the_shadock

it means that you have found the sides upper hull armour? Or you are missing all the front including the two bits on the front sides? P-O

Rob, of course, it's very nice to see that they are able to preserve one more Sherman hull, whatever accessories they put on it.. P-O

hello, a French association restored and is restoring a number of Sherman tanks to runnning condition, putting new modern truck engines in them. Here's one of their latest restorations. I don't think that it looked like that during WW2. There were some turretless Shermans used by the Brits, but I don't think that they had T5E3 mine excavators.. http://balmoralgreen.com/les-blind-s/sherman-m4a4.html

so you have enough spares to rebuild all the assembly yet? P-O

you could still try to unearth an empty FT hull from the Maginot Line, then you will have to find a turret, engine, gearbox, all internal equiments and to refabricate the running gear.. P-O

Hello, a French well-known association is currently restoring an M3A1 Stuart, which is a former Brazilian tank : http://www.asphm.com/projets/projet_m3a1_stuart_2/projet_m3a1_stuart.html The owner would like to paint the Stuart in sand with green camouflage and to put correct and accurate markings, and he would like that the tank looks like it was used by British troops in North Africa. Do you have any period photo or drawing that we can use to correctly paint the tank please? I'm not even sure that the Brits used M3A1s with a welded (not riveted) hull in North Africa. thanks for any help Pierre-Olivier

nice thing, I like to see unusual items to be cared of and restored. Pierre-Olivier

next time he will start with a screw, lol :-D

I think that he has found a lot more than anyone would have expected.. hope he'll be lucky until completion of this project. P-O

nice thing.. P-O

thanks for the tip Rick, I gave it a try.. P-O

hello, three roadwheels and some track links have arrived, and a pair of tracks will arrive soon. However, there is still a long raod to go !! P-O

http://www.ebay.com/itm/350899845284

Adrian, I would prefer a photo of "the real thing", I already have a scan of the manual but I want to use both pics. thanks P-O

Adrian, could you please provide a picture of the M4A4 panel instruments assembly please? I would like to create a page about Sherman panel instruments assembliy variants on "Sherman Minutia". thanks Pierre-Olivier

hello, a French well known association has recently acquired a Panzer I tank. The owner is looking for any part like engine, gearbox, running gear, roadwheels, sprockets, tracks etc.. any help is the most welcome. Pierre-Olivier

I think that the answer is there : http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minutia/duplexdrive/duplexdrive.html The table above show British monthly production of Duplex Drive using M4A4 and M4A2 hulls. The USA produced Duplex Drive from M4A1(75) tanks only, they used the small hatch and large hatch variants. "The British demonstrated the DD to US planners in November 1943. Soon after, it was decided that the US would also employ DDs for the invasion, scheduled at that time for May 1944. Since British production could not meet US requirements, the initial plan called for the manufacture of conversion kits in the States, which would then be applied to US Army Shermans already in the UK. However, the complex nature of the design quickly led to the conclusion that it would be preferable to do the complete conversions in the US. The use of the M4A1(75) required the relocation of the air cleaners to the inside of the engine compartment. In their original positions, they interfered with the application of the DD frame, as well as the proper operation of the propellers. This change required 50 to 75 man hours, and was one of the reasons it was decided to do the conversions in the US. The conversion program commenced in January 1944. Due to the secret nature of the project, assembly areas were cordoned off, and the finished units were shipped completely encased in plywood boxes. Training began on March 15 with the arrival of the first 4 M4A1 DDs. Remarkably, 348 were delivered to the UK by the end of April." Pierre-Olivier

Adrian, yes now I see which one it is. Thanks !! Pierre-Olivier

sorry, my mistake. I thought that there were two different M4A2(76) HVSS on this photo, but the second HVSS tank seems to have an M4 engine deck : P-O

I'm pretty sure that Jon Hickman's Staghound restoration project will be as complicated to achieve as your Loyd Carrier. By the way Alastair, do you know where I could find a nice photo of an M4A2(76) HVSS in a private collection in UK and that is being used for the film "Fury"? thanks Pierre-Olivier

hello, beside the M4A3(76) HVSS and the M4(105) HVSS / M4A3(105) HVSS, we know that few M4A3(75)W HVSS participated to some fighting actions between May 6 and May 8, 1945, in Czechoslowakia. This is described there : http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minutia/manufacturer/m4a375w/m4a3_75w.html "The transitional nature of the introduction of changes suggests that a few Fisher M4A3(75)s made before January 1, 1945 were equipped with HVSS. At least one December 1944 example, USA 30115711, was photographed. "Hardboiled" is thought to have served with the 16th Armored Division which entered Pilsen, Czechoslovakia on May 6, 1945. It is another M4A3(75)W that was factory built with an earlier D50878 low bustle turret recycled from the retriever program" we also know that in September 1944, Chrysler-made M4(105) Shermans started to be equipped with the new Horizontal Volute Spring Suspension (HVSS), so they surely participated to WW2 combats in ETO. We know that M4A1(76) HVSS were shipped to ETO and arrived there in April 1945. M4A1(76)s "with 23 inch tracks" are specifically listed as having been 'allocated' to the various US Armies around the middle of April 1945. However, we continue to search for a WW II "combat shot" of such a tank, which didn't show until today. P-O

the restorer is Jo Peeters http://www.worldofarms.be/ P-O

Hello Jon, good luck with this restoration. In which country are you located, UK or USA? Thanks!! Pierre-Olivier

It is by Handmet Military in Gostyn, Poland by now, as far as I know. P-O

Alastair, do I have the vehicle listed in the surviving Loyd Carriers PDF file? Maybe you could get a more recent photo of the vehicle than the one in the list? P-O