been reading Ryan's "A Bridge Too Far" again for probably the fourth time. I've learned to respect the British Paratrooper in a big way, but now have gotten myself into the Irish Guards and Horrick's tanks. Decided to build a couple Shermans that were in that great battle. I know they used Firefly MK.Vc's, but can't quite figure out what 75mm gun Shermans they used. I see a lot of welded hulls and even a few cast hulls, and after that I'm pretty much at a loss. Anybody here (from the other side of the pond) want to help a bloke from the "Colonies"?
gary

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been reading Ryan's "A Bridge Too Far" again for probably the fourth time. I've learned to respect the British Paratrooper in a big way, but now have gotten myself into the Irish Guards and Horrick's tanks. Decided to build a couple Shermans that were in that great battle. I know they used Firefly MK.Vc's, but can't quite figure out what 75mm gun Shermans they used. I see a lot of welded hulls and even a few cast hulls, and after that I'm pretty much at a loss. Anybody here (from the other side of the pond) want to help a bloke from the "Colonies"?
gary

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Guards were almost exclusively Sherman V but had Firefly as well as Vc. *AB was primarily a Sherman III based formation but had started to get M4 Hybrids as replacements by then. Fireflies were all three types but mainly VC
Al

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been reading Ryan's "A Bridge Too Far" again for probably the fourth time. I've learned to respect the British Paratrooper in a big way, but now have gotten myself into the Irish Guards and Horrick's tanks. Decided to build a couple Shermans that were in that great battle. I know they used Firefly MK.Vc's, but can't quite figure out what 75mm gun Shermans they used. I see a lot of welded hulls and even a few cast hulls, and after that I'm pretty much at a loss. Anybody here (from the other side of the pond) want to help a bloke from the "Colonies"?
gary

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44 RTR was part of 4 AB and mainly used M4A1 variants including a handful of Composites as seen during the MG operation. From memory they were operating unbrigaded at the time.


Guards were almost exclusively Sherman V but had Firefly as well as Vc. *AB was primarily a Sherman III based formation but had started to get M4 Hybrids as replacements by then. Fireflies were all three types but mainly VC
Al

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Al, you helped me with some data on the 8th AB. The ATB books on Market Garden have a series of pictures captioned 44RTR that show Sherman I, II, IC and IC Hybrids supporting the 82nd AB. If the captions are wrong, and idea what unit the tanks are from?

been reading Ryan's "A Bridge Too Far" again for probably the fourth time.

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been reading Ryan's "A Bridge Too Far" again for probably the fourth time.

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I would urge you to read "Magnificent Disaster", which is a far better history of the offensive and will give you a much better understanding of the events. ABTF is great storytelling but doesn't get at the heart of the operational issues.

guys, here's what I have on hand at the moment:

Asuka and Dragon Firefly Vc's, and maybe a couple Ic's
I have several Asuka M4's with the 75mm gun, and that becomes a quagmire. I do have one Asuka M4a2, but dot sure if it's a diesel or gas. Looks like a guy could build kits for years; what with the wide range of equipment used.

The book is a great read with little if any slant one way or the other. In the past I sorta buzzed thru the glider landings, and now I really got interested in the events involving them as well (I now know why my first Platoon Sargent was so proud of his glider patch and Pathfinder tab!)

Guys! Thanks for your replies, and lets keep this thread moving as we're just five weeks away from the 76th birthday of Market Garden.
gary

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guys, here's what I have on hand at the moment:

Asuka and Dragon Firefly Vc's, and maybe a couple Ic's
I have several Asuka M4's with the 75mm gun, and that becomes a quagmire. I do have one Asuka M4a2, but dot sure if it's a diesel or gas. Looks like a guy could build kits for years; what with the wide range of equipment used.

The book is a great read with little if any slant one way or the other. In the past I sorta buzzed thru the glider landings, and now I really got interested in the events involving them as well (I now know why my first Platoon Sargent was so proud of his glider patch and Pathfinder tab!)

Guys! Thanks for your replies, and lets keep this thread moving as we're just five weeks away from the 76th birthday of Market Garden.
gary

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You are not kidding, Commonwealth tanks are confusing at best. If you want to do the main tank unit of the breakthrough then the Irish Guards, and the Asuka M4A4's are your best choice.

I met a group of glider pilots at a WWII display at Yuma Proving Grounds many years ago. Most survived Europe, but one pilot was to land in the first wave in Japan. A wonderful set of veterans.

I met a nephew of Horrocks at a local gun show back in the 90's. One of the group was dressed as a British soldier so he got to talking with us. He commented that Horrocks would tell the family he told Monty the plan wouldn't work. Not sure if Horrocks said anything publicly, or if the nephew was misquoting his uncle.

Horrocks’s autobiography is ‘Corps commander’, a fascinating tale. He was lucky to survive campaigning in Russia during the civil war.

Horrocks’s autobiography is ‘Corps commander’, a fascinating tale. He was lucky to survive campaigning in Russia during the civil war.

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Horrocks’s autobiography is ‘Corps commander’, a fascinating tale. He was lucky to survive campaigning in Russia during the civil war.

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See also "A Full Life", published in 1960. His last official appointment was as Black Rod or to give it its full title "Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod in the House of Lords".

two things:

1. J.O.E. Vandeluer wrote a bio. I'm ordering it today

2. do I take it right that a Sherman M4a4 is what you guys call a Sherman V.? If so, it looks like Asuka is the only game in town.
gary

two things:

1. J.O.E. Vandeluer wrote a bio. I'm ordering it today

2. do I take it right that a Sherman M4a4 is what you guys call a Sherman V.? If so, it looks like Asuka is the only game in town.
gary