Sexton MkII on it's way for restoration

[David Herbert]

The hull or shop number should be stamped into the rear plate of the hull just above the cranking handle hole. The builder's data plate was originaly screwed to the top of the sponson plate (the horizontal plate above the track) just to the right of the driver. Rams were census numbered in almost the same order as the shop number so it is easy to get one if you have the other but I don't know how the conversion of one number to the other works for Sextons.

This is a relatively late production Sexton as it has the double rear towing eyes as on ultimate series Shermans. It would have been built with a single piece transmission not the three piece one fitted now but these were swapped round at rebuild randomly. This Sexton would certainly have been built with CDP track not the rubber bushed Sherman track. CDP is actually a good track and does little damage to paved roads unlike steel US tracks but of course rubber pads are much more acceptable to the highway authority!

I see that there is a bolt missing from the left idler bracket clamp. Note that this is 1" x 14 ANF NOT 1" x 12 NF (the post war standard fine thread). Also the centre bolt is used to jack the casting apart to alow the idler shaft to turn. This bolt has a LEFT HAND THREAD so turning it clockwise clamps the shaft.

David