Sherman ID Needed

pzrwest · #1 22-10-10, 15:42

This Sherman is located at the tank museum(open air) in S. Calif in Rosemead. What is the designation of this Sherman? The photo titles say M4A3d and a placard(sign) in front of the tank says 76. Thank you in advance.... Harold

tankbarrell · #2 22-10-10, 18:03

It's an M4A3(75)W. Ford GAA engined with a 75mm gun and wet ammo stowage in floor racks. There were some 75mm tanks regunned post-war with the 76mm in the standard 75mm mount, as seen in Kelly's Heroes but this does not look like one to me.

What appears to be a thread on the end of the gun maybe something stuck in the bore. The length and taper look standard 75mm to me.

pzrwest · #3 22-10-10, 20:24

How does one know if it's a wet or dry one? By the lack of applied side armor plateing?

pzrwest · #4 22-10-10, 23:36

I phoned the tank museum and inquired about the Sherman in the pictures and they informed me that the Sherman is an M4A3E8. Also called an Easy Eight. He is also going to e-mail me some pics of the undersides of the commanders copula hatch.
As for the barrel of this tank it is one they made up since the barrel was missing, hence the bit on the end of the barrel

tankbarrell · #5 23-10-10, 09:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by pzrwest

I phoned the tank museum and inquired about the Sherman in the pictures and they informed me that the Sherman is an M4A3E8. Also called an Easy Eight. He is also going to e-mail me some pics of the undersides of the commanders copula hatch.
As for the barrel of this tank it is one they made up since the barrel was missing, hence the bit on the end of the barrel

I'm afraid the museum is wrong. The E8 designation applied to the later HVSS suspension. That tank is a plain old M4A3(75)W. The tank next to it with the camo paint is an M4A3E8.

You are correct about the applique armour or rather the lack of it. The later, large hatch hulls were usually wet stowage, M4A2 being the exception, a batch of those were built with dry stowage and can be identified by the applique plates over the ammo racks.

pzrwest · #6 23-10-10, 14:51

As you stated he gave me the info incorrectly. Thank you for your input.... Harold

pzrwest · #7 27-10-10, 19:25

Would this be the correct 50cal cradle mount for this Sherman? Thank you in advance.... Harold

Jim Gilmore · #8 30-10-10, 16:59

Not for a WW II time period.

This is a post war cradle.

It will work but will not be correct.

Jim Gilmore

pzrwest · #9 31-10-10, 04:55

Does anyone have any detailed picks of the correct late war 50cal cradle and pintle that would be correct for this version of the Sherman? Thank you in advance.... Harold