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Hopefully simple Sherman question

January 13 2009 at 10:50 AM
  (Login Nicholas.Perry)
from IP address 86.18.164.220

Greetings All

I'm planning a couple of Sherman projects and would like help with the track choice.

First I've got a Sherman Jumbo conversion coming from Steve Faxon that I intend to fit a 76mm gun to. Would the rubber chevron (T48?) tracks with extended end connectors be right?

Second and thirdly I'm doing a New Zealand M4A1 fascine carrier and an M4A4 dozer from the Italian theatre. The tracks look to be steel chevron types but Master Tim (TM) offers a couple of varieties and I don't know which to use.

Any and all help gratefully received.


 
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Sherman questions.....

January 13 2009, 11:48 AM 

The M4A3E2 Jumbos were all built with T48 rubber chevron tracks with the US paddle type EECs, to decrease the ground pressure with the extra weight (42 tons vs 33 tons). However, some of them ended up with different tracks: I have seen a photo of a Jumbo in early 1945 with very worn T48 tracks and no EECs, rather unusual. This tank had the 75mm M3 gun and a large US flag painted on the glacis plate. Fighting 48th's T48 tracks with paddle EECs are perfect for the Jumbo Shermans as built. Obviously, if you have a picture of a Jumbo with non-standard tracks, go for it.

As for the Kiwi Shermans in Italy, you must look at the photos carefully. Many British and Commonwealth Shermans used American pattern tracks, especially if they were standard models also used by the US forces (like the M4A1). But, some of them also used "British" pattern tracks, that is, track types usually used only by British Shermans. So you must try to identify the track type shown. Several of the steel chevron types are hard to tell apart, as they are similar except for small detail differences. The M4A4 was a Sherman model mostly sent to British forces as Lend Lease equipment, and most of them had the T62 rivetted steel curved chevron tracks or the T54E2 steel curved chevron tracks without rivets. But, just to keep you on your toes, there are pix out there of NZ Fireflies with T48 rubber chevron track.....sad.gif Photos are your friends.

 
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