Burning SPW halftrack destroyed by 813rd TD Bn on August 11, 1944 .

burningspwhalftrackdestroyedby813rdtdbnonaugust111944.jpg

This halftrack and the vehicles behind it were a part of Kampfgruppe Reich (formed from elements of II Battalion Panzer Grenadier Regiment 10, 9th Panzer Division). They were advancing down the road between Alençon and Mortagne near the village of Saint-Aubin-d'Appenai when they were ambushed by a M10 Achilles Tank Destroyer of the 813rd TD Battalion, attached at the time to the 79th Infantry Division.

The 79th was clearing pockets of resistance in the area after it was taken by the 5th Armoured Division. During the fighting the command group of SS-Pioneer .Battalion. 12 commanded by SS-Hauptsturmführer Pinkernell also ran into the advancing Americans, not knowning they were in the area.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sd.Kfz._251

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M10_tank_destroyer