A destroyed Mk IV Special of 16th Panzer Division, Italy, 1943

Photograph by Major Wilfred Herbert James Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), World War Two, Italy, 1943.

The caption refers to 'Mk IV Specials' of the 16th Panzer Division being sent from Naples to stop the Allied advance. The Sharpshooters fought a bitter tank battle with this unit around the port of Termoli as the Allies attempted to advance up the east coast of Italy.

The British nicknamed the Panzer IVAusf F2 the 'Mark IV Special', since it was superior to any American or British tank then in use due to its 75mm KwK 40 L/43 gun. This had been introduced to counter the Soviet T34.

From an album containing 242 photographs compiled by Major W H J Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters).