One for Roddy: Sherman names and numbers

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Pic from NARA, courtesy of Steve Zaloga who unearthed it:

Sherman T146527 "CORVETTE" near Cassino, Italy, 20 September 1945.

HTH,
Hanno

[kevinT]

Anyone add anymore?

Cheers
Kevin

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally Posted by kevinT

Anyone add anymore?

Yes, ‘CORVETTE’ belonged to ‘C’ Squadron of the Ontario Regiment: -

T146527 was issued to the 11th Army Tank Regiment (The Ontario Regiment (Tank)), C.A.C. on their change over from the Ram to the Sherman in May 1943.

T146527 appears on strength of the Ontario Regiment as/at 10 June 1943 in an accounting of vehicles held on their War Establishment prior to embarking for the Mediterranean theatre that they submitted to Headquarters, 1st Canadian Army Tank Brigade. In another submission to Bde HQ in September 1943, T146527 again is shown as held on strength of the Ontario Regiment.

I believe that T146527 was lost sometime during the period of 11 to 19 May 1944, while the Ontario Regiment was supporting the 8th Indian Infantry Division (11-15 May) and 78th British Infantry Division (16-19 May) involved in the breeching of the GUSTAV LINE (Sant’ Angelo on the GARI River) and the drive west towards the HILTER LINE (Aquino), during the opening phase of the Liri Valley battle (Operation DIADEM).

For this photo to have been taken in the battle area in September 1945, T146527 must have been one of the 10 tank casualties that were complete write offs suffered by the Ontario Regiment during the period from July 1943 to September 1944, according to the reports of No. 1 Canadian Section Armoured Fighting Vehicle Technical Staff (Eighth British Army Headquarters).

Cheers

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Mark,

Excellent information, again, thanks!

There has been some discussion ove the type of Sherman but as I understand it the 11th Armoured (Ontario) Regiment used Sherman M4A4 tanks. Is that correct?

- Hanno

P.S.: pic was for you too, Kevin!

[kevinT]

Thanks Hanno,

She is a new addition to my name / WD database.

Cheers
Kevin

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Mark,

Excellent information, again, thanks!

There has been some discussion ove the type of Sherman but as I understand it the 11th Armoured (Ontario) Regiment used Sherman M4A4 tanks. Is that correct?

Yes, all three units of the brigade were equipped with the M4A4. In October 1944 the brigade started to receive 17-pdr and 105mm equipped Shermans.

Cheers

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Thanks!

H.