Tanks to the Front
 

These are for both softskin and armour fans.

1. Tanks unloaded

Onto transporter
 

Watch those fingers

Fastened down
 

and ready to go

Transporters
 

roll

Unloading
 

At the units

Crews take over
 

seems a lot of crew

One crew member working, five officers supervising and a soldier hanging around wiating for lunch.

And not an NCO in sight

Interesting shots Centurian i have not seen these
i have a few taken about the same time at Antwerp Docks loadind new Pershing tanks i would guess early 1945 as the tanks were only in action for the last few months of the war.
Posted photo shows the transporter under test with a pershing on board in 1944

second photo a preserved M26 i believe in Holland

Yes I believe the shots I enclosed show Antwerp. It seems to have been the main route for armour from Nov 1944 onwards as vehicles could be moved not only by road but by barge up the Scheldt. Once the rail network was restored this added to carrying capacity

That's a great truck, Les! I saw one in Beltring a few years back, massive bugger it is! The tank shown in your photo, though, is an HVSS Sherman rather than a Pershing.

I don't think so unless some one has been very constructive with the hull. It looks more like th Medium T23E3 with the side skirts removed
Sherman NVSS looks like this

"HVSS" refers to the 'Horizontal Volute Suspension System' which is clearly evident in both photos (note also the sprocket and track). "T23" really refers to the turret developed to house the 76mm gun and was applied to the developmental version of the tank; the tank pictured is almost certainly an M4A3E8, which was the service version in the American forces. It's still a Sherman, albeit somewhat heavier with different frontal plate etc.

Canadians had an M4A2E8 which is visually almost identical and which served in Militia units into the 70's. The interesting thing is that when our tankers went to Korea, we swapped out our Achilles' TDs for American-supplied 'A3E8s. Our E8s have only ever seen combat in Israel... :D

The T 20 series was developed to replace the M4. It had a completely new hull, engine and turret. In this series were the T20, T20E3,T22, T23 and T23E3. None saw service. The T20E3 and T23E3 both had Torsion bar suspension to replace the HVSS. The 23E3 is clearly the tank in Les's picture - it aint a Sherman - see below. Just look at the hull shapes of the Sherman and the T23

I was referring to Les' second picture, the one in colour. The tank pictured on the float is an E8 Sherman.

Great pictures Centurion and Les!

Some comments on the colour pic. I believe this was taken at the 50th commemoration of the liberation of Holland on the Soesterberg Airfield.
The tank is an M4A3E8 with 105mm howitzer. The M26 Dragon Wagon is from the Dutch "Marshall Museum/Armycars" collection from " Jaap de Groot". This museum used to have 3 Dragon Wagons( two armored and 1 softskinned version).

For those interested: The collection is in the process of being moved to the "War and Resistance museum" in Overloon.

regards,

Alex

Hi Alex
A question i had intended to put to you Dutch guys, what happened to army cars Holland. They used to advertise in dear old Barts mag Wheels and Tracks, i remember one time they had around 30 Diamond T 980/981s on the books including one i was informed still crated selling then for £19.000 a lot of money but what adeal if it were true
cheers
Les

Hi Les,

I am not sure if Army Cars still exists. About 10 years ago I made a visit to them and it was absolutely amazing! I was very impressed with the row of about 20 restored Ward La France Wreckers and the room with about 50 GMC cabins! Absolutely stunning!.

Some years later the Marshall Museum was opened at the same location in Zwijndrecht, but Army Cars still continued to sell vehicles.

At this moment most off the vehicles of the Marshall musem collection are allready in the newly built hall in the Overloon museum. I believe the full collection will be open for public somewhere in the spring of 2006.

Alex

those sure are a different trailer for hauling. what is with the tracks over the tire that curve up during transport????

thansk

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