Now That’s What You Call Team Building! M10 Wolverine of the 32nd Infantry Division, 632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion at Aitape

In the dense, unforgiving jungles of New Guinea during World War II, teamwork meant survival. Few images embody that spirit like the crew of an M10 Wolverine tank destroyer, part of the 632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion serving with the famed 32nd Infantry Division at Aitape. Though the precise date remains uncertain, the daring exploits and close cooperation of these men are emblematic of frontline camaraderie under fire.

The M10 Wolverine: Rolling Into Battle

The M10 “Wolverine” was a unique addition to the American arsenal—a tank destroyer designed for nimble movement and aggressive anti-tank action. Its 3-inch (76mm) gun was formidable, able to take on most Axis armor. But what set the M10 apart, for better or worse, was its open-topped turret. This design gave crews exceptional visibility—vital for reacting swiftly in battle and spotting enemy threats before becoming a target themselves. But that same open turret left the crew exposed to rain, shrapnel, snipers, and anything that fell from the sky.

Despite or perhaps because of its vulnerabilities, the M10 required a crew that worked as a true unit. Every man relied on his fellows not only for tactical prowess but for literal cover—ducking, shifting, and communicating constantly to keep the vehicle effective and the crew alive.

The 632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion and the 32nd Infantry Division

The 632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion, often operating in tandem with the 32nd Infantry Division—known as the “Red Arrow Division”—had already earned a fierce reputation by the time Aitape came under Allied control in 1944. This battle, part of the drive to reclaim New Guinea and secure valuable airfields, pitted American forces against tenacious Japanese defenders, hidden in the deep jungle and swamps.

Here, the M10s were put to the test. Their mission: to support infantry by rooting out bunkers, suppressing machine gun nests, and knocking out any tanks the enemy could still muster. But the environment was brutal. Crews fought not just enemy soldiers but mud, monsoon rains, and malfunctioning machinery—all in the shadow of relentless tropical disease and the threat of sudden ambush.

Teamwork in the Open

For the crew inside an M10 at Aitape, there was nowhere to hide. Visibility was unparalleled compared to enclosed tanks, allowing for better coordination with infantry and rapid sighting of threats. Crew members—commander, gunner, loader, driver, and co-driver—had to remain synchronized in every action, calling out targets, loading rounds, swiveling the heavy turret, and maneuvering through thick foliage.

But that open top came at a price: when Japanese mortars crashed down or snipers snapped shots from the canopy, there was little more than hope and a helmet between a crewman and disaster. It was in these moments that “team building” meant everything. One man’s alertness saved the others. One miscommunication, and all could be lost.

It was said that M10 crews at Aitape would string extra gear—ammo boxes, sandbags, spare track links—along the turret’s edge in a bid to gain a little added protection. Still, they knew that being exposed came with the job—and with it, an unbreakable reliance on each other.

“Red Arrow” Brotherhood

The 32nd Infantry Division and their attached tank destroyer battalions forged a rare brotherhood in New Guinea. The jungle imposed the kind of hardship that erased divisions between tanker and doughboy. In fact, American infantry working closely with M10 crews allowed for seamless attacks, with tank destroyers rolling in to blast bunkers while infantry swept through behind them.

Photographs and first-hand accounts from Aitape capture this bond: tankers sharing rations with riflemen, infantrymen guiding tank destroyers along muddy trails, both groups supporting each other through tropical downpours and enemy fire.

Lasting Legacy

The M10 Wolverine’s time in New Guinea was only a small part of its story, but it represents the heart of what World War II team building was all about: men of different backgrounds thrown together by fate, forced to rely on each other in some of the world’s harshest conditions. Despite its drawbacks, the M10’s open design brought crew members closer—not just physically, but emotionally, as shared danger built lasting ties.

The battlefields of Aitape would be reclaimed by jungle soon after the fighting ended, but the lessons of teamwork and improvisation—of trust forged in an open-topped turret under a tropical sky—live on in the legacy of the 632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion and the entire 32nd Infantry Division.

When it came to “team building,” no corporate retreat could ever hold a candle to the brotherhood born atop an M10 Wolverine, deep in the wilds of New Guinea.