the_shadock

there were nine Sherman manufacturers. Here are the manufacture statistics : http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minutia/data/sherman_production.html a thenth manufacturer made 188 M4A1(75) Grizzlys, it is Montreal Locomotive Works, but it is not included in this page. These statistics don't include Sherman variants like M7 Priests, M32 or M74 Recovery, Sextons, M10 TDs, etc etc.. P-O

hello Tobin, does your Matilda come from Australia? Do you have a turret for it? thanks Pierre-Olivier

Hello, the ASPHM association, located in eastern France, owns a turretless M3A1 Stuart : http://www.asphm.com/projets/projet_m3a1_stuart_1/projet_m3a1_stuart.html the owner has found that there is a pintle stand for a .30 or .50 machinegun located in the turret ring. The rust and metal damage seems to indicate that the modification is very old, it was not done 10 years ago or so.. Could this indicate that the tank was formerly modified into a Recce or Command tank? That could explain why it was turretless whan acquired. thanks P-O

could also be a "psychological" effect : "then I feel that my tank is better protected than before from enemy fire"... Pierre-Olivier

I think that the most common upgrade was to weld thin bars in olrder to put sandbags all around the tanks, this one is a perfect example of "extreme relooking" : http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i308/Praetorian4AD/M4Sherman14thArmored2.jpg Few US army Shermans that fought in Europe are known with extra welded armor on them : http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208/thread/1245621593/1245792528/How+were+the+extra+armour+plates+welded+in+a+M4A3E8- http://www.wwiivehicles.com/usa/tanks-medium/m4-medium-tank-sherman/m4a1-medium-tank-sherman/m4a1-76-medium-tank-02.png The extra protection against ammunitions was a fitting also seen in the Pacific, sometimes it was made of wood : http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lenf695jbI1qesbnro1_1280.jpg Quite often seen on British and Canadian tanks too, often seen with additional tracks put all around the tank : http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/vehicles/tanks/shermanpics.jpg P-O

I think that the turret is original to the tank. I'll try to get some photos of the other side of the turret, that can't be seen on those photos. P-O

the "transformation" undertaken by the French Army in 1950 consisted in this : -the original Chrysler Multibank engine was removed, and a Continental R-975 radial engine was put instead -with the change of the engine, additional air filters are installed above the back engine doors -the original M4A4 engine deck plates was removed and new plates were added, which look like the plates found on M4s and M4A1s -a hole was made in the rear hull plate, to be able to operate the starting handle for the radial engine (in order to remove the motor oil from the bottom of the engine cylinders) -the rear mudguards were changed -the split hatch cupola was replaced by all-round vision cupola -the serial number found on the manufacturer's plate and/or on the tow lugs was added (stamped) on the front glacis plate, to be easily found by mechanicians -3 French "factory plates" were welded to the front and back of the hull, and on the top of the turret, which indicate the factory and date of the upgrade It will serve as a monument in Alsace, near Colmar. The mayor intends to put French WW2 markings of the 5th Chasseurs d'Afrique Regiment (5ème RCA)/1st French Armored Div, which was a unit that didn't use any M4A4 in 1944-45. The tank is known as being a veteran of the 1st Chasseurs d'Afrique Regiment (1er RCA)/5th French Armored Div, which had two ex-Duplex Drive M4A4s among their troops in 1944. That's really a shame if they paint it in 5ème RCA markings BUT the only problem is that 1st Chasseurs d'Afrique Regiment didn't liberate the city where it will be placed. P-O

This tank comes from a fire range in Bourges (France). It will be restored to serve as a monument. Evidence show that it is an ex-British Sherman nicknamed “Massachussetts” and that it was equipped with Duplex Drive fittings before being converted back to M4A4(75), probably in 1943. The tank has been identified as being the “Fort National”, which served with 1st Chasseurs d’Afrique Regiment, 5th French Armored Division in 1944-45. The differential housing is not original to the tank and has been changed sometime between 1945 and 1950 (as the tank served after WW2 in the French army, as an M4A4 Transformé, with a radial engine). The USA number 3016910 "tells" us that the Serial Number is 16604, built in November 1942.

