M10 / 17pdr SP Achilles

See the workbench feature on the British M10 / 17pdr SP Achilles.