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Armor/AFV: Allied - WWII
Armor and ground forces of the Allied forces during World War II.
Hosted by Darren Baker
M4A1 big hatch 75 in the ardennes.....I think
andy007
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Wellington, New Zealand
Joined: May 01, 2002
KitMaker: 2,088 posts
Armorama: 1,257 posts
Posted: Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 10:27 PM UTC
Hi All,
Found another pic tonight,
From my guess this would be a M4A1 75mm big hatch.
Am I right or am I dreaming?
I say this because to me the turret dosen't look the right shape for a 76mm and the turret cupola looks like an early one and the hatch is BIG.
ukgeoff
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England - North East, United Kingdom
Joined: May 03, 2002
KitMaker: 1,007 posts
Armorama: 703 posts
Posted: Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 11:05 PM UTC
Looks more like an M4 Composite to me. The hull rear looks angular, the welded on aplique armour (thickened casting on the M4A1 large hatch) and there seems to be a suggestion of the weld line just above the first bogie. No Sherman expert, but thats my impression for what its worth.
Drader
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Wales, United Kingdom
Joined: July 20, 2004
KitMaker: 3,791 posts
Armorama: 2,798 posts
Posted: Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 11:08 PM UTC
Not quite, it's an M4 composite hull, with a cast front end and welded sides and rear - look how angular the hull rear is. If you look closely, the join between the cast and welded sections is visible passing diagonally through the star on the hull side.

Composites did use the big hatches though.
andy007
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Wellington, New Zealand
Joined: May 01, 2002
KitMaker: 2,088 posts
Armorama: 1,257 posts
Posted: Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 09:43 AM UTC
Hi guys,
Now I look at it I see it too, Must have been the time I posted it 11:30 pm here so my eyes weren't working to well lol :-)
ShermiesRule
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Michigan, United States
Joined: December 11, 2003
KitMaker: 5,409 posts
Armorama: 3,777 posts
Posted: Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 12:17 PM UTC
Nice try. You would have had the holy grail of Shermans that could have revolutionized the way we build kitbash Shermans
JamesGA
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Georgia, United States
Joined: August 28, 2004
KitMaker: 31 posts
Armorama: 0 posts
Posted: Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 04:41 PM UTC
What may have thrown you is that the tank is burned out and the turret has been blown off its race, looks like the rear is up and forward, giving the impression of an overhang.
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