Greetings all,

Well while my Bedford project has gone on hold awaiting further information, I though I'd start on the M4A1 Sherman Mk II. Setting late N Africa or Italy.

It's the Dragon Kit and plan so far is as follows:

use a Tamiya Turret with the early gun mantle
use spoked wheels and rubber tracks
add an Med style bin and fire extinguishers

Any other Brit style fixes that I've missed? I'm not going to try and do the early version with the direct vision and early suspension but this is more mid production.

Cheers

Al

Not the subject I'm most familiar with, but a couple of things:

British Shermans, especially in the desert, tended to have full or partial sandshields fitted. The Tamiya M4 ones would probably work.

Also, they sometimes had that length of rod or strip just above the sandshields to sling nets, tarps, and bags on. Not always, but often.

British aerials maybe? Not sure when the No 19 set came into use.

Hope this helps a bit.

Rob

Alan,
Something not on your list is the flimsy rack for the front right fender. Take a look at the poster for the new Mk III from DML the Mk II would have the same fittings. Off the top of my head I'm not sure if Brit tanks in the Med carried external fire extinguishers.

[Any other Brit style fixes that I've missed? I'm not going to try and do the early version with the direct vision and early suspension but this is more mid production.

Cheers

Al
[/quote]

Al,
Many M4a1s in MTO and NA had the grouser covers plated over with square pcs of scrap metal rectangular in shape. Also, many had boxes bolted or welded directly on the rear hull.

Chris

British radios were fitted prior to issue to units maybe no 11 sets at first then no 19 .reliable source Dad despatched radios in a rush prior to El-Alamein.

Greeting all,

Thanks for the feed back guys much appreciated.

One question:

Would the mid production models have the cast or three piece transmission? I know the early direct vision ones had the 3 piece but pics are a bit short on the ground so I wasn't sure when the cast transmission came into use.

Cheers

Al

I believe these were mounting strips for a fake tarp cover to give the tank the sillhouette of a lorry/truck?

The early versions of the cast nose started showing up in the Tunisian fighting. The only pictures I have seen were M4's or M4A3's, and both were dirrect vision tanks. So, it is likely that there were M4A1's with the early cast nose also.

No early M4A3's in Tunisia? Ok.

Found a picture of a column of British M4's with the cast nose. Caption in Japanese, but it is Africa some where. Good luck with your project.

I imagine these would be the early, rounder style transmission housing right, Randall?

Yes, there are three tanks in the picture, all with the early cast, or rounded, nose. I guess I should be more specific, the tanks are M4A2's. The marking on the left front fender is a White Rhino. If I decifer the date properly the picture was taken in April of 1943. There is a second picture taken after the tanks had gone by, showing the rear.

Hi Guys,

Have found some pictures of M4A1 earlys with DV and 3 piece transmission/early gun mantle in N Africa and also some of M4A1s mid production with cast transmission and later gun mantle in Italy.

Now I just need to find the British/Commonwealth unit in Italy that they belonged too. Unfortunately no Unit or DIv sign not on show.

Any thoughts, I know the 3rd Hussars have the early version in N Africe and that the Royal Scots Grays had the M4A2 SHerman III in Italy, but need a British/Commonwealth unit in Italy with the M4a1?

Cheers

Al

I checked my books and came up empty. Still looking. Sadly, Italy was very neglected.

Hi Randell, Greting all,

Thanks for that.

I've been doing a bit of late night reading and searching and it would appear the quite a lot of the armoured units from October 42 through to 43 had a mixture of vehicles.

The City of London Yeomanry still had Crusaders, Grants, and then by the time they got to Italy Shermna Mk IIIs and Crusaders.

The Staffortshore Yeomanry in the Desert Campaign had Crusaders and Sherman II's and again this mix of armour continued on throughout the campaign. Replacements seem to have arrived by numbers rather than one specific type of tank. So I have a few regiments now I can look more closely at.

Obviously the bulk of new armour was being concentrated for the assault on Europe so the mix of vehicles within British and I suspect Commonwealth units in the MTO continure for a long time.

Thanks for all your efforts - much appreciated.

Cheers

Al

One photo i've found has 2 mid production M4a1 belonging to 2 RTR in italy Cast nose M34A1 mantlet one with 3 bar cleat tracks photo 117 page 66 British Tank Markings & Names by B.T. White 2 RTR were senior regiment in 7th armoured brigade (green jerboa ) Cheers Pat

Good catch! I missed that one.