[Larry Hayward]

Some years ago I wrote an article on this type of vehicle for George Bradford's AFV News and used the same photo as yours, which also appears as Photo 17 in 'Tanks Illustrated No 20 - Allied Tanks in Italy WW2 by Brian Perrett (Arms & Armour Press)The above mentioned photo dated circa April 1944 comes from the SANMMH in South African. Note that the M3 has a 'Sherman' type VVS suspension unit in the centre, mounted 'back to front' with the return roller forward! It's hard to judge but it looks to have rubber blocks on its tracks. The clear photos of this M3 I've seen suggests that it has a welded hull which is a bit of a dilemma as this would make it an M3A3 which was not used for the Grant! Perhaps I'm seeing things- or not seeing things such as the missing rivets under all that dust! There is another photo of General Poole's Grant ACV a year later, on page 78 of British and Commonwealth Armoured Formations (1919-46) by Duncan Crow (Profile Publications) which clearly shows a M3A5 with a rivetted hull and replacement later type VVS suspension units (as used on some M3A4's) on the other (right hand) side of the tank. It also had metal 'chevron style' tracks so must have had a re-work of sorts in late 1944 or early 1945. Its ultimate fate is unknown.