M4A2E8 Sherman
 

I believe the M4A2E8 Shermans were only used in Canada by the Reserves. Here is another photo of a tank minus the M1919A4 MGs.

Attachment 119877

Yes, the fresh paint and markings look swell!
Almost correct too. Can anyone spot one glaring error ?

Maybe they ran out of rope to tie the 1919A4 on the turret?

Ed, why do you believe only the CF Reserve used the M4A2E8’s?

Throw in 58 pattern webbing, a beret with an RCAC cap badge, coveralls with a leather name fob pinned on and two Mk5 Centurions. Also the tactical call signs white washed on the turret. I would guess Camp Borden and the RCAC School. Maybe a photo of young officers in training?

PS: The cone on the muzzle of the machine gun was not the BFA. It was a part of what kept the barrel air-cooling shield secure to the gun.

Cheers,
Dan.

While not all of the Canadian used M4’s from the former Russian Lend Lease order were subsequently fitted in Canada with the extension plate welded in front of the driver hatch: it is a godsend.

Not only for an extended place to step, but it helps to catch debris that migrates off the track while under way. I am convinced without a supporting (pun) CFTO to verify the intent, the shelf is intended as a step. The absence of one on the co-driver side suggests there was little concern about getting a face full of whatever.

Slips and falls off the M4, as well as any other armour, are not encouraged. There is a core (Corps ?) group who do not need to be reminded. :cheers:

I believe James was correct: it is the BFA replacement of the Ball round muzzle attachment. Normally painted yellow, similar to other Canadian issue small arms BFA’s, it was used with a cartridge stop (discriminator) to prevent a Ball round being introduced but also to reduce the receiver space due to the reduced length of the 30-06 Blank cartridge.

Do I see a small portion of the C1 SMG BFA showing?




Ed: I suggest these are Reg Force troopers ... a point towards Reg Force use of the M4A2E8.

I concur it is a BFA on the M1919. The hole is way too small for a 30 cal or 7.62 barrel bearing for live fire. As well, if you blow the photo up a little you can see the radial gas ports at the base of the BFA along with the front wrenching feature. I have never seen a barrel bearing on a M1919 that looks like this one for anything but blank fire.

Hmmm.......I am sitting here with one each 1919 BFA, 1919 Front barrel bushing and recoil boaster and 1919 Front barrel bushing/recoil boaster W/flash hider (cone) and still see just a 1919 ground mounted with a BFA mounted, Maybe I am just missing something or not looking at the same pic.

Tank Useage
 

I was under the impression that the Regular Force used the Centurion with the Reserves getting the Shermans. As well, the M4A2E8s never served outside of Canada so every photograph should show them being used in Canada. Now I can see the Regular Force using the M4A2E8 Shermans in Canada prior to the introduction of the Centurion and would enjoying seeing an image from that time period as everything I have was taken after 1955.

Webbing Patterns
 

Canadian Army Webbing Patterns were as follows 1908 (Canadian), 1908, 1913, 1925, 1937, 1951, 1964, and 1982 Pattern. 1958 Pattern was British and not adapted by Canada.

Agreed. Nothing but a training tank assigned in Canada only.
A former CF fellow using nom de plume ‘Silverhawk’, Harold Skaarup, has written extensively on the history of these medium tanks.

The commonly used nomenclature and technical nomenclature is ‘passionately’ discussed :fry: on other social ( ? ha !) media sites.

Question
 

Was the Regular Force still using Shermans in 1967, which is when the photograph was taken.

I believe there is a group (of us) on MLU Forum who were taught to “never pass a fault”. That concept does not appear to have universal acceptance.

While viewing other Ex-CF M4 gate guards from this 76mm Wet storage with HVS Suspension family, I see the same error on “Hussar” at Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa has crept onto the Régiment de Hull tank. Or vice versa, not sure who was first !

Is it an example of a fault being accepted as correct then repeating itself?

.

On the photo in Post #33, there is a “XX-XXX” Registration Number on the front hull, just below the barrel.

Can that be used at all to ID this Sherman and who was operating it in 1967?

David

Great point. Accepting the event is 1967, the Sherman group with painted up turrets and loaded with blank, are they Reserve guys heading out to play silly bugger as OPFOR (was that “Phantasia” (sp) at that time), or Sherman’s that remained available on base and were used for such training ?

Harold Skaarup, Maj. (ret’d) wrote:
“ After the first batch of the new tanks went to the RCD at Camp Borden 1946, another 30 went to the LdSH at Camp Wainwright, Alberta in March 1947. Training on the tanks by the LdSH was also conducted at Camp Sarcee in Alberta, and at Camp Petawawa when the RCD moved there in the spring of 1948.”

M1919a$ mg
 

I don't have the photograph caption and we can speculate all day as to the date and place; but back to why I posted the image, which was why no MGs mounted in the Shermans?

You're right Ed. I was referring to the 51 pattern. I guess I spend too much time on British Army sites.

Reg F Sherman
 

Attached for reference, 1947/48 Camp Wainwright, Alberta. Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) tank park. The Shermans were used until 1952, replaced by the Centurion Mk 5's.

And that is an M5 Stuart in the foreground.

Hi

I meant to get back to this thread/photo but a recent gun camp reminded me.

I do not think that there is a BFA on the M1919A4 (or the SMG) simply because of the flag on the rear Sherman. That is the Range safety Officer's vehicle that follows any live fire movement on Armoured vehicle ranges. To this day.

To have BFAs on a live fire range................I dunno. Were we that stupid back then?

Fotr the SMG, I also do not think it is a BFA due to the position indicated is too far back on the body of the weapon. Looks like the clip for the sling. I loved my "Small Metal Gun".

http://mpmuseum.org/smgc1.html

regard
Darrell