Hi all,
I know this question will probably be answered in 30 seconds, but for some reason I can't find a straight answer anywhere, here it is: Which Sherman variant was the one that was used on D-Day? Is it correct to assume this was the same variant used for the DD tanks?

TIA,
F

m4a2

i think academy sells a m4a2 DD tank 1/35 scale

Assuming you mean used by the United States, the DDs were based on the small-hatch M4A1 and the waders were M4s.

I believe the Commonwealth also landed M4A2s and M4A4s, but I'm not positive.

No one sells an injection-molded DD tank. The Academy M4A2 is a USMC wader tank used in the Pacific.

Didn't DD shermans also employ the LARGE hatch M4A1 hull with 75mm turret?

For the US Army, mainly the M4 (as in the Tamiya M4 early, preferably with new bogies), if you want to follow the road to a more accurate M4, have a look at this article

M4 tweaks

Together with some cast-hull M4A1s (small hatch/75mm). Upgunned tanks, like the M4 (105 howitzer) and M4A1 (76mm) turned up in July, but for the D-Day and immediately after period the 75mm gun tanks were only ones available. No M4A3s at all until later on, the Tamiya M4A3 represents a version which didn't appear until the autumn.

US DD swimming tanks were the large hatch M4A1s mentioned by Dogload

To simplify the resupply of parts, only radial engined Shermans were issued to US forces in the Normandy Beachhead area. That means the M4 and M4A1 only. These could be new production vehicles or 1942/43 models with minor upgrades like applique armor and M34A1 mantlets. The M3 style suspensions were usually swapped out for the suspension units with the trailing arm for the return roller. The M4A1 76mm arrived in time for Operation Cobra.
Once the breakout had occurred, the Ford-engined M4A3 series started to appear in large numbers, in 75mm, 76mm and 105mm howitzer versions. Units tended to operate Shermans with one engine type.
For Normandy, either Dragon M4A1 would work. Tamiya's early M4 kit can be built as-is if you use the late transmission cover. If you want to use the three-piece, you'll need to get an earlier set of suspension bogies with the trailing but not upswept return roller bracket (you could swap the suspension with either Academy M4A2 kit).

There definitely were M4A1 small hatch with deep wading trunks also...
741st TB for instance...

Doh! What I meant to say was 75mm-gunned M4A1 large hatch were DDs.

That's what I get for posting late at night.

For the Normandy D-Day, British and Cdn forces used the following Shermans and Sherman DD tanks:

Sherman I (M4)
Sherman I (M4 Composite)
Sherman II (M4A1 75mm gun tank)
Sherman III (M4A2)
Sherman V (M4A4)
Sherman VC Firefly 17pdrs on M4A4

Their DD tanks utilized M4A4s and M4A1s as base vehicles. Some M4A2 DDs were constructed but I don't recall if they were used in the Normandy landings or afterwards.

Other specialized tanks such as Crab flails, BARVs, dozer tanks were also used by the British and Canadians.

(The M4A2 and M4A4 were only rarely used by American forces in Europe -- and only when loaned or given these vehicles by British or Cdn units)

(also note that "D-Day" also refers to other landing dates as well -- not necessarily the June 6th Normandy landings -- a fact lost in common wisdom)

Thanks for all the replies guys. Now I see why I didn't find a straight answer to that question, because there isn't.

I did mean US army, but all the information is welcome!

So basically the US Army used M4's, M4A1 and M4A1's 75mm/large hatch used for the DD tanks.

Greetings all,

Some tanks from B & C Squadron The Fort Garry Horse on 6th June.

