I’ve come across a photograph of what looks like an M4 105 with a second smaller barrel affixed to the turret (not sure if my photo will show up here)

Can anyone tell me a little more about this interesting Sherman variant? The photo I have appears to me to have been taken in Korea. Does anyone know if this version was also fielded during WWII?

Also, does anyone know if the second barrel alongside the 105 is a “standard” 75 or 76 caliber gun or maybe a flamethrower tube?

I hope my questions make sense and that you can see the image I’ve attached.

Any additional info or references etc you can provide me on this subject will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks and take care,
Noah

That seems like the frame tank. Acadamy has that kit

Ive seen photos of a flamethrower tube that sound like your description. That is the only thing I can imagine.

It sounds like you are describing a flame thrower tank. They had the double-barrel setup and were used in both WWII and Korea. Like this.

Thanks for the photo Gino –

That’s what I’m talking about – only the one I’ve seen had a 105 gun and different suspension…

Anyway, can you or anyone else tell me if these double barreled flame tanks were used both in the PTO and ETO during WWII?

Thanks again to all who responded,
Noah

It was used in both theatres, but was more common in the PTO. It was very effective against Japanese bunkers and spider holes.

What you saw then was an M4A3E8 with HVSS (Horizontal Volute Suspension System) flame tank. Like this drawing:

Dragon made this kit, the M4A3 POA-CWS-H5 with markings for Okinawa, Japan WW2.

They were built during World War Two, but missed operations on Okinawa. They saw combat in Korea.

I believe the USMC also had a modified M48 in Vietnam that functioned as a flamethrower. I wonder how that one made out.
DJ

The marine M48 conversion,was the M67.

Gerald is right: flame Shermans were used in the PTO in WW2 but not the twin barreled version discussed here. These 2 barreled ones were readied for the impending invasion of the home islands and had been shipped to Okinawa, an invasion staging area. However, hostilities on the island had already ended and of course, the invasion never took place.

The double barreled flame tanks were used in anger first in Korea where both the 105mm howitzer and flame thrower were used quite successfully. They were all M4A3 (105) with HVSS, BTW.

The nature of the Japanese defense seems to have lead to a greater demand for effective flame thrower tanks in that theater (the POA in the designation stands for Pacific Ocean Area) and the most effective Sherman flamethrowers seem to have been designed and adapted in Hawaii. Flame throwers in Europe consisted of adaptations mounted in place of the hull machine gun, and some mounted in periscope mounts. All were judged inferior to the British Crocodiles, and when possible it appears that British equipment was borrowed to supplement American equipment.

John

Hi there

I just saw this tank tonight in the film The Sands Of Iwo Jima with John Wayne.

Strange how you you don't know about a vehicle and how someone puts something on one of the web sites and the next thing you see something unconnected on TV or elsewhere about the same vehicle.

Filmed in 1949 so they made use of the vehicles the marines were using at that time. Had the Amtracks also been updated by then too?

Spooky to see the Sherman being used against a Jap pillbox.

Nige

The M4A3 Flame Tank was used by Marines on Iwo Jima. The Marines had no Flame Tanks on Okinawa, all the Flame tanks on Okinawa belonged to the Army's 705th Flame Tank Battalion.
See http://mcvthf.org/History/Evolution_of_Marine_Tanks.html
I have posted a lot of Marine tank information (besides Vietnam) on this site http://www.mcvthf.org/MCVTHF.htm I am the web master, Marine Vietnam Tanker, model builder and a history buff.

Don't forget the 713th flame tank battalion on Okinawa. They used the m4 composite.

Jeff

Blow it up with a 105 shell and fry the leftovers with the flame thrower ?
Or use the flame thrower to clear out the vegetation and camouflage to get a clear view to aim the 105 properly ?

All kinds of gruesome scenarios pop up in my mind.
Hmmm, maybe time to find that kit in the stash and start building ....


/ Robin