I have an 1/35 Italeri LCM 50' Landing Craft that i am slowly wroking on. It has decals for both, Normandy France, 6th June 1944 and Iwo Jima, February 1945. I would like to place an armor piece in it. I really don't know much about WWII armor though. What would be a proper tank for either of the fronts?

The new M4A3 shermans were wider and heavier than the old M4A2's, and the lighter LCM's could neither carry them nor be expected to survive in Iwo's heavy surf. Most of the tanks of the 4th and 5th tank bn's where loaded into LSM's. The sea going landing ship, medium could embark five sherman tanks (the usual load was three) and did not require an LSD as a mother ship. The 3rd tank Bn was loaded aboard three of the precious LST's.

This is a quote from Ed Gilbert's "Marine tank battles in the Pacific":

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The new M4A3 shermans were wider and heavier than the old M4A2's, and the lighter LCM's could neither carry them nor be expected to survive in Iwo's heavy surf. Most of the tanks of the 4th and 5th tank bn's where loaded into LSM's. The sea going landing ship, medium could embark five sherman tanks (the usual load was three) and did not require an LSD as a mother ship. The 3rd tank Bn was loaded aboard three of the precious LST's.

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So it looks like no tanks went to shore at Iwo in "Mike boats" (LCM's).
Don

I
The U.S. units used M4, M4A1 and a few M4A3's at Normandy, all armed with the 75mm along with the M7 Priest and M5/M5A1 Stuart.
C[ ]

jjumbo

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This is a quote from Ed Gilbert's "Marine tank battles in the Pacific":

Quoted Text

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The new M4A3 shermans were wider and heavier than the old M4A2's, and the lighter LCM's could neither carry them nor be expected to survive in Iwo's heavy surf. Most of the tanks of the 4th and 5th tank bn's where loaded into LSM's. The sea going landing ship, medium could embark five sherman tanks (the usual load was three) and did not require an LSD as a mother ship. The 3rd tank Bn was loaded aboard three of the precious LST's.

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So it looks like no tanks went to shore at Iwo in "Mike boats" (LCM's).
Don

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I know that the LCMs were considered unsuitable for the heavy seas of the Channel as well, but I am curious about the statement that the A3 was heavier and wider than the A2. As near as I can tell, the weights were similar as were the dimensions.

John

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John

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I didn't write the book, just passing on what it says. This is my guess about the differences though. The M4A3's of both the 4th and 5th Tank Bn's were heavily modified. Some even had concrete between the hull and wood side armor. This would make them both "Wider and Heavier". Of course I'm guessing here, but it sounds right.
Don

Sorry if it seemed that i was questioning your knowledge, I wasn't, I was questioning the author of the quote. I still wonder about how much weight the added wood and or concrete (and corrugated tin) added. Most of the stuff added to USMC Shermans was meant to defeat Japanes mines, etc, rather that stop AP rounds. Of course I guess that, as US Armor modellers, we should be thankful that they didn't apply Zimmerit!