More Pacific USMC Armor Photos!

[dharper]

http://www.harpercastings.com/images/image_posts/OK%20M4%20TANK.jpg

http://www.harpercastings.com/images/image_posts/OK%20M4%20Tank-2.jpg

http://www.harpercastings.com/images/image_posts/OK%20M4%20Tank-3.jpg

These first three photos come from the estate of an Army tanker who served on Okinawa, during the battle in 1945. The first photo appears to be of a composite hull M4.

The second photo looks like it's of a late production M4A3 with the welded on turret cheek armor!

I believe that the third photo is of the same tank in photo two. On the original print I can read the casting info. on the rotar shield it is "D53437" the last digit could be a /? Notice that the front lifting lugs on the tank in the second and third photos are located at the extreme edge of the glacis plate.

http://www.harpercastings.com/images/image_posts/OK%20M4%3f%3f-8.jpg

Here is another shot from Okinawa, this time a USMC M4A3 undergoing some engine work.

http://www.harpercastings.com/images/image_posts/KO'D%20LATE%20A2%20OK-5.jpg

This USMC M32A2 is working to recover a destroyed USMC M4A3 during the battle on Okinawa.

http://www.harpercastings.com/images/image_posts/OK%20LATE%20A2'S%20SHED.jpg

This late production M4A2 has found a cozy home in this barn on Okinawa. The name painted on the gun barrel is "OLD FAITHFUL".

[Alpenflage]

Outstanding photos of WWII USMC armor Dave !! Wow, these keep getting better. I simply can't wait to see these in print :)

I even like the Army M4A1 shots.......lol

Cheers !!!

Alpen

SEMPER FI, MARINES !!

[dharper]

Thanks for the feedback Robert. I hope many more Pacific Armor fans get some use out of them.

David

[ShermiesRule]

The Japanese didn't have killer tanks like Tigers and Panthers, yet it seems Pacific Shermans have covered top to bottom in wood, spare tracks, cement, etc. much more than ETO Shermans. Was the threat of a suicide shaped charge in the PTO that much more of a risk than a Tiger or Panther in the ETO?

[dharper]

Hello Alan,

Combat in the Pacific was fought at much, much closer range than in Europe. Even though the Japanese never produced a panzerfaust type weapon, (even though the Germans had sent the Japanese samples of the weapon and plans for manufacturing them?), the Japanese Type 1 47mm anti-tank gun was a potent threat to the Sherman at the point blank range that the Japanese employed it. The 47mm gun was very small and easy to hide (unlike the ungainly German 88 or Tigers and Panthers), and the Japanese crew were willing to die to knock out a Sherman (not so with the Germans). This made tank warfare in the Pacific a very serious affair.

Most Japanese anti-tank suicide squads could only hope to disable a Sherman, but once the tank lost its mobility, the Japanese would quickly bring their heavy mortars and anti-tank guns into action to destroy the tank.

[Dan Fong]

Dave

Thanks for sharing those great pictures.

The top picture is a M4 with the composite hull. It looks like the number 713 is painted on the differential cover's nose. So this could be a flame tank from the 713th Tank Battalion.

The second looks like an M4A3 wet stowage with a low bustle turret as was discussed on the Missing-Lynx DG.

Dan

[Dan Fong]

Just noticed the M32 is based on a late 47 degree hull. I can't tell if it is an M4A2 or M4A3 hull.

Dan

[M4 nut]

Dave,
Nice pics man. You haven't found any good shots of composite hull shermans as flametanks. Seems like the only photos I've seen are from the back.
Eric

[dharper]

Hi Eric,

The first photo in this post could very likely be one of the M4 flametanks. I will keep my eyes open for more.

David

[Kurt Laughlin]

Hi Dave:

If the VTR is a M32B2 rather than an M32B3 it would be pretty interesting because you'd be looking at one of only 12 ever made. The other 14 M32B2s were converted before large hatch hulls existed.

KL

[Kurt Laughlin]

Ooops - forgot something. The M34A1 rotor shield was D68454.

KL

[dharper]

Thanks for the input Kurt, The number you give above for the M34A1 rotor shield, is that for a specific vehicle, or photo? Or are you saying that is the casting number for this part on all vehicles that carried the piece?

[Kurt Laughlin]

Hi David:

D68454 is the part number for all M34A1 rotor shields. This comes from a) Inspection of numerous survivors, b) ORD 9 SNL C-44, List of All Parts of Gun, 75mm, M3 (Tank); and Mount, Combination Gun, M34 and M34A1, dated 17 April 1943, and c) Ordnance drawing 6568454 which was the original 1942 drawing under the September 1943 renumbering scheme (D sized drawings adopted a 65- prefix).

There were virtually no part number changes on Sherman that didn't result in a visibly different part.

KL