Hi, here's one of those frustrating questions about the DD shermans.. I'm planning to build a DD sherman belonging to the 70th TB in normandy, after the screens have been removed. So, I know there's a photo of an M4A1 of the 70th with small hatches on the hull, but did they also have the ones with larger oval hatches? And did both these have the loaders hatch on the turret? High bustle turret?
Man, I'm really confused now!

Thanks

The bulk of the US converted M4A1 DD had the larger hatches. It seems all the small hatched DD ones were converted and used by the Brits. I don't recall any small hatched M4A1s used by the US as DD.

The big hatch M4A1 DD would have had the higher bustle turrets. I know I've seen some that had the loader's hatch. Don't know about all, however.

Thank you Roy! But, here's one with small hatches, nd it's supposedly from the 70th TB-according to mr steve zaloga..

Hey Alwyn
As Roy mentioned the majority of Duplex drive tanks were large hatched, although I have seen pics of small hatched versions including the one you mentioned.
The rotor shield has the markings left to right of 1A (1st Army) then obscured by the guntube would be 70TB followed by what looks like A-3 (A Co. tank number 3). This tank was disabled (mine?) on one of the narrow causeways leading from 'Utah' beach, and was pushed off into the flooded field as it was completely blocking the exit from the beach.
Here is a link to a photo of a large hatch M4A1 of the 70th TB

http://www.archivesnormandie39-45.org/PhotosHD/p012309.jpg]70TB

Brad

Thanks! It does seem like the 70th had both large and smal hatch DD tanks, as I just found another photo of a small hatch one in "Strike swiftly-the history of the 70th tank battalion" and it seems it has a loaders hatch..so is it possible they had small hatch hulls with a high-bustle turret?!

Thanks again

No worries mate.
I've been searching for the orignal of the photo you have posted which to the best of my memory has a column of troops filing past...

Here are a couple more...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosnormandie/475531841/sizes/o/


http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosnormandie/4174866910/sizes/o/

Great flickr links, thank you!
unfortunately the archivesnormandie link does not work for me
So, sorry, what about the high bustle turret, did all turrets with loaders hatches have wet storage?
sorry, I've got myself into this shermaholic thing

If you do a large hatch DD, the hulls had another unusual feature. The large hatch hulls did not have wet stowage, apparently, so they had thickened sections of armor where earlier tanks had welded applique plates. These appear as flattened bulges in the hull castings.

wow, never heard of that! Always something new to learn when it's about shermans, thanks

Hey Alwyn
I have reposted the above link that didn't work...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosnormandie/3120069327/sizes/o/

Brad

Also foud this one. I'm not sure who to credit for doing the groundwork here, but is good reference none the less.



Brad

Interesting stuff Brad, thanks for sharing it!