Adrian Barrell

Commonwealth forces did use M4A1(76) in Italy so Ordnance would be supplying 6 pdr, 75mm, 76mm and 17 pdr tank ammo!

No it is an M4A3E8.

 

Note the HVSS suspension with open roadwheels, the flat glacis plate unbroken by hatches and the larger turret for the US 76mm gun, their answer to the Firefly's 17 pdr.

Though nowhere near as good!

It's not uncommon for people to call any Sherman with a muzzle brake a Firefly but Alien is spot-on. It's also on T-66 single pin track but knowing that may be seen as a bit anal.....

What they are worth is what someone is prepared to pay. If the scrappy values it higher than a collector, then that's what it's worth.

Of course scrap values are transitory. Shermans, admittedly wrecks, could be had for £1000 about 15 years ago, scrap money. A lot of people are wishing they had bought one now!

More likely Nigel Montgomery.

Gas mask for a horse.

My Cromwell is ex-1 RTR and was called Annous.... whatever than means! The three HQ tanks were called Anwenoit, Anwecandoit and Andsodowe.

My favourite is 2 troop in B sqdns Firefly, Wherezatiger!

My Sherman had the name Gainsborough painted each side of the turret. I think it may have been post war 79th AD use.

I've never given names to any of my other vehicles.

I have to confess....whilst I knew what the tanks were, the rest I googled!

You won't be able to see me in any case because of the orbs!

You should get them seen to, it could be Epididymo-Orchitis........

Well.... the tanks are M4s, Sherman I. Welded hull, radial engine with 75mm guns.

The Heritage Empire was an oil tanker carrying tanks as deck cargo, which left New York on 25th of August 1944 as part of convoy HXF305 bound for Liverpool.

She was sunk by a U Boat on 8th of September off North West Ireland. The RFA Pinto was also sunk whilst picking up survivors from the Empire.

Fascinating pictures!

Further to earlier answers, the wheels are (should be) individually balanced and so it doesn't matter how they are mounted. If they are not balanced properly and I doubt they were in wartime, then it is best to mount them with valves opposite to minimise the out of balance forces.

It's an interesting issue. In my case, a well known model manufacturer has used my photographs of my tank in the instructions for their multibank engine kit and on their website to advertise it. The pictures were lifted from the internet without my knowledge or permission.

In reality, I'm not that bothered though I feel it was cheeky to say the least! Perhaps I should ask for a built up engine model as recompense!

Further to Richards comments about the Sherman, it was an M4A2, Sherman III before being converted to a BARV. Sold by Pounds and 'converted' back to a gun tank with an incorrect 76mm turret placed on the hull.

It has more recently been more properly restored with a correct 75mm turret and was at Beltring sporting a new paintjob.

ok, will wait till later on on the year, still a cracking museum though!!! Am thinking of joining the friends, can anybody recommend it?

 

Mark

Highly! For one thing, you're supporting the museum as the Friends do help in many ways. To get the most out of it, you need to get down there reasonably regularly and be willing to help where needed.

John Pearson is a Friend of long standing and he can give you a better idea of what he gets up to...

There are actually five two seaters in the UK. Four currently flying and one, G-AIDN, the prototype two seater, undergoing a restoration.

According to this website there are only three two seaters in the UK http://www.flights4all.com/about_spitfires.asp

 

& you can't legally fly in one as a passenger in the UK...

You can't pay to fly in one as that becomes a mini airline needing an AOC, public transport cat. CofA etc. You can be given a flight and you can offer charity flights under certain circumstances. The bit about being a pilot refers, I think, to being able to receive instruction. There are various ways round it but as the list of people wanting to fly is far greater than the opportunities to do so, I can't see it happening anytime soon.

Sounds like an enginnering nightmare! Any idea where I can get further info?

I have a manual for the Guiberson 9 cylinder!

What sounds interesting is the alternate 'Radial Disiel' didn't know such a thing existed.

Chrysler built 75 M4A6s with a radial diesel. It was a Wright aircraft radial design modified by Caterpillar. Guiberson also built 7 cylinder radial diesels for M3 light tanks and 9 cylinder for medium tanks though they never went into full production.

The M3 light at Bovvy (a gift from Brazil) has a diesel. They use cartriage start.

Australians are justifiably proud of Sentinal, it's not a bad design cosidering the lack of previous tank building experience.

I have to say though, it is of course easier to improve something existing than to design from scratch.

Still a great achievment.

Sentinal. Three Cadillac V8s.

Well done to you and especially mum! Your life has changed forever.....

Adrian

I did mine in 1993. Having prepared a vehicle for road use, the examiner said ''no need to go on the road, we'll do it in your yard''. In the end we did the test in my field! He did admit he knew nothing of tracked vehicles and so asked what it was capable of doing to avoid him asking the impossible of me.

The test was a doddle and frankly bore no relationship to driving tracked vehicles on the road. He did ask a few questions, the interesting one was along the lines of ''what do you need to be careful of when descending a hill?'' You can get into problems with a clutch/brake steering vehicle going down hill under engine braking as when you de-clutch the left side to turn left for example, the vehicle can turn right as it overuns on the left side. Whether he was aware of this or not I don't know but he seemed happy with my answer.

I don't think you will get a test like this anymore.

Don't worry about it! Shermans and their many derivatives are a bit of a minefield. 49,000 vehicles and no two the same!

That is a problem actually! Not many people see the difference between 'as it was' and 'that will do'! I will need to find somebody in the next year or so, if anybody has engineering skills and wants to work on tanks in Suffolk, let me know!

Churchill 3" gun carrier

The cast hull would imply an M4A2 Sherman. Does this apply to a Grizzly?

Cast hull is M4A1. M4A2 was always a welded hull. Late M4 had a cast front and welded rear often leading to misidentification as an M4A1.