Sherman tank dredged from Manila Bay

[Hanno Spoelstra]

After the one found in Lybia, another Sherman tank has now come to the surface. To me it looks like this was battle damaged Sherman which was stripped for parts and then dumped. Otherwise, the hull looks to be well preserved, possibly because it was buried in clay?

Enjoy,
Hanno

US World War II tank dredged from Manila Bay

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine coast guard says the wreckage of a U.S. tank has been dredged from Manila Bay's muddy seafloor more than 60 years after the end of World War II.

Spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Armand Balilo said Wednesday the M4A1 Sherman tank was accidentally discovered Saturday stuck in mud 15 to 20 feet (4.5 to 6 meters) underwater by a dredging company near the mouth of Pasig River.

Balilo says there appears to be no human remains inside the tank. It was discovered without its turret and tracks.

He says a Japanese 105 mm cannon was recovered nearby in July.

Manila was the scene of heavy fighting between U.S. and Japanese forces during the liberation of the Philippines in 1945, and war-era arms and ammunition have been found in the city.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press.


Members of the Philippine Coast Guard look at the wreckage of a U.S.
World War II tank that was recently recovered in the muddy waters of
Manila Bay, in the Philippines on Wednesday Sept. 23, 2009. Authorities
said the tank, which appeared to be an M4 Sherman tank minus its turret,
was accidentally discovered underwater by a dredging company near the
mouth of the Pasig River. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)


A member of the Philippine Coast Guard inspects the wreckage of a U.S.
World War II tank that was recently recovered in the muddy waters of Manila Bay,
in the Philippines on Wednesday Sept. 23, 2009. Authorities said the tank, which
appeared to be an M4 Sherman tank minus its turret, was accidentally discovered
underwater by a dredging company near the mouth of the Pasig River. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)


Filipino reporters look at the wreckage of a U.S. World War II tank, foreground,
that was recently recovered in the muddy waters of Manila Bay, in the Philippines
on Wednesday Sept. 23, 2009. Authorities said the tank, which appeared to be an
M4 Sherman tank minus its turret, was accidentally discovered underwater by a
dredging company near the mouth of the Pasig River. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)


A member of the Philippine Coast Guard jumps off the wreckage of a U.S.
World War II tank that was recently recovered in the muddy waters of
Manila Bay, in the Philippines on Wednesday Sept. 23, 2009. Authorities
said the tank, which appeared to be an M4 Sherman tank minus its turret,
was accidentally discovered underwater by a dredging company near the
mouth of the Pasig River. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

[Alex van de Wetering]

Very nice,

Interesting to see the bogies are still there, while turret, tracks and tranny have been removed. It has the old style track skids as well.
I guess that must be the bottom of the turret basket...

Alex

[TomasCTT]

Hi. It is indeed an interesting find. If I have some time, I'll see if I could go to it and take some pictures (assuming our Coast Guard will allow).

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by TomasCTT

Hi. It is indeed an interesting find. If I have some time, I'll see if I could go to it and take some pictures (assuming our Coast Guard will allow).

Hi TomasCTT,

Welcome to this forum!

Some more pictures would be great, thanks.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

More stuff found:

WWII cannon, ammo found in Antipolo

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 10/05/2009 10:12 AM

MANILA - A World War II-era cannon and three live projectiles or munitions were dug up and defused at a riverbank in Antipolo City last Saturday.

Officials of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division said the cannon and the projectiles belonged to Japanese forces during the World War II because the area where they were found was used by the Japanese as a camp.

Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato, the division’s civil military operations officer, said authorities will probably display the recovered war materiel at the museum of the 2nd ID based at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal.

The items were recovered last Saturday at Sitio Old Boso-boso in Barangay San Jose.

Romualdo Motel, 64, told authorities about the cannon after erosion uncovered the items.

Detoyato said the 75 mm cannon and projectiles were already rusty. “Its like a small howitzer. We have that in our museum,” he said.

2nd ID spokesman Lt. Celeste Frank Sayson supervised the disarming of the three 50 mm projectiles.

“These war materials are commonly used as anti-aircraft and base protection during World War II,” said Sayson of the projectiles.

“Its thick metal casing preserved its gun powder and triggering mechanism. The materials are live ammunitions and are capable of inflicting serious damages if accidentally detonated and armed by a civilian,” he said.

Last month, Sherman M4-A1 Tank, also believed used by the US forces during World War II, was found off Manila Bay during a dredging operation. A month earlier, a Japanese cannon was also found at the Manila Bay.