Wartime NWE image of a CIRD Sherman?

[Jason Ginn]

I was going through the Dutch national Archives on-line image database at:http://beeldbank.nationaalarchief.nl/ and found this image of what looks like a Sherman fitted with CIRD pads and studs. The pads appear small for the normal applique plates used on the gun tanks but the quality of the image is rather poor. The image was taken on 24 September 1944.

The caption states:"Een Sherman tank en infanterie van de Britse 11th Armoured Division passeren een bailybrug bij sluis 11 over de Zuid Willemsvaart op weg naar Asten [Operatie Market Garden]"

The catalouge number is:120_0834.

I have attached an image of a surviving Dutch ex-CIRD Sherman from Hanno's Sherman Register for comparison.

Could this be a CIRD tank that was in use as a regular gun tank, or am I just seeing things?

Thanks,

120_0834.jpg cird3.jpg