not intended to sail, the owner constructed a little port to be able to display it in a future MV museum near Strasbourg. P-O

not yet up and running, but up and floating again !! P-O

Would like to bring some additional infos : M4 : very early M4(75) made by Pressed Steel Car in 1942, has Direct Vision and early bogies M4A2 : the one without turret has been made by Federal Machine and Welder in February 1943. It is one of two existing Shermans confirmed as having been built by FMW, out of 540 ever produced. M4A1(76) HVSS : made by Pressed Steel car, probably in 1945. Didn't ever served during WW2, has been given to France as part of the Mutual Defense Assistance Program in the 1950s and served in the French Army in the 1950s and 1960s. M4A1 : late large hatches hull, had an AMX-13 turret (used for tests in the French army in order to use Sherman chassis with better main gun), AMX-13 turret removed and they put an early 75mm turret that doesn't fit with the hull (should have a 76mm turret and main gun). M4A2 "Corse" : used as a test bed to equip Sherman tanks with the AMX-13 barrel in the 75mm turret, the design was later used on the M50 Super Sherman. Original WW2 tank used in the French 2d armored division, the markings belong to that tank, it is the original "Corse" that fought at Dompaire in September 1944. Built by Pullman Standard in 1943. * P-O

he's the director of a French company who sells cartridge for printers and accessories for computers. http://www.wriblay.fr/ P-O

the owner is Eric Kauffmann, and the 3 British armoured vehicles (Beaverette, Morris and C15TA) come from "For Freedom Museum" in Knokke-Heist, Belgium. the museum is currently restoring a German WW2 boat : http://www.asphm.com/love_boat/index.php Pierre-Olivier

here are some : http://the.shadock.free.fr/photos/sexton/ The Sextons that I have seen are not very well preserved, so... P-O

I took some photos of Sexton driver's positions in Italy few days ago. I'll send some tomorrow. P-O

here is a rather complete walkaround of SN 22434 : http://the.shadock.free.fr/Tanks_in_France/m4a4_sn22434/index.html P-O

Johann, Joe DeMarco told me in a recent email that your two M4A4 Shermans have been remanufactured (upgraded) by Chrysler for the British. There is no proof yet that they saw actuel combat service with the British (these seem to be shipping markings and not combat markings), but they were for sure both used by the French Army in the 1950s. I hope to be able to discover more painted markings on next Saturday, when I'll see you and your tanks. Pierre-Olivier

here is the same item seen in an M4 in France (-an M4 that never went in service with the Brits) : P-O

the soda can that is in the air filter seems to be in very good condition !! :laugh: P-O

on the second photo, I can see a Soviet SU-76 and most probably a Flakpanzer IV Möbelwagen at teh front of the photo : P-O

yes they did. At least two LVT-2s are known to have been used for the landing operations on Utah Beach. One LVT-2 survivor is displayed in the "new" Utah Beach museum. The other vehicles that can be seen are two chassis of Cromwell/Centaur (possibly Centaur Dozer) and most probably Loyd Carriers (or Bren carriers/Universal Carriers?). Not sure but I think that I can see some Shermans on the very back ground. P-O

well, that could have been something to decorate the Christmas tree.. :laugh: P-O

this one still has the air cleaners in place : http://the.shadock.free.fr/Tanks_in_France/sherman_neuvy/index.html this one is still in good condition too : http://the.shadock.free.fr/Tanks_in_France/sherman_stlaurent/index.html P-O

you probably know that France reequipped all its M4A4s with radial engines in the 1950s. The multibanks were too complicated to deal with, so they got rid of them. So, this tank was one of the ones that had a radial, that's why they also had air cleaners at the back.. P-O