Why were some tank destroyers in WW2 open topped?

Question

For example, the M36 Jackson. I would've thought there would have been protests because of the danger of strafing planes, enemy soldiers in tall buildings, etc.

Answer 1

The idea with a tank destroyer, which is basically just a self-propelled anti-tank gun, is to provide a relatively fast, cheap, vehicle that could still carry a big enough gun to take out tanks. Thus to reduce weight so that the biggest gun possible could be mounted on a given chassis, as well as saving the cost of building an actual turret, tank destroyers tended to have either no turret, as in the German Jadgpanther or the Soveit JSU-122, or an open turret, as in the M36 already mentioned. The open-topped design also allowed for better visibility for the crew.

Although virtually everybody started out with open-topped TDs, as the war progressed the problems with crew survivability, and even exposure to the elements, led the Germans and Soviets to adopt the covered, although turret-less, TD, while the Americans tended to reassign their TDs to basically infantry support, like an assault gun.

Answer 2

mostly to gain weight and so on speed also they had a better view around but they soon came to the consternation that there vehicles where to often destroyed to hand grenades and shrapnel.
The later models had a Armour roof put over the the fighting compartment

Answer 3

aw come on! WWII is the great big war of all, first is they are compromising their materials, so for not using so much metal on one tank. then, if tank destroyers are heavily armored their speed is very much decreased, just look at the weight of the cannon alone, it's already too damn heavy for the tank to carry already.

added*
having too much armor makes the tank slower which means
closed topped is good but slow moving makes them an easy target too right?

Answer 4

I guess it was mostly to give the crews more room to work to load the gun and give the spotters and the commander a better view of the battlefield. It was also easier for the grenadiers to dismount from the vehicle to fight or scout the area ahead.

Answer 5

probably coz it was easier to aim than a closed and u could see easily everything in sight but i dont think it was great idea coz the peoplpe who were using the turrets were hunted down coz people on alnd with guns couldnt destroy a tank without using a bazoka so they would just try to kill the turret shooter but yea im guessing coz it was easier to see and shoot from than an enclosed setting

Answer 6

i do not know of any EFFECTIVE tank that is open-topped, probably bad design