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Sherman Identification
Scipio2010
#401
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Washington, United States
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Posted: Tuesday, October 08, 2019 - 02:01 PM UTC
Greetings!

I recently inherited this photo of my grandfather (squatting in front of the Sherman)

The inscription on the back of the photo says "Japan, 1945"

Can anyone tell me what version of the Sherman this is? And what kit would be the best to replicate this particular tank?





tanknick22
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Posted: Tuesday, October 08, 2019 - 03:20 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Greetings!

I recently inherited this photo of my grandfather (squatting in front of the Sherman)

The inscription on the back of the photo says "Japan, 1945"

Can anyone tell me what version of the Sherman this is? And what kit would be the best to replicate this particular tank?











Its a M4A1 dragon makes the kit
junglejim
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Posted: Tuesday, October 08, 2019 - 03:29 PM UTC
The Asuka M4A1 is a much better kit. Can you even find the Dragon kit around anymore?

Jim
ericadeane
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Posted: Tuesday, October 08, 2019 - 04:45 PM UTC
Asuka 35-022 Sherman M4A1 late production (as Jim says) is the best candidate for accuracy. (35-010 would do as well)

Their 75mm Shermans are unsurpassed.

One thing about the caption however -- this looks like stateside training -- not an occupation tank in Japan. I could be mistaken but the dustiness of the scene and the fact that the most of the Shermans pre-positioned for the invasion (and the few that actually landed for use by occupation forces) would have been later models (such as the M4A3). This picture has a definite 1943 or 1944 look to it -- nothing definitive -- but it's just my strong suspicion.
SSGToms
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Posted: Tuesday, October 08, 2019 - 07:16 PM UTC
Roy, I thought the same thing. How would an early small hatch dry stowage 75mm M4A1 make it to "Japan 1945"? This looks more like "Fort Hood 1943".
Bravo1102
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Posted: Tuesday, October 08, 2019 - 08:13 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Roy, I thought the same thing. How would an early small hatch dry stowage 75mm M4A1 make it to "Japan 1945"? This looks more like "Fort Hood 1943".


One thing argues against 1943. All the tankers have M3 submachine guns. They weren't issued to tank crews until late 1944.

And the initial occupation troops didn't use the pre positioned tanks. They were for following units that hadn't arrived in theater yet. The occupation used troops from MacArthur's SW Pacific troops some of whom at this point still had M4 and M4A1 75mm Sherman's as opposed to M4A3.
Scipio2010
#401
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Posted: Friday, October 11, 2019 - 08:32 AM UTC
Thanks for the responses everyone,

I assumed it was an M4A1 but wasn't sure if there was any small detail I was missing that would point to a specific kit.

I too was skeptical of the inscription on the back, as the picture definitely looked like it was taken at some training site stateside.

Its still great discovering such things. I have another picture of him in front of an M-24 at Fort Knox, and several years ago I gave him a completed Chaffee model. It was the old Italeri offering, but he proudly had it on his nightstand and loved it. Its cool when you can connect with people like that.

I suppose it might be the same if my grand kid presents me with a completed Stryker model.

Thanks
b2nhvi
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Posted: Friday, October 11, 2019 - 09:22 AM UTC
Dead give away on the type is the rounded edges of the cast hull. I have 3 Tasca / Asuka Shermans I'm working on. Oddly, one is a JGSDF M4A3E8. Great kits. Wish they were more available.
tanknick22
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Posted: Friday, October 11, 2019 - 12:43 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Roy, I thought the same thing. How would an early small hatch dry stowage 75mm M4A1 make it to "Japan 1945"? This looks more like "Fort Hood 1943".


it could be Italy in 1942 or 1943
Kevlar06
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Posted: Friday, October 11, 2019 - 01:47 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Roy, I thought the same thing. How would an early small hatch dry stowage 75mm M4A1 make it to "Japan 1945"? This looks more like "Fort Hood 1943".


it could be Italy in 1942 or 1943


Again, as mentioned before, not with those grease guns, which didn't make it into combat until mid 1944, or later for most troops. The M3 was a limited issue item post Normandy, and the M3A1 almost didn't make it into the European theater until 1945. I'd go for a stateside training unit in late 44 or early 45.
VR, Russ
MAROT79
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Hungary
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Posted: Friday, October 11, 2019 - 06:32 PM UTC
Hi,

One other thing that verifies the original caption, is the "T" shaped towing shackle, which was introduced at the end 1944, and was not dispersed at troops before 1945.

Adam
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