Splash guards were essentially a tiny metal "wall" surrounding the hatches of many WWII tanks. This "wall" had several functions. For example, splash guards would help to deflect bullets and shrapnel that would otherwise damage the hatch mechanism or kill the men inside (if the hatch were left open).

Splash guards also ensured that rainwater would not run off the sloping sides of the tank and into the tank itself. Instead, the splash guards would deflect the water away from the hatch where it would run off the tank and onto the ground.

WHERE TO LOOK FOR SPLASH GUARDS

Splash guards are present on almost every single WWII era tank. Unfortunately, splash guards are one of the least obvious of a tank's features, and careful scrutiny is necessary to find one. If a close-up picture is at hand, look for a raised "wall" surrounding one of the hatches. Otherwise, try to spot a hatch with a distinctive outline, which would probably suggest a splash guard.