Hi all
I've just finished building the above Sherman from the Dragon M4A3 HVSS POA-CWS-H5 kit and I want to finish it as a very late WWII vehicle.Can anyone please tell me what units used them and where I could find decals etc?
Also as it's armed with the 105mm howitzer was it a tank or a self propelled gun?
Tia
Pete

I believe that It was still classed as a tank, but its role leaned far more towards direct fire support for infantry against fortifications or other targets that held up the troopers - as opposed to an anti-tank role with. If I'm not mistaken, a self-propelled gun - in the US at least - was considered an artillery piece mounted on a chassis rather than towed. I say at least in the US because many classify the Stug as a SPG, though I classify it as an assault weapon; in many ways similar to the 105mm armed Sherman. Because the 105 on the Sherman didn't have that high of an elevation angle, it really isn't a SPG. However, that doesn't mean it couldn't be used as an artillery piece. Many M10s were set at angles and just fired their 3in (76.2mm) guns. Its definetly conceivable for a Sherman crew to do the same.
As for markings, I'm looking for some myself - other than the Tamiya provided decals. I personally wanted to know what units specifically they were used in and when. I was thinking of putting a Cullin device on it.

EDIT - Looking at my decal instructions on my Tamiya model, it provides for three tanks: one is a splotchy whitewashed tank from H Co., 69th Tank Battalion (Bttn), 6th Armored Division, December 1944 Ardenne; 48th Tank Bttn., 14th AD, 7th Army, January 1945, France; and H Co., 756th Tank Bttn., February 1944 Germ.... ...yeah......wait....we..weren't..in..Germany in 1944 let alone February...LADIES AND GENTELMEN, WE HAVE A TYPO, TSK, TSK, SHAME ON TAMIYA. I'm still trying to figure that one out, I think it's supposed to be 1945.

It's not an SPG -- it's simply a "howitzer tank." They were used in indirect and direct fire roles, but I would not categorize it as an "assault" tank.

Lots of these show up in Korean War pics, but I can't seem to find one right now in Europe. They were probably used as replacements late in the war. According to Chamberlain and Ellis, more than 2,500 were built between August 1944 and May 1945, so they certainly had time to get into the fight. I'll keep my eyes open and see what I can spot.

Pete, as far as decals, you could use a set from Archer Fine Transfers. They have a set specific for the 105mm M4A3E8 from the 6th AD. Below is the set:



Oh, and I have heard and read that they were called an SPH - Self Propelled Howitzer

EDIT: I removed the pics that were here as they were incorrect DOHH! (I must get more sleep - sorry for posting 105s with the VVSS instead of the HVSS)

Anyway, here's one below from the 786th TB moving through Alterhundem while supporting the 99th. As others have said below, this vehicle was a late comer, and so was the 786th TB. They were deployed in Jan. 1945, which explains why they (768th) has them.

Unfortunately, I see no discernible markings.

It is a self-propelled howitzer. They were assigned to the headquarters company of armor battalions to provide indirect fire support to the line companies. The howitzer tanks blend in much better with regular gun tanks and don't become high value targets to the enemy.

This question has intrigued me and I've been Googling a bit to see what I can come up with -- not much, I'm afraid.

The bookshelf provided a bit more info, but I still haven't found a photo of one in action in Europe. But like I said before -- they had to have been there. I know I've seen one somewhere. BTW, that Archer set that Ken suggests should have a nice little reference sheet with it. Archer does some pretty extensive research for it's sets, but you may want to e-mail Woody at Archer to confirm it is really for an M4A3(105) HVSS -- the link on the U.S. Markings page says it's for a "6th AD M4(105)" but when you click on the link, it says "6th AD M4A3E8" ??

To add to what Rob (Sabot) says about the 105s being assigned to the tank battalion HQ, I looked up the tank battalion organizational table in George Forty's "US Army Handbook, 1939-1945." According to George, the Bn HQ Company had three 105mm howitzer tanks in its assault platoon; plus, each of the Medium Tank Companies had a single 105mm howitzer tank in the company headquarters section. That adds up to six per tank battalion -- a nice little package of indirect firepower at the battalion commander's disposal. It's like he had his own field artillery battery in the armor battalion.

http://www.752ndtank.com/components.html
Storm, here's a link (not active I'm afraid) to a great site with a lot of first hand experiences in the ETO- mostly Italy. HTH

[quote]http://www.752ndtank.com/components.html
Storm, here's a link (not active I'm afraid) to a great site with a lot of first hand experiences in the ETO- mostly Italy. HTH
[/quote

There is a pic of one on the "Post-War" page: http://www.752ndtank.com/postwar.html

The caption says: "After the war ended, the 752 was equipped with the newer HVSS model of the Sherman tank. Shown here is a 105mm HVSS Assault Gun during maneuvers with the 88th Infantry Division at Ossopo, Italy, 8 November 1946. Note the unusual use of the old "star in circle" identification on this new vehicle."

I seem to agree with Hollow on this one ..I'm sure they were there but .....
I have seen a picture of them being stockpiled in the Pacific for the invasion of Japan though. They seem to have be more widely used in Korea.

Rick

Please see my original post above - I corrected the wrong images. Sorry StormB.

Rock on, Ken!

I knew someone would find a photo somewhere (and I kinda wondered about your other post, as well -- you are usually very reliable).

In case anyone wonders how we can tell this is really an M4A3(105)HVSS and not an M4(105)HVSS, look at the rear end -- it has the tell-tale M4A3 exhaust deflector sticking out under that heap of stowage.