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Armor/AFV: Allied - WWII
Armor and ground forces of the Allied forces during World War II.
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761st and M4A3 (76)W Sherman
shopkin4
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Posted: Saturday, August 14, 2010 - 04:23 PM UTC
I caved in and bought my first WWII kit since I started modeling again and it happened to be Tasca's M4A3 (76)W. From images I've seen, the 761st Tank Battalion or better known as the Black Panthers fought with these.

Can anyone offer any more resources than the typical google search results for the 761st. This topic is especially meaningful to me as a family member of mine fought with the 761st and as I am planning this build out I would like to accurately represent the pride he felt fighting for his country albeit being segregated.

Thanks in advance
Sean
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Posted: Saturday, August 14, 2010 - 05:10 PM UTC
Hi, Sean. Did you see that New World Miniatures are planning to release a 761st Tanker figure set? Looks like a nice set.

Good luck on your search for references!

Michael
russamotto
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Posted: Saturday, August 14, 2010 - 05:38 PM UTC
There are some references online for the 761st. You can do an image search as well. Also a couple of books, including one by Kareem Abdul Jabbar, whose father served in this unit. Jim Lewis (guntruck) did an excellent build of Cool Studs Inc, which is posted in Kitmaker. If you go to the Kitmaker home page, the links at the bottom take you to his website, guntruck studios.
HONEYCUT
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Posted: Saturday, August 14, 2010 - 07:09 PM UTC
Hey Sean
I'm certain these will be of interest...








I can put up a few more if you want
Brad
pseudorealityx
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Posted: Sunday, August 15, 2010 - 04:53 AM UTC
As someone else with the Tasca M4A3 currently in the mail, I'd be interested to see any more pictures you may have.
shopkin4
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Posted: Sunday, August 15, 2010 - 07:45 AM UTC
Yeah Brad, please post more
HONEYCUT
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Posted: Sunday, August 15, 2010 - 01:15 PM UTC
Gotta scoot to the osteopath, but scrounged one more... Will look further upon my return



Brad
Tarok
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Posted: Sunday, August 15, 2010 - 01:35 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Did you see that New World Miniatures are planning to release a 761st Tanker figure set?


IIRC there was nothing distinctive about the 761's uniforms - one could really use near any US tanker crew of that period and simply replace the heads. I believe Hornet do a set of heads of African lineage, and wouldn't be surprised if Warriors do the same.
ProfessorP
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Posted: Monday, October 11, 2010 - 03:37 PM UTC
Gentlemen,

This thread is of particular interest as I am also working on an M4A3 representing the 761st. These photos from Life Magazine are really interesting. Would the poster be able to tell us from what issue they were published and if there are additional photos in this series? Also, can anyone identify what the markings are on the sides of the tank in the 4th photo? The don't appear to be unit identification marks...possibly remnants of shipping instructions? The one near the front of the tank looks like a dark rectangle with text above it and towards the back below the fuel filler, there is also some writing. Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks

Don
HONEYCUT
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Posted: Monday, October 11, 2010 - 09:11 PM UTC


Quoted Text


Would the poster be able to tell us from what issue they were published and if there are additional photos in this series?

Hey Don, The photos are readily available for viewing online. That said, it seems the searching with keywords has suddenly become more difficult as it now includes all Google owned sites by the look of it, thus giving too many results to narrow down easily...

Quoted Text

Also, can anyone identify what the markings are on the sides of the tank in the 4th photo? The don't appear to be unit identification marks...possibly remnants of shipping instructions?

I reckon they are shipping stencilling for sure. Just what, I can't make out.
Good luck with your build, and make sure to post photos.

Brad
HONEYCUT
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Posted: Monday, October 11, 2010 - 09:14 PM UTC
Sorry Don, forgot the link!


761st
thump100
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Posted: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 - 10:34 AM UTC
There is a book on the 761st Tank Battalion that I found in my local library - it's called 'The 761st Tank Battalion' (original title huh?) by Kathryn Browne Pfeifer and is published by Twenty-First Century Books. ISBN # is 0-8050-3057-3. It has a couple of extra pics of M4A3's in it, plus some pics of their crews etc. I can't say it's a great visual reference but it's about the only book I've been able to find on this unit and might be worth picking up if you can find it cheaply enough.
thump100
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Posted: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 - 10:55 AM UTC
As Rudi noted, there is an African headset available from Hornet which could be used for 761st crew members - set HM-HH05 which I found online at:

http://www.coloradominiatures.com/HM-HH05.aspx

I've never used this retailer myself by the way. I did look around in a number of places for Warriors heads too but couldn't find anything appropriate. That's not to say that there isn't one, however...
ericadeane
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Posted: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 - 12:52 PM UTC
The book cited above by Kareem Abdul Jabbar is called "Brothers in Arms" and is commonly available.

And Colorado Miniatures is a very reputable seller. Another source might be Michigan Toy Soldier (www. michtoy.com).

I've used the Hornet head set and it's very nice. I used it for a couple of crew for a Corbitt 666 truck.
kruppw
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Posted: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 - 01:17 PM UTC
Hey Sean, glad to see your back. Thought maybe you fell of the planet or something, but more than likely back in school. Here the offical web site for the 761st you may want to check out, they probably could lead you in the right direction.
http://761st.com/
Chris
shopkin4
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Posted: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 - 01:48 PM UTC
All of these posts have been helpful. Esp the more recent time life photos that were enlarged. I printed them out here at school and will continue building shortly. My T-72A will become a feature so thats been getting a fair amount of work behind the scenes, but thanks Chris, Brad and everyone else.

