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Vilseck Sherman Confirmed as "Cobra King"

#1: Vilseck Sherman Confirmed as "Cobra King" Author: Geoff_walden,

Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 11:43 pm
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This ID has long been suspected or even known in the AFV community, but the Army has confirmed it:

www.stripes.com/articl...icle=59651

Vilseck tank confirmed as ‘Cobra King’
By Jennifer H. Svan, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Saturday, December 27, 2008

A World War II-era M4 Sherman tank on display at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany has been confirmed to be the “Cobra King,” the first tank to reach besieged American troops defending Bastogne from the Germans’ counterattack during the Battle of the Bulge.

U.S. Army Europe officials announced the discovery Friday in a news release timed to coincide with the Dec. 26, 1944, anniversary of the Company C, 37th Tank Battalion’s famous arrival in Bastogne.

The tank was identified by matching serial and registration numbers, a project worked jointly by historians with U.S. Army Europe and the U.S. Army’s Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor in Ft. Knox, Ky.

Officially designated as an M4A3E2 Assault Tank, the Sherman “Jumbo” was built in mid-1944 at the Detroit Tank Arsenal. Only 254 of the tanks were built. Because of the short run, and because they were on a built-up hull, all 254 tanks were issued serial numbers in sequential order, according to Army officials.

When U.S. Army registration numbers were assigned to the vehicles, they too were issued in sequential order, allowing historians to confirm a direct match with the two sets of numbers, according to the Army release.

Some photographs of the antiquated tank can be found online.

In what appears to be an old black and white photo from World War II posted on the photo-sharing Web site Flickr, the tank is marked with large letters “First in Bastogne,” under which the smaller words “Cobra King” are legible.

The five men in the photo aren’t identified.

According to the Army’s release, “Cobra King” was under the command of 1st Lt. Charles P. Boggess, commander of Company C, 37th Tank Battalion.

Other crew members were Pvt. Hubert S. Smith, driver; Cpl. Milton Dickerman, gunner; Pvt. Harold Hafner, bow machine gunner; and loader Pvt. James G. Murphy.

“We have not yet determined if any of these men still survive …” Army officials said in the release.

Army historians recognize the “Cobra King” as a significant piece of World War II history for its role in the Battle of the Bugle, the powerful German counterattack in December 1944 in Belgium’s Ardennes forest. In a last-ditch effort, Hitler unsuccessfully tried to divide Allied forces in an attempt to bring about a negotiated peace in Germany’s favor.

In his 1946 narrative “Bastogne: The First Eight Days,” then-Col. S.L.A. Marshall wrote: “ …at 1650 First Lieutenant Charles P. Boggess, commanding officer of Company C, 37th Tank Battalion, drove the first vehicle from the 4th Armored Division to within the lines of the 326th Airborne Engineer Battalion, 101st Division, of the Bastogne forces. This was the beginning. The German encirclement was now finally broken, though some days would pass before the American lines to the south were again firm and several weeks of fighting would ensue before the siege of Bastogne was finally lifted.”

The tank is expected to go on display at the National Museum of the U.S. Army, scheduled to open in 2013 outside of Washington, D.C.

#2: Re: Vilseck Sherman Confirmed as "Cobra King" Author: TrevorLarkum, Location: Northampton, England

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 8:13 pm
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Very interesting. That photo sounds like this one:

www.strijdbewijs.nl/ar...n/bas3.htm

#3: Re: Vilseck Sherman Confirmed as "Cobra King" Author: ChrisC,

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 9:04 pm
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I remember climbing on that tank as a kid in Vilseck, it was just a short walk from where my dad's office was.
If i'd only known the history then... I was too busy trying to find a way inside to poke around

#4: Re: Vilseck Sherman Confirmed as "Cobra King" Author: Dontos, Location: Vine Grove, KY

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 9:16 pm
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- ChrisC

I remember climbing on that tank as a kid in Vilseck, it was just a short walk from where my dad's office was.
If i'd only known the history then... I was too busy trying to find a way inside to poke around

Just think about having collected THAT data plate,....!!

Growing up overseas, I always was interested in locating data plates. I actually 'liberated' a few, but those were from display vehicles during 'open house' displays. As I remember there were a couple US M60's, a French AMX 30, German Leo 1, and A British Chieftain(?) Never did 'score' any old vehicles.

In case anyone was in Kaiserslautern in 1973-76, during any of the 'GAFF' (German, American, French Friendship) Week celebrations....I was 'THAT KID' who would collect berets of unsuspecting crew members. (The statute of limitations has expired so I can live without guilt on that.... Cool

)

Don

#5: Re: Vilseck Sherman Confirmed as "Cobra King" Author: the_shadock, Location: Normandy, France

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 10:11 pm
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do you think it should be restored back with a 75mm gun, as it was in Bastogne? Or should it be left with its more recent 76mm ?

P-O

#6: Re: Vilseck Sherman Confirmed as "Cobra King" Author: Dontos, Location: Vine Grove, KY

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 10:25 pm
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- the_shadock

do you think it should be restored back with a 75mm gun, as it was in Bastogne? Or should it be left with its more recent 76mm ?

P-O

Interesting. It would depend on whomever gets the 'nod' to do the work, and 'guidance' from the 'powers that be'.

I would hope that it gets 'dedicated funding' in the near-term and perhaps sent to 'someplace' that has facilities and personnel available to do the work. As well as being kept in the publics awareness. (hmmmmm, now wher might that be??)

This is one of those 'once in a lifetime' projects that I would love to be part of. (Just a personal thought)

Hopefully not to be stuck away for several years, only to be 'forgotten'. Too much 'history' has gone the way of obscurity and rust.

JMHO
Regards
Don

#7: Re: Vilseck Sherman Confirmed as "Cobra King" Author: tanker2010, Location: Kansas City, Mo.

Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 6:11 am
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Another take on the story:

www.network54.com/Foru...ra+king%27

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