Sherman Badger

[Tim Bell]

Some docs I found recently... might be of interest here?

Sherman Badger...



One more to follow

Tim

[Tim Bell]

Enjoy.

[Roger Lucy]

Tim,
Thank you for posting this document, where did you find it? I don't recall coming across it when I was writing my Mechanized Flamethrower WoW for Service Publications back in 2007/8, although there are a number of post-war files on flamethrower developments (not all of which would LAC declassify).
Roger

[Tim Bell]

Roger

I bought a bound folder of photocopied tank data from a junk shop in the early 1990s.

It contains extracts from documents as follows:

Manufacture of Sherman Badgers
Canal Defence Light Handbook
CDL Tank Stowage - Churchill
CDL Tank Stowage - M3
CDL Turret Interior Fittings - M3
Churchill 3in Gun Carrier Mark 1
Tanks Cruiser Ram 1 and Ram 2 Instruction Book, May 1942
Tank Cruiser Ram 2 Instruction Book, April 1943
Tracked Jeep, Not a Formal Report, Photographs and Drawings, July 1943

As to the purpose of this collection of documents... no idea... I was a student, it was cheap, I bought it and have had it sat on the bookshelf gathering dust ever since... I only thought to look in it when reviewing all of my own material to see if I had anything in my collection about the Sherman Firefly or 17pdr gun which I might have overlooked.

Sorry it's a bit late for your research, but glad it has proven interesting all the same.

With the info in the document, it may be possible to track down the source.

Tim

[Tim Bell]

Strange how life goes.

Have just received the catalogue listing from Bovington Tank Museum on Sherman related material...

There's this one:

E2012.5384
Report on Development of Prototype Sherman Badger Flame Tanks
623.438.37
37 Pages

I'd guess therefore this may be worth a look if you're interested further.

Tim

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Tim,

Great find!

I think the Sherman Badger was officially designated "TANK, COMBAT, FULL TRACKED, M4A2 w/e, fitted for flame thrower".
It was the post-WW2 development of the Ram Badger, see http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/vehi...ers/badger.htm for some details.

Regards,
Hanno

[Hanno Spoelstra]

These photos popped up on a FB group:

[David Herbert]

Those photos in Hanno's post #7 were not taken in the UK judging by the railway wagons.
It is missing the actual flame projector and has gained a lot of welded on straps all round it, I wonder what for ? The towing hooks on the front eyes are a pattern that I have never seen before and of course the handrail like structure has been added though it is really too low to be much use as a handrail. There is a very heavy towing attachment that has replaced the rear tow hook and something on the rear upper armour plate that is not easy to interpret. It has the early style HVSS tracks which were fairly short lived in service. All the lights, back and front are missing, also the horn. It is hard to judge how long it has been in that position but I would guess more than a week but less than 6 months judging by the dirt and vegetation in front and behind it though you could make a case that the two photos were taken at different times or even locations.

What does everyone else think ?

I suspect that this tank is a prototype that was used for towing duties on a range after its use for development ended.

David

[Hanno Spoelstra]

The vehicle in the pictures I posted certainly is no longer in use as a Flame Thrower test-bed. It looks it is being used as some kind of tractor, or possibly as a dead weight for towing tests.

I recall stories about a Sherman tank languishing at LETE in Canada. Would have to look if I can find back the details.

Another option mentioned is that this Sherman is in use in the USSR, where some were converted into tractors for railways works. But pictures I have seen of those usually show cut-away front armour and an open top hull, not one covered by a dome.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Reportedly, the Canadian results triggered a similar conversion by the US Army, the T68 Self Propelled Flame Thrower.

From Hunnicutt:


Quote from http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_m...o/m4a3e2.html:

Flamethrower equipped Shermans were used to good effect in the final campaigns in The Pacific. However, users requested that future models be armed with a large caliber main gun along with the flamethrower. They also requested "that maximum practical armor protection be provided." Thus, in May 1945, development work commenced on the "Flamethrower Tank, T33." The M4A3E2, retrofitted with a new turret as well as HVSS, was selected for the conversion. Twenty units were authorized for procurement. Left open was the possibility of further production, if necessary. Ultimately, at the surrender of Japan, the program was cut to 3 pilot models. The T33s weren't actually delivered until September 1947 (USA 3082940) and January 1948 (3083011,3083021). In 1953, two of the T33s (3082940, 3083021) were converted to "Self Propelled Flamethrower, T68" as seen on the right.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

These photos popped up on a FB group:

This forum https://forum.valka.cz/topic/view/70...ky-Sherman-ARV lists the source of this picture as the following book:
"Maksim Kolomijec, Il'ja Moščanskij: Tanki Ljend-liza, eds. Eksprint, Moscow 2000"