My eyes aren't as good as they use to be. Two questions on this Jumbo. It looks like the gun is a 76mm with thread protector. Yes? The caption implies its a 75mm. Also, with the shadows I can't tell for sure, but it looks like the M2 has been moved to forward of the loaders hatch. Lastly, Tank is from 745th Tank Battalion, attached to 1st Inf., in Aachen, Oct. 44. What would "bumper" code be? 1I-745 Triangle?











I

Looks like 75mm to me.

Compare with this image of Jumbo with 76mm:

I have to agree, that is the 75mm gun. Based on the loaders open hatch, and the 50 ammo can, the 50 cal base is not forward of the loaders hatch. Compare Vodnik's picture where the loader is sitting on the hatch. The GI on the 50 cal is standing on the engine deck. The gun is most likely mounting on the standard base.

Thanks, Guys. I thought the gun looked short for a 76mm (camera angle) but looked a bit like a thread protector on the end. Now that I look closer I see what you mean about the loaders hatch. Damn! So much for doing something a little different on my Jumbo.

The thumbnail image in your post hurt my eyes
so I took the liberty of linking to the full size image instead / Robin

The date, if correct, would also preclude it being a 76 mm gun, as those conversions weren't undertaken until 1945. The coaxial 030 machine guns were also replaced by .50 calibre M2 heavy machine guns, which stuck out quite a bit from the mantlet.
The bumper codes, if present, could have incorporated 1st Infantry Division, as the 745th was attached for the entire European Campaign (many independent battalions were only attached to infantry divisions for specific operations, sometimes for a just a week or so). Some independent battalions just have the battalion number followed by a triangle, and some precede the battalion number with the Army they were attached to, followed by a capital A. Some units added and deleted division numbers as needed (the codes were painted in gasoline-soluble paint, so a rag soaked in fuel could be used to scrub off the markings fairly easily).
Best bet is to look for other tanks of this battalion, and see if you can confirm the practice.

Well ... seeing there is nothing out of the ordinary here, guess I'll use the kit decals (all 3d Armored) or maybe the Star set. Still need info on the South African Sherman V AOP I'm working on.

The 745th much like the 743rd and the 30th Div, it was attached to the 1st Inf Div from around D-day until VE Day. You might look for a copy of Our Tracks Lead to Victory; the 745th Tank Battalion in WWII, it might have some photographs of use.

Archer Fine Transfers has several vehicle sets for the Sherman Jumbo plus resin decals to mark the turret and transmission case with the correct factory IDs.

Mark