Shermans carrying Fascines on D-Day
Strange question? you bet...
I've recently come across two references relating to Shermans in ordinary armoured regiments carrying "fascines" on or before D-Day.
1) In the 13/18 Hussars War Diary, there is reference to a trial in early March 1944 where the carrying of fascines on a Sherman tank was tried.
2) In the 27th Armoured Brigade Operations Order for Overlord (issued May '44), there is a specific reference to Staffordshire Yeomanry - "one Troop of the Reserve Squadron to carry fascines".
I believe that if these tanks were used operationally, they were normal, turreted Shermans.
It does however, leave some questions:
-Do they mean full-sized AVRE-style fascines or are we talking about smaller bundles of brushwood?
-Any ideas on how and where they might be carried?
-Has anybody found references to this practice being used in other (British or Canadian) regiments on D-Day?
The floor is yours...
Cheers,
John
__________________
John Tapsell
john@TAKEOUTarmouredengineer.force9.co.uk (remove TAKEOUT from address if you wish to contact me)
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