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Sherman Firefly VC
I recently purchased a Sherman Firefly VC for restoration (some of you may have already seen my wanted post for 17pdr gun parts).
After a little bit of hunting around the web, I now know that it's a Firefly which been known of for some time and fortunately some of the hard work of research has already been carried out. So rather than posting photos, here are some already available elsewhere: http://the.shadock.free.fr/Surviving..._Fireflies.pdf http://www.afvregister.org/Downloads...Brasschaat.htm My vehicle is the first Sherman Firefly in the 3rd section down. Very fortunately, this still retains paint markings giving the Census number and Tank name: Tank Name - "GAUCHO" Census Number - "T-289477" I've been advised that this vehicle served with the Canadian 21st Armoured Regt (Governor General's Foot Guards), Canadian 4th Armoured Div from July 44 to July 45. On that basis, it will be restored as such... just need to start gathering info to get the markings correct. Still on the hunt for 17pdr parts... but I do now have the 17pdr parts lists and the Service Instruction Book... so things are slowly going in the right direction. Tim Last edited by Tim Bell; 15-03-15 at 00:22. |
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Firefly
Hi Tim , are these photos from a Dutch or UK Range?
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Belgian Range
Tim |
#4
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Battledress
I picked this up a little while ago. A crew member perhaps?
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#5
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Quote:
Is the BD blouse Canadian pattern/manufacture? Can you post a pic of the label too please? Cheers Tim |
#6
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Tools required for the 17pdr are:
Can, Lubricating, No 11 Cap, Sponge, No 6 Covers, Brush Covers, Muzzle Drifts, No 18, Mk1 Drifts, No 27, Mk1 Ejector, Projectile Gauge, Striker protrusion, No 16, Mk1 Keys, Removing, Jammed Cartridge Keys, No 86, Mk1, for inserting and removing No 9 Primer Keys, No 135 Injector, Lubricating, Tecalemit, Type T 26 Lanyard, Cocking, No 8, Mk1 Wrenches, Breech Mechanism: No 303, Mk1 - Steel with tommy for firing pin bush No 322, Mk1 - Steel for firing pin retaining nut No 368, Mk1 - Steel for removing striker casing No 369, Mk1 - Steel with tommy for actuating shaft nut, breech ring securing screw, firing plunger retaining nut and spring case hinge bolt No 370, Mk1 - Steel for cocking crank spindle nut If anyone has any of these they're happy to sell, please let me know. Cheers Tim |
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Quote:
Great buy! It certainly did not take you long to find one after developing an interest in them last September. As for research, by now I think the Firefly is the best researched Sherman variant. Therefore I only have little information published on my website (the goal of which is to only publish information which is not covered in mainstream books and magazines): http://web.inter.nl.net/users/spoels...04/firefly.htm The Sherman Firefly by Mark Hayward is a must read. By the time you have finished that, please come back with your remaining questions Hanno
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Regards, Hanno -------------------------- |
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Quote:
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Regards, Hanno -------------------------- |
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original markings
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Hanno
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Regards, Hanno -------------------------- |
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Quote:
Thanks, Hanno SHERMAN REGISTER http://web.inter.nl.net/users/spoelstra/g104/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/G104
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Regards, Hanno -------------------------- |
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4873 is the SN
Tim |
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Original users
I've been reading the War Diary of the Sherbrooke Fusilier Regiment (27th Armoured) in 3rd Canadian Armoured Brigade. The text gives periodic reports on numbers of Stuarts, Sherman IIIs and Fireflies. However the copy I have does not break down the registration numbers. It might have been in a one-copy only annex, but that sheet does not seem to have survived.
One unusual mention I've seen is to DERVE for diesel fuel for the Fireflies. I had to look that one up.
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Terry Warner - 74-????? M151A2 - 70-08876 M38A1 - 53-71233 M100CDN trailer Beware! The Green Disease walks among us! |
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Interesting... Fireflies were supposed to all be Petrol engined.
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DERV stands for diesel engines road vehicles.
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Adrian Barrell |
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Derve
War Diary 27th Canadian Armoured Regiment, 07 Jun 44.
"Major F.H. Baldwin is organizing B Echelon to supply the forward troops. Ammunition, petrol and Derve were sent forward during the day as they were badly needed, many of the tanks being immobile as they had run completely dry and were out of ammunition. Some had even been firing 75-mm HE at German infantry as they were our of Browning ammunition. The Sherman V(C) tanks which use petrol were in a worse state for fuel than the Sherman III tanks which use DERVE." Two spellings for Diesel Engine Road Vehicle, and a real world comment on the need for a senior Major in the regiment to manage the rear area admin, behind the F and A Echelons. Interesting that the ammunition consumption rates were so high that some vehicles were empty - shades of Op MEDUSA in Afghanistan 2006.
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Terry Warner - 74-????? M151A2 - 70-08876 M38A1 - 53-71233 M100CDN trailer Beware! The Green Disease walks among us! |
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I think that's just a spelling mistake. It is an acronym so can't be spelt with an extra E.
I wonder how often the wrong fuel was put in the tanks..... Sherman V certainly has a higher fuel consumption than Sherman III, by quite some margin!
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Adrian Barrell |
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Quote:
Sherman III = Derv(e) Am sure the reason for insisting that all Fireflies were Petrol was to reduce complexity in the supply chain. Tim |
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The Sherman III was not suitable for conversion to 17 pdr. I think that is because the generators protrude into the fighting compartment enough to prevent fitting of the ammunition stowage.
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Adrian Barrell |
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Quote:
The assumption this vehicle was with GGFG is based on this document from the Canadian Archives: Am assuming that the bit (Ex-21-CAR) indicates the vehicle came from 21st Canadian Armoured. Tim |
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Firefly restoration to start this year around September... as now have a lot more parts!
I have opted for the GAA engine - this is currently in rebuild... if you have a spare multibank, please let me know. More details available on facebook here... https://www.facebook.com/pg/T289477 I am still missing the following key components:
If you have any of the above in any condition, please let me know. Cheers Tim |
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