Sherman Crab T147955 “Avalon” Overloon. Regiment? Damage?

[Maurice Donckers]

here is another one , maybe been on here before .

[Maurice Donckers]

The above M4A4 must have been made before Feb . 1943 , because the lifting hooks still have the plate under them , Deleted from feb 1943 , SpitfireIV also has the late gun shield , no splash protection for final drive bolts , and the plates under the lifting hooks . Also spare track holders are in this position , Spitfire IV is produced in jan 1943

[MicS]

It must be a remanufactured tank, originally built before November 1942 (direct vision hoods). Features typical of remanufactured tanks include the add-on hatch guard armour plates and the gun travel lock.


Michel

[Jakko Westerbeke]

The additional armour plates before the drivers’ hatches were also to be added to tanks without direct vision flaps, because their purpose was to strengthen the armour in general there, not just prevent shots going in through those.

It’s very hard to tell in the photo above whether this particular tank has direct vision or not, though.

[Maurice Donckers]

Yes Yakko , you are right if the driver , and co driver would lift up their arms , we could see it , direct vision didn`t have the periscopes in front of the hatch.

[MicS]

Agreed, but to me the relatively high position of the plates means they can only be welded to Direct Vision hoods.


Michel

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Looking more closely at the photo, the co-driver’s hood seems to project only a little in front of the forward edge of the roof, so it could well be a direct-vision tank.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Originally Posted by Maurice Donckers

here is another one , maybe been on here before .

Terrific picture Maurice! Any idea when and where it was taken?

I am betting on a direct vision hull as well. Attached is a picture of another "mysterious" Sherman, Argyll Roger (or Argyle as it says on the side today!) from a similar angle for comparison

[MicS]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

Terrific picture Maurice! Any idea when and where it was taken?

Supposed to be Kampen NL in 1945 according to this:
https://beeldbankwo2.nl/nl/beelden/d...717b464/media/

Michel

[MicS]

in a sorry state:
FO005208 Sherman V 232362 transmission exploded.jpg


It looks like a Direct Vision one, with the peculiar feature that the top of the add-on armour plates appear to have been cut just a little to fit with the rounded shape of the hoods.


Michel