[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Darren Witty

Part of the army number and the number stamped on the rear towing eye.

The "T" in the hull serial number got me stumped, so I passed the numbers on to the Sherman Register mailing list, and as usual Joe DeMarco came up with very solid information!

Can you check if the census number is actually T23714?

Hope this helps,
Hanno

To: "G104"
From: "Joe DeMarco"
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:19:13 -0500
Subject: Re: [G104] M3 Grant for sale in Australia / serial number

Hi Hanno,

Based on the examination of a few examples, Baldwin Locomotive Works stamped an exact sequential build number on the front & rear towing lugs of their Grants. The Number has been seen with a T prefix as in the photo of Darren's Grant. Thus, he has the 211th Grant built by Baldwin. It would have been accepted in March, 1942, & would have been one of the last Grants with radial engine made by Baldwin. In that month, they switched over to making diesel engined Grants both M3A5 riveted hull, & M3A3 welded hull models. According to my calculations, their 211th Grant would have been assigned T23714. Darren wrote "There is a T number on the side but as yet can only read the first three numbers." So when he chalked it with T23711, was he guessing about the last two digits? I'm certainly open to the possibility that I have miscalculated, but maybe Darren could recheck the last digit on both sides of the tank? There might be another way to confirm the T Number. On the Grants, the T Number was the US Ordnance Serial Number. If he's lucky, it may still have the dataplates inside. I'm pretty sure the plates were made of brass, so they hold up to the elements pretty well. If you sit in the driver's position & look on the wall to your right, if they are still there, the larger plate should have the serial number & the year 1942 stamped into it. The smaller plate just names the manufacturer.

Just out of historical curiousity, I would also suggest he check the tow lugs of the differential housing. If the diff is original to that Grant, T211 should be stamped on the lugs. If there is another number with a T prefix, that would indicate it came from another Baldwin Grant. Of course, Australia also received Grants made by Pullman & Pressed Steel Car. Just like with their Shermans, & to my regret as a researcher, those companies don't seem to have stamped anything on the tow lugs of their Grants. Australia also received some M3 Lees, so if there was a regular number stamped on there, say about 4 digits long, he might have a bit of a Lee.
Do you know if he got a Grant turret with the purchase?

Joe