British or Canadian Sherman or Stuart Manuals

[Eric R.]

I know and have seen the US manuals for the various marks of Sherman and Stuart tanks used by Commonwealth forces but did the British or Canadian develop their own Driver handbooks or vehicle manuals for them? I have done some online searching and have come up empty but that doesn't mean much since I got the same result for a stag but there are most assuredly manuals and pamphlets that exist that don't show in a regular google search.

If they did can you list the manual or handbook title?

[tankbarrell]

Short answer is yes, they did. There was one for the specific vehicle, known as a Vehicle Pamphlet and one for the gun, known as Armament Pamphlet. I have quite a few for British and US tanks and they continued well in to the post war period.
For Sherman, I have Sherman I&II, Sherman III and Sherman V vehicle pamphlets as well Sherman 75mm and 105mm armament pamphlets. I also have them for Stuart, Chaffee, Cromwell, Churchill, Centurion etc. Armoured cars had the same. They are good little books with much practical information and comprehensive stowage lists, generally with line drawings but some have photographs.

[Eric R.]

Originally Posted by tankbarrell

Short answer is yes, they did. There was one for the specific vehicle, known as a Vehicle Pamphlet and one for the gun, known as Armament Pamphlet. I have quite a few for British and US tanks and they continued well in to the post war period.
For Sherman, I have Sherman I&II, Sherman III and Sherman V vehicle pamphlets as well Sherman 75mm and 105mm armament pamphlets. I also have them for Stuart, Chaffee, Cromwell, Churchill, Centurion etc. Armoured cars had the same. They are good little books with much practical information and comprehensive stowage lists, generally with line drawings but some have photographs.

Thanks Adrian.

Are the base shop manuals that I have seen different than what you are describing? I have seen those for halftracks, M3 Stuart and one Sherman (which mark I can't recall).

If I am not mistaken are there also not wireless fitting instructions for those vehicles?

[tankbarrell]

The Base Shop Data books are a full workshop rebuild book, going in to full details of rebuilding a vehicle. They even show full repair instructions for gauges, radiators etc. Basically a how to restore it manual.
The vehicle pamphlet are a crew handbook, only showing what the crew needed to operate and maintain the vehicle.
Armament pamphlets cover the same for gunnery and show full details including ammunition.
There is a manual for everything. I have quite a range of 'Guide to removal and replacement in the field' manuals which cover just that but tell you the weights of assemblies, how many men you need to carry out the task and how long it takes to achieve it. They are a bit dry to read but gave some useful information.
There are indeed wireless installation books.