Hi Folks

I've picked up the dragon MkIII and am looking to present it as a NZ 4th Armored Brigade vehicle from italy. My problem is my reference (Jeff Plowman's book) shows all NZ Mk III's as having a cast hull front (transmission cover?) and not the bolted on in the dragon kit. I have played around with a cast front from my spares but am not happy with the result.
Question for anyone with knowledge of NZ shermans - did any of the 4th brigade MkIII's have a bolted front and if so can u give me the details of specific vehicles

thanks for your time
John

PS one day i'm going to get around to posting some pics

Hi John,

I'm not sure if I can answer your question but I'm sure there will be someone within IPMS Chch who can, I have a name or 2 that spring to mind now that could help you.

If you haven't already come along to our monthly meeting this Sunday and see if you can get an answer.

We meet on the second Sunday of every month in the Hall behind the St Matthews Church, 145 Cranford St, St Albans in Chch.

For any more info about our meeting please check out our website: www.geocities.com/ipmschch


Regards

Neil
Vice President
IPMS Chch

I beleive that this is what you want.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lend-Lease_Sherman_tanks
Its the picture at the top.
Note on the cast tranz casing at the front.
From memory the position of the drive sprokets on the dragon kits are to far back by a couple of mill.
here is an interesting link with some pics.
http://flamesofwar.free.fr/ressources/Intelligence/NZ4tharmoure.pdf

Hi John

Good news the answer is YES, but they were not very common.

Crossing the Sangro, 29 Nov 1943.
Alexander Turnbull Library, DA-04625

Advance to Florence, 26 Jul 1944
Alexander Turnbull Library, DA-06428-F

San Glogio, Apr 1945? 3rd tank
Alexander Turnbull Library, DA-03839

They were also used by the 4th Armd Bde during their training in North Africa and the NZAC Training Depot at Maadi Camp in Egypt.

cheers
David

Thanks for the info folk

David great photos, any ideas of the units involved particularly the first pic?

John

Hi John,

The caption with the photo is
" Army tank crossing the Sangro River, Italy, 29 November 1943 "
A great lot of help but a quick read of the official war histories reveals that the 18th Armd Regt crossed the Sangro around that date on a Bailey bridge, the 19th crossed the river earlier at a ford and the 20th was well back in reserve. So I would go for the 18th.

cheers
David