Holy Roller track type

[Jack Geratic]

Hello Colin, thank you for digging out that memo concerning rubber track replacement during vehicle prep for D-Day.

Also that photo of Canadian Shermans operating with early VVSS suspension, that to me is like the proverbial smoking gun. Positive proof that they were acceptable for use in 1944. If I had to make a guess, these could be Sherbrooke Shermans based on the style of radio call sign numbers and size of squadron markings located on the turret storage bin.

regards,
Jack

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by Jack Geratic

Hello Colin, thank you for digging out that memo concerning rubber track replacement during vehicle prep for D-Day.

Also that photo of Canadian Shermans operating with early VVSS suspension, that to me is like the proverbial smoking gun. Positive proof that they were acceptable for use in 1944. If I had to make a guess, these could be Sherbrooke Shermans based on the style of radio call sign numbers and size of squadron markings located on the turret storage bin.

regards,
Jack

Good question and good photo. If I remember the Minutae pages correctly, the first Shermans sent to the British went to North Africa. Those had the characteristic deep sand shields we see in 8th Army photos. Churchill asked and Roosevelt kept shipping. The photo, the production dates for Holy Roller and Bomb, and the captioning of Holy Roller's M3 then M4 bogey assemblies make me think the British parked those tanks for war stocks and just kept parking more and more in the yards. Theoretically, last in-first out until the Ordnance Parks got to the last rows. I will send this picture to the author of the regimental history to see if he has any suggestions or inputs. Wait. Out.

[Colin Alford]

Jack,

No problem, I have enjoyed this research exercise.

Regarding the LAC image I linked in my previous post. Upon further research, the stated location of Gruchy, and the date of 9 Jul, does indicate that these are likely Sherbrooke tanks which are about to resume the advance with the SD&G Highrs on their way into Caen. https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/o...8/1104?r=1&s=3

While attempting to determine if orders were given to 2 Cdn Armd Bde to change rubber tracks to steel, I looked at the Sherbrooke’s War Diary. (They included far more documents in their diary than 6 CAR (1H)!) while I did not find any evidence of direct communication that rubber tracks had to be changed out, I did find a critique regarding the rushed issue of unfamiliar vehicles in preparation for Overlord (see attached): https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/o...58/495?r=0&s=3

Given the various references to changing track, my opinion now is that it is likely that there was direction passed that any rubber track was to be swapped for steel prior to Overlord, and that Holy Roller likely had it’s rubber tracks pictured at the top of the thread swapped prior to the operation.

[Jack Geratic]

Terry, good analogy of last in-first out at the Ordnance Parks. Thanks for notifying the author of the regimental history.

Colin, thank you for the continued interest and more links.

Been thinking over the chalked loading codes on the side of the hull, and have read over at the missinglynx forums, that each beach had it's own set of ships allocated for the landings. Those for Juno were numbered in the 1000's range, and as these assigned numbers were secretive, it would be odd to see them on tanks prior to the actual event. Also missing is the the unit's mobilization number. For the Hussars this would have been 3/1

regards,
Jack

[maple_leaf_eh]

Me to Dan Braun:

Dan

I have been participating in a discussion on Maple Leaf Up forum with a fellow familiar with the 1H Holy Roller. It started with a question about track link types. He posted this photo -

http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_m...mbat/m4a2.html

The caption mentions Holy Roller had older style M3 tank style bogey assemblies for much of its operational service.

I challenged him that Holy Roller and Bomb are one registration number apart, and respectively made in Sept and November 1942. I suggested an M3 bogey on a mid-production M4A2 ought to be an anomaly; afterall, the plant was making 400-500 tanks a month at that time. Then the fellow found this photo because it also shows M4A2 Shermans with M3 bogies.

https://recherche-collection-search....Number=3226727

He wonders if in fact these aren't SFR tanks - the call signs, the squadron markings and the location. The photo metadata is 9 Jul 44, NW of Caen near Gruchy. Could these be SFR tanks?

Terry

From Dan Braun:

"Thanks for the info. I will take a look at the photos and see what I can make out, and then get back to you

As for an index, it would have meant having to cut about 10 pages of the text because I was living with a limit of 800 pages.

Daniel"

(In my opinion a book without an index is holding back half the influential horsepower it could have.)

[Jack Geratic]

So have looked at the Hussars diary for the months of March, April, and May of 1944. Not much new to add, but there was one exercise Fabius III that lasted about five days during the first week of May.

Prior to this was mention that on 28th of April that crews began painting white stars on their vehicles. Wonder if that is a white can of paint sitting atop of the turret ...

can of paint.jpg Screenshot 2022-02-13 at 00-05-24 War diaries T-12657 - Image 52 - Héritage.jpg

regards,
Jack