#Monument
The M4A1 Sherman tank at La Roche-en-Ardenne
An American tank stands in the square in the centre of La Roche-en-Ardenne. Destroyed during the Battle of the Bulge, it now stands in memory of the troops who served in the 2nd and 3rd American Armoured Divisions to defend the region from the German offensive in December 1944.
This vehicle is an M4A1 Sherman, the second series of American Sherman tanks. This is the most heavily armoured vehicle produced by the US army, and has become a benchmark model for assisting infantry in manoeuvres. It is equipped with a 76-mm gun and has been in place since the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge.
The vehicle belonged to American General George Patton's 3rd Army but never crossed the town. A shell hole can be seen in the front of the tank, which caused the death of the entire crew. The plaque in front of the memorial reads:
"In honour of the gallant soldiers of the 2nd and 3rd American Armoured Divisions who liberated our town and its villages in January 1945 during the Battle of the Bulge.
M4A1 Sherman tank (76-mm. gun) restored and put in position by the Belgian “1/3 Régiment de Lanciers” (Cavalry Regiment).
La Roche-en-Ardenne, 17th December 2004 "