B & C Squadron
DD Tanks were issued to B and C Sqn for the landing on D day at a ratio of 20 per Sqn 4 to Hq Tp, 5 Tps of 3 and 1 Spare
Two additional Firefly Vc's from B Sqn were detailed for concrete breaching and allocated to the RN
M4A4, Sherman Mk V T 147398 Tanks launched 1000m Duplex Drive Specific Sqn Not Known
M4A4, Sherman Mk V T 147592 from shore Duplex Drive Specific Sqn Not Known
M4A4, Sherman Mk V T 147936 Duplex Drive Specific Sqn Not Known
M4A4, Sherman Mk V T 147947 Duplex Drive Specific Sqn Not Known
M4A4, Sherman Mk V T 148303 Duplex Drive Specific Sqn Not Known
M4A4, Sherman Mk V T 148497 Duplex Drive Specific Sqn Not Known
M4A4, Sherman Mk V T 148570 Vehicle Listing 27 Jun 44 Duplex Drive Specific Sqn Not Known
M4A4, Sherman Mk V T 149801 Duplex Drive Specific Sqn Not Known
M4A4, Sherman Mk V T 149963 Duplex Drive Specific Sqn Not Known
M4A4, Sherman Mk V T 150180 Duplex Drive Specific Sqn Not Known
M4A4, Sherman Mk V T 150428 Duplex Drive Specific Sqn Not Known
M4A4, Sherman Mk V T 150457 Duplex Drive Specific Sqn Not Known
M4A4, Sherman Mk V T 152025 Duplex Drive Specific Sqn Not Known
M4A4, Sherman Mk V T 211773 Duplex Drive Specific Sqn Not Known
M4A4, Sherman Mk V T 211804 Duplex Drive Specific Sqn Not Known
M4A4, Sherman Mk V T 211821 Duplex Drive Specific Sqn Not Known
M4A4, Sherman Mk V T 211834 Duplex Drive Specific Sqn Not Known
M4A4, Sherman Mk V T 211846 Duplex Drive Specific Sqn Not Known
M4A4, Sherman Mk V T 211848 Duplex Drive Specific Sqn Not Known
M4A4, Sherman Mk V T 211880 Duplex Drive Specific Sqn Not Known
M4A4, Sherman Mk V T 211885 Duplex Drive Specific Sqn Not Known
M4A4, Sherman Mk V T 211892 Duplex Drive Specific Sqn Not Known
M4A4, Sherman Mk V T 211942 Duplex Drive Specific Sqn Not Known
M4A4, Sherman Mk V T 211954 Duplex Drive Specific Sqn Not Known
M4A4, Sherman Mk V T 211968 Duplex Drive Specific Sqn Not Known
M4A4, Sherman Mk V T 228508 Duplex Drive Specific Sqn Not Known
M4A4, Sherman Mk V T 228521 Duplex Drive Specific Sqn Not Known
M4A4, Sherman Mk V T 228785 Duplex Drive Specific Sqn Not Known
Note:
B Sqn landed in support of the Queen's Own Rifles at Bernières-sur-Mer
C Sqn landed in support of the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment at St Aubin-sur Mer
The tanks were shelled as they approached the beach and four were lost. An LCT was also hit by shell fire and
initially could not launch it's vehicles. 14 of the 20 Tanks landed in the initial assault.

The surviving DD tanks were
withdrawn as soon as possible for refurbishment. The latest image we
have of a DD in use (props and skirt removed) is mid-July, at Carpiquet


Source; FGH Archives and my goodself along with a little help from Kevin T.

Cheers

Al


Edit: Apologies the spreadsheet doesn't copy across exactly. If anyone would like a copy of their full vehilcle listing please PM me with you email address and I'll be happy to pass it along.

Maybe I missed a reference in the posts above, but let's not forget the Crabs: The Commonwealth beaches all had detachments from the UK 79th Aurmored Division using M4A4-based Sherman Crabs to clear minefields. These were he ones with the rotating drum beating heavy chains on the ground to detonate the mines. Along similar lines, the Sherman BARV (Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle) was deployed once the beaches were relatively secure to recover vehicles flooded in t he surf but exposed at soem time during the tide cycle.

Greg

Right. They were all 75mm gun tanks on June 6. The M4A1 76mm gun tanks started showing up weeks later during the breakout.

The M4 (105 howitzer) was ashore sometime before the Cobra breakout, too. Other Sherman variants such as the M31, M32, M10, M12, M7 were part of the early equipment used by the US in Normandy, too.

The M4A2 was used by quite a few Brit DD units alongside the M4A4 and M4A1. The US m4A1 DD were the large hatch hull and some had very late low bustle turrets with oval loaders hatch, pistol port and cast cheek armour.
Cheers
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