Anyone have photos of the markings for Marine Corps Shermans on Saipan? The DML kit has Pelileu and a generic Sherman, but nothing specific to the Marine units that took the island. Thanks in Advance.

Hard Corps website has a few photos of M4A2s on Saipan. Hyperwar also has some photos in the Pacific campaigns, under the Marine monologue for the Marianas. If you get the title page, scroll down past the individual chapter headings and list of maps and there is a list of illustrations. Photos are there.

URLs anyone?

Sorry for the late reply. http://www.hardcorpsmodels.com. Go to the references section and there is a page for the M4A2 including a nice shot from above of a late model. I went all through the reference pages at hyperwar and could not locate any good photos of any late M4A2s in Marine service for the Saipan campaign. There is a book, "Tank battles in the Pacific", I think it is called. I have not seen it but others at this site have. I still can't locate the other reference I found online. I will keep searching. I don't have any personal connection to the battle, but still wanted to do the same as you, late M4A2, to remember the battle and those that served.

Thanks for the link, the markings appear to be pretty minimal. Now I just need to figure out which tank company to portray.

From a bunch of discussions and such around the web;

Saipan & Tinian
M4A2 - A, B and C Companies of 2nd and 4th Tank Bns - Saipan and Tinian except for Dog Co of each wooden armor C Company 4th Tank Bn on Saipan and Tinian
ILL WIND was Bob's command tank, which is why it had the additional antenna. The sequences of names identified platoon and company; I- and L-words were used by HQ Platoon of C Company. The tanks had concrete poured behind the wood on the sponsons and glacis, though this is not obvious in most photos. A description of how the modifications were made, additional photos of other modifications such as armored can-like covers over the rotating periscopes and odd wading trunks
The framing was done with standard dimension lumber. The framing used 1x2 and 2x2 lumber, and the heavy planks were two-inch thick oak, used for hatch covers and Dunn age on Navy cargo ships. The lumber was attached by bolts and nuts, with heads of the bolts welded to the armor. The armor was also studded with bits of concrete reinforcing bar to hold the concrete.
The process, and at least one photo with the wooden armor blown off (without concrete, on Saipan), are shown in my book on WW II USMC tanks in the Pacific. Some, but not all, used the concrete on Saipan and Tinian, and some tanks had the slope plate covered with a layer of concrete
I specifically asked about things like markings, and no one mentioned any special painting of air-coordination markings. The Marines did use plastic sheeting as air-recognition panels, and one of these is visible in the close-up shots of Bob Neiman's command tank 'ILL WIND on Saipan.
Turret Markings 4th Tanks on Saipan, there is a photo of FIREBALL, 4th Tanks, showing the top of the turret painted white and the faint but large number "23" applied. According to the caption, these numbers were red to help coordinate airstrikes. GUNG-HO II, the other, GOLDBRICK, both marked with the 4th Tanks half-moon rhomboid.
Photos of other 4th Battalion tanks on Saipan and Tinian (see King Kong, Jenny Lee, Ill Wind, Joker, and Goldbrick)do not show evidence of a white turret top. Granted most photos were taken from ground level, but look for (1) photos with hatches open and (2) the raised rim of the commander's hatch. You will see dark - not extremely light - hatchcovers and rims

Most of this conversation if not all comes from the owner of HardCorpsModels

This is also a part of another discussion from another web site.



and also...



FIREBALL in Steven Zaloga's "Tank Battles of the Pacific War" which shows the colored top and the number 23
FIREBALL served in B Company of 4 Tank Battalion which landed as part of RCT 23; does the 23 on the roof signify the RCT or is it a vehicle number?



question; the numerals within 4 Marine Division’s semicircular UNIS marking were, in July 1944, as follows …
131...HQ 4 Tank Battalion
132...A Company/ 4 Tank Battalion
133...B Company/ 4 Tank Battalion
134...C Company/ 4 Tank Battalion
135...D Company/ 4 Tank Battalion



Goldbrick Jr. had the UNIS code 133

And someones answer;

According to the Albert and Pradier book from H&C "Marine Corps Uniforms & Equipment 1941-45" the 4th Marine Tank Battalion used UNIS numbers in the 9xx series: 911 (HQ & Service Co), 912, 913, 914 (Tank Cos. A-C) They show a side photo of "Betty" with a 913 UNIS code

I am by no means an expert but this gives you some kind of an idea about the markings

Good luck,
Bob

Some additional locations for info;

USMC Hyperwar
US Army Marianas

Thanks, Bob, that FABULOUS information!

Does anyone make these numbers in yellow decals or dry transfers?

Hi Bill,
Remember these are USMC Shermans, either they painted them themselves or the Navy did and they usually used a swab, or for non-Navy people a large mop, or large bristle brushes. This would end up not looking as neat as in the rendering.
I know of no one that makes the decals for this so a hand painted job would be best. Spray paint would look to neat. Hudson and Allen made some good UNIS code markings as does Hardcorpsmodels which makes transfers for everything else but Saipan.
It’s basically a mix and match job. It also will depend on with unit you are trying to construct. Bison decals has some sets with a couple being from Saipan.
With side wooden armor or not, Concrete filled or not, helps to have a specific photo in mind for the type of Sherman you wish to do.

This is the one specifically mentioned for the yellow top. No wooden armor.
It varies a lot depending on the tank.
Good luck I sure like to see more when you get started,
Bob

Thanks, Bob, I will see if I can find my fathers Fourth Marine Division history, it was loaded with photos as I recall. Archer makes some numerals, but I'll look at Bison, too.

Now that would be a great reference to use. Probably the best one that would be found currently.

Man I just noticed you were from Jersey, I lived in Cherry Hill when I was a recruiter in Haddonfield. Small world.

Remember to keep us up to date on your progress,
Happy New Year,
Bob