I know this is a stretch but....
Can someone help me find pictures of a 761st M4A3E8?

I just got the Tasca one and I really would like to build Agnes, but I've only seen one picture of the vehicle.

Thanks everyone!
Sean
Tarok
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Posted: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 - 02:58 PM UTC

Quoted Text

As Rudi noted, there is an African headset available from Hornet which could be used for 761st crew members - set HM-HH05 which I found online at:

http://www.coloradominiatures.com/HM-HH05.aspx

I've never used this retailer myself by the way. I did look around in a number of places for Warriors heads too but couldn't find anything appropriate. That's not to say that there isn't one, however...


Albert,

Yup, that's the Hornet set I was referring to. I've used Colorado Miniatures in the past, and highly recommend them - excellent service! I seem to recall a Warriors set, however since Squadron took over VLS... there's been a lot of pruning of the old lines...

Rudi
ProfessorP
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Posted: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 - 03:37 PM UTC
@ BJ HONEYCUT,

Thanks much for the link. I had searched Google several times for "Life Magazine and 761st" several different ways and had no luck. These are by far some of the best shots of the battalion that I have seen.

I have recently been in communication with Joe Wilson Jr., author of "The 761st Black Panther Tank Battalion" and Wayne Robinson, the unit historian of the 761st. Both were contacted through the 761st official website. Despite how busy they are, both have taken the time to answer a few of my questions and combined with these photos from Life, I am getting a very good feel for how the tanks should be accurately modeled.

As to the markings in question, I know that Archer makes a set of "Shipping Stencils" that might be appropriate for the markings on the tanks but I've yet to see a high enough resolution image of them to know what they say. May have to order blind...

I've already got my Hornet heads by the way! But building the Sherman is going a bit slower than I had hoped owing to lack of time (as usual).

Thanks to everyone for the input. If you are really interested in the 761st, I'd recommend you drop them a line on their website to let them know there are many of us out here interested in keeping their history alive through models.

Will try to post some photos on here as I make some progress.
Removed by original poster on 10/13/10 - 02:40:07 (GMT).
ProfessorP
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Posted: Friday, October 29, 2010 - 04:54 PM UTC

Quoted Text


I know this is a stretch but....
Can someone help me find pictures of a 761st M4A3E8?



Sean,

Based on the answer to a similar question I asked of Mr. Joe Wilson, author of "The 761st 'Black Panther' Tank Battalion in World War II", the 761st were never issued M4A3E8 model Shermans. He quoted one of the vets he had interviewed as having been told at the time the E8s were "experimental". They did however receive Pershings in late '45 although the battalion did not see any combat with them.

After the war in Europe had ended, the 761st was placed on occupation and control duty in Germany and underwent intense training with the Pershings until June 1st, 1947 when they were deactivated. The unit was subsequently reactivated as a training battalion in November '47 based at Fort Knox, KY until they were permanently deactivated in March, 1955.

Hope this is helpful.

Don
shopkin4
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Posted: Friday, October 29, 2010 - 05:40 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text


I know this is a stretch but....
Can someone help me find pictures of a 761st M4A3E8?



Sean,

Based on the answer to a similar question I asked of Mr. Joe Wilson, author of "The 761st 'Black Panther' Tank Battalion in World War II", the 761st were never issued M4A3E8 model Shermans. He quoted one of the vets he had interviewed as having been told at the time the E8s were "experimental". They did however receive Pershings in late '45 although the battalion did not see any combat with them.

After the war in Europe had ended, the 761st was placed on occupation and control duty in Germany and underwent intense training with the Pershings until June 1st, 1947 when they were deactivated. The unit was subsequently reactivated as a training battalion in November '47 based at Fort Knox, KY until they were permanently deactivated in March, 1955.

Hope this is helpful.

Don


It helps but this this photo tells me otherwise. I'm no sherman expert but my Tasca M4A3E8 looks very similar to this



ProfessorP
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Posted: Friday, October 29, 2010 - 07:23 PM UTC
It could be from either the 758th or 784th tank battalions. What is the source of that photo? I haven't seen that one yet in my research on the 761st. Doesn't mean that it isn't from the 761st but based on the information I have, it would more likely be one of the other two battalions.
shopkin4
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Posted: Saturday, October 30, 2010 - 05:39 AM UTC
Didn't know there were other battalions. This is news to me.
shopkin4
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Posted: Saturday, October 30, 2010 - 06:51 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Didn't know there were other battalions. This is news to me.


Scratch that. I remember reading about the 784th but they primarily operated M4A3 105's. Other than that I knew the 92nd were infantry and thats about it.
Christopher68
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Posted: Saturday, October 30, 2010 - 07:06 AM UTC
Charles W. Sasser has a book out...The African-American 761st Tank Battalion in World War 2...Patton's Panthers...it talks about the M-4's they used in the war. In DML's M4A3(76)W VVSS "Battle of the Bulge" kit, it has the decals for the "Cool Studs Inc." tank in it
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