Tank destroyers entered and emerged from World War II as the center of a doctrinal controversy. Conceived in haste, they were team-operated, super-velocity, low-trajectory weapons, self-propelled or towed, suitable for employment on direct-fire missions against tanks--primarily German tanks. This document discusses the need for such battalions and their successes and failures in the second world war.

N2146.60-2 Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.