ropey Posted January 18, 2001 Share Posted January 18, 2001 I have photos of the Kiwi tankers in Italy. The are driving a variety of models but the most common is one with a narrow gun mantlet. Can anyone tell me which version that is? And how does the naming system Sherman II, III, IIIc, etc match up to the M4 system? On a different note, the 9 M10 TDs of the Kiwi 2 Div were issued to the arty unit rather than the tank units - was that a common practice? ------------------ Never leave your mind so open your brains fall out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ropey Posted January 20, 2001 Author Share Posted January 20, 2001 bump - anyone out there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricM Posted January 20, 2001 Share Posted January 20, 2001 Without a photo it's hard to tell but I believe only the Sherman I had the narrow gun mantlet. Is the photo in a book that I could take a look at? As to what the British version of the of naming shermans I will have to check my references. Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
109 Gustav Posted January 20, 2001 Share Posted January 20, 2001 http://www.battlefront.com/discuss/Forum1/HTML/011897.html gives you the naming system. Tank destroyers were sometimes used for indirect fire, so this may explain the Kiwi 2 div. ------------------ Well my skiff's a twenty dollar boat, And I hope to God she stays afloat. But if somehow my skiff goes down, I'll freeze to death before I drown. And pray my body will be found, Alaska salmon fishing, boys, Alaska salmon fishing. -Commercial fishing in Kodiak, Alaska Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forever Babra Posted January 20, 2001 Share Posted January 20, 2001 The narrow mantlet was used on all the early Shermans. Without a pic it's impossible to say. Chassis: M4 = Sherman I M4A1 = Sherman II M4A2 = Sherman III M4A3 = Sherman IV M4A4 = Sherman V Armament: American 76mm gun = "A" 105mm = "B" 17 pdr = "C" Suspension: HVSS = Y So an M4A2 with 76mm HVSS in Commonwealth service is a Sherman IIIAY Here's a Sherman V of the Calgary Regiment getting an engine overhaul in Italy. Note the narrow gun mantlet. ------------------ Massada Lo Tipol Shenit [This message has been edited by Forever Babra (edited 01-20-2001).] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marco Bergman Posted January 20, 2001 Share Posted January 20, 2001 According to my sources in Italy we used: Sherman Ib (M4 105) Sherman III (M4A2) Sherman Ic Hybrid (M4 Hybrid Firefly) Sherman Vc (M4a4 Firefly) Sherman Ib had a large, bulky mantlet, and Fireflies had the wide mantlet, so the odds are good that you are seeing early-build Sherman III. Following American practice, M10s were regarded as 76mm AT guns that just happened to be self propelled. So they were issued to 7th Anti Tank Regiment. Thier role was consolidation; holding ground in conjunction with infantry after it had been taken by tanks and assualting infantry. They were not tanks, but a more mobile AT gun. From winter 1944 onwards they tended to be used more as artillery in a support role. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ropey Posted January 21, 2001 Author Share Posted January 21, 2001 Thanks everyone - most informative. ------------------ Never leave your mind so open your brains fall out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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