The French were the only other users of the M4A3E2 and they received one. I believe Steve Zaloga includes a color plate of it in one of his Sherman books.

This link includes a picture of the French M4A3E2: French Jumbo

Chris "toadman" Hughes
Toadman's Tank Pictures

Correct!




Yes he does, but I can't remember which one either.

And the French M4A3E2 sports concave wheels, which is pretty rare for Jumbos.

What is a M4A4(T)?

Chris "toadman" Hughes

Isn't it just an M4A4 but with the engine deck(and I assume engine)of an M4?

Rick

Yep! The French converted all of their Sherman to radial engines in the 50's. The deck from a M4 or M4A1 was used on A2's, A3's, and A4's. Your turn Rick.

Chris "toadman" Hughes
Toadman's Tank Pictures

Argghh! I shouldn't answer these questions cause I still don't have my reference material and can't really challenge you guys with tuff questions...Okay another simple question...
What were the two most common shermans used to build the Firefly?

sorry for the easy question.

Rick

Sherman I(M4 Composite/Hybrid) and Sherman V(M4A4)

Chris "toadman" Hughes
Toadman's Tank Pictures

You got it ..now I'll stop answering... :-) YOU'RE UP!

Rick

Okay, here's an easy one. What gun does this muzzle brake belong to:




Chris "toadman" Hughes
Toadman's Tank Pictures

M50/51 Isherman

Okay Bryan, you named the tank. How about the gun?

Chris

Ohh that was fast LOL. I believe it was the French VO980 105 mm gun.

105mm is all I'm really looking for. FWIW, the designation is D1504 L/44. Your turn.

Chris

What nick name did the employees at Detroit Arsenal coin for the final version of the single piece differential housing.
Cheers,
Bryan

Mary Ann

Mike Canaday

Thats it..Batter up

ALl right. then.

How many different types of split commanders hatch assemblies were used on Shermans equipped with the D50878 and D78461 (75mm and 105mm ) turrets?

Mike Canaday

2

Sorry, not quite right yet.

Mike

There were actually three major types of split door commander's hatches for the Sherman series.

I yield the floor to my fellow Southron, rebelsoldier, to come up with a question for us.

Here are the boring details of the different hatches for those interested

The first type had a solid hinge knuckle and initially had an internal hold open latch. This was seen on new production 75mm dry stowage tanks up to September 1943. The later versions of this hatch had an external hold open catches. The early version of this hatch is farily well represented by the Tamiya M4 early kit hatch. If fitted with the .50 barrel stowage clip at all, the fixed "H" shaped type was the only type used, except on re-manufactured tanks. The fold down type of stowage clip was not seen until early 1944 on the second D69993 type.

The second type (D69993) had spring balanced doors and a pin type hold open latch. This type is characterized by a split hinge knuckle on the doors with a torsion spring on the hinge pin. The ring casting has large lugs that have pointed tops that act as stops for the doors. This type was used on 75mm turrets starting in August or September 1943, very typical on M4 composites and early production M4A3 75mm (W). This hatch was phased out of production as the vision cupolas became more availlable in mid 1944 production. These hatches initially had the non-folding "H" shaped .50 barrel clip (late M4 and most all M4 composites, late production M4A1 and M4A2 75mm, and M4A6). The folding type barrle stowage clip was seen on the M4A3 75mm (W) and the big hatch M4A2 75mm dry. This hatch is not represented at all in styrene, the hatch in the Tamiya M4A3 75mm (W) kit is a cross between this and the D94598 mentioned below. The Tamiya hinge is far too narrow, and the mg pintle socket is too tall. The only correct representation of this in any form that I know of in 1:35 is the one Formations sells. The Tiger Model late hatch is a beautiful casting, and comes pretty close to this type, but the hinge area is slightly off.

The third type was the low profile ring, (D94598 and later 7054011). This was the low profile ring developed for the D82081 76mm turret. It had a spring counter balance and external catches similar to the type installed on the late first type 75mm hatch assembly. This was used on D82081 76mm turrets, the early prototype T26 turrets (note that the Super Pershing has this type hatch), and the early production M4 105mm tanks. One of the defining characteristics of this hatch is the very tall looking machine gun pintle socket. The socket is actually the same height, the ring crossection was flatter, sot the pintle socket appeared higher. The Italaeri M4A1 kit has a good version of this hatch.

Mike Canaday

this is easy to answer

i dont build 1/72 sd armor so i wil go with what i do best 1/35th scale
m4 tamiya
m4 composite hull with 17lb gun dml
m4a1 dml
m4a1 with a 76mm italeri
m4a2 academy
m4a3 tamiya
m4a3e8 tamiya ( old kit )
m4a3 with 76mm dml
m4a3e8 dml in varius versions
m4a3es sherman jumbo tamiya
m4a3 late production tamiya
m4a3 with 105mm tamiya
m4a4 dml in various versions
and i built every one including thier subvarients