Sherman III with wading gear

DaveCox · #1 13-03-05, 18:26

Hi guys - I'm after information on any Sherman III used with the wading gear - Canadian or British. Did any land in Normandy with this equipment? If so which units?

I've looked back over the rest of this forum and can't find this question asked before!

John McGillivray · #2 15-03-05, 00:16

I believe that this is a photo of a Sherman III with the base of the Deep Wading Gear still in place. The unit is the 13th/18th Hussars. The Sherbrooke Fusiliers landed with 46 Sherman III’s on D-Day. I am sure that these were all fitted with deep wading gear for the landings.

DaveCox · #3 15-03-05, 07:08

Thanks a lot John, that's all I needed for a model project. Great pic - I searched Google for hours.

DaveCox · #4 15-03-05, 19:53

Thanks Mark.
I still haven't decided on the Hussars tank or a Sherbrooke one - I can probably dig out the markings from references (apart from serial numbers, but I usually miss them off anyway).

DaveCox · #5 15-03-05, 23:55

I've decided on a vehicle of the Sherbrookes, with full wading gear fitted. I have the unit markings and can handpaint some representative loading marks etc, so as soon as some conversion parts arrive from a friend in Canada I can start the build. I don't usually apply serial numbers as I prefer my models to be representative of a type or unit.

Thanks for the help and pics guys.

John McGillivray · #6 16-03-05, 01:44

The design of the deep wading trunking is different for each type of Sherman. Here is another picture of Sherman III’s showing the base of the deep wading trunking.

DaveCox · #7 16-03-05, 07:23

I've seen photos of other Sherman marks with the wading gear fitted, but in some there appears to be a cord or wire from high up on the trunking leading forwards - does this go to one of those "exploding bolts" as a quick release? If so where is it situated? or are they 'solid' stay wires that require someone to leave the tank to remove the trunking? Where do they end?

That's the last part of the jigsaw, so if you can help I'd really appreciate it.

John McGillivray · #8 16-03-05, 23:47

Here is a photo from Chamberlain and Ellis. It shows a Sherman III in Italy in 1943.

tankbarrell · #9 17-03-05, 08:36

Quote:

Originally posted by DaveCox
I've seen photos of other Sherman marks with the wading gear fitted, but in some there appears to be a cord or wire from high up on the trunking leading forwards - does this go to one of those "exploding bolts" as a quick release? If so where is it situated? or are they 'solid' stay wires that require someone to leave the tank to remove the trunking? Where do they end?

Dave, they are cables that terminate at a bracket welded between the aerial mounts on the turret. There are three bolts in the bracket but I think they used an exploding bolt to attach them.
Adrian

servicepub (RIP) · #10 17-03-05, 15:10

Here is a page from "Tools of the Trade". Another Fort Garry Horse tank.

John Tapsell · #11 23-03-05, 22:47

Both 27th Armoured Brigade and 8th Armoured Brigade landed Sherman IIIs on D-Day.

In 27th AB, C Squadron and the HQ Sqn of 13/18 Hussars had them (DD s were Sherman V). All Staffs Yeo (non-Firefly) Shermans were IIIs - ditto East Riding Yeomanry.

In 8th AB, the wading and HQ Sqns of Sherwood Rangers and 4/7 Dragon Guards used IIIs and all 24th Lancers tanks (non-Firefly) were IIIs.

All the IIIs landed on D-Day were fitted with wading stacks as far as I'm aware.

Cheers,
John