Ha! that’s an interesting pic. I’d really like to know the back story around it. I’m assuming the Sherman was knock-out as well…
It quite an amusing story
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&targetRule=10&xml=%2Fnews%2F2002%2F09%2F12%2Fdb1202.xml
ps, when the crew member of the Sherman and the German crew both shared the same fox-hole I wonder if they exchanged insurance details 
:mrgreen:
Excellent story, thanks…
Very interesting picture, there was few kingtigers in Normandy, most of them belong to the 503 heavy batallion, the majority of them were knocket out by the naval gunfire and the allied aviation.
M4A1 (cast steel) in Tunis.
And in the difficult Italian front.
Some crew tough that the rounded cast surfaces of the hull was more prone to deviate the AP shells…not very true.
Panzerknacker, any info on how the 105mm performed in a direct fire, anti-tank role?
Sorry no, I only have information of engaments by the 75 mm and 76 mm gun variants, I guess that the 105 mm Shermans was used mostly for destroy pillboxes and entrenched infantry in towns and so, because they have no AP ammo for the Howitzer. Off course a shot of that 4 inches and more shell can cause damage to a Panther a Tiger and destroy lighter armor, but it was not the purpose.
The 105 did have an HC shell though. I dont know how many Tanks it killed but it had the capacity.
Hollow Charge…?
In this case it had a good change against the heavy armor, but I think those were to fight off concrete emplacements.
With AP ammo I was meaning some king of armor piercing composite, or capped steel core shell.
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From: “British and American Tanks of World War II”, by Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis, Arco Publishing Company, 1975, (p 114 - 117 )
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From: “British and American Tanks of World War II”, by Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis, Arco Publishing Company, 1975, (p 118 - 121 )
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From: “British and American Tanks of World War II”, by Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis, Arco Publishing Company, 1975, (p 122 - 125 )
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From: “British and American Tanks of World War II”, by Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis, Arco Publishing Company, 1975, (p 126 - 129 )
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From: “British and American Tanks of World War II”, by Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis, Arco Publishing Company, 1975, (p 130 - 133 )
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From: “British and American Tanks of World War II”, by Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis, Arco Publishing Company, 1975, (p 134 - 137 )
Sorry to be a party pooper, but you do need to be careful how much material you post copied directly out of books.
It could cause problems for the forum due to copyright infringement.
Site Faq
http://www.ww2incolor.com/site-faq.html
Guess I’ll need to do more research on the “Fair Use” and “Fair Dealing” Doctrines.
As long George continue to post the sources of this images there will be no problem.
Very good info, impressive the T-31 demolition tank no idea that some version like that exist.
Thanks Panzerknacker,
Here is some more info on M4 Shermans with 105mm howitzer.
M4 (105mm):
http://www.wwiivehicles.com/usa/tanks_medium/m4_sherman.html
The construction of 2 pilot models based on the M4A4 were authorized by the Ordnance Committee in December 1942. It was tested at the Aberdeen Proving Ground and at Fort Knox, Kentucky. After some modifications it was Standardized in August 1943.
Were intended to replace the M8 Howitzer Motor Carriages that were in Battalion Headquarters Companies and Medium Tank Battalions. The 105 mm Howitzer, M4, was mounted in a Combination Gun Mount, M52.
There was a partial turret basket in the cast turret. The gunner was provided a fighting seat, the commander a convoy seat, and the loader a riding seat. These all rotated with the turret. The cupola had 6 prismatic vision blocks of 3" laminated, bullet-resistent glass.
There was a floor placed over the power tunnel. A pintle was provided for towing an ammunition trailer.
Detroit Arsenal (2-9/43): 800.
105 mm howitzer installed in place of 75 mm in turret. A pintle for towing a trailer was installed.
Sherman M4A3 (105)
http://www.battlefront.co.nz/Article.asp?ArticleID=265
The last models of Sherman to be mentioned for US forces are the 105 howitzer armed tanks and the Sherman “Jumbo”. The howitzer armed Shermans equipped the assault gun platoons in armoured battalions and were all built on either M4 or M4A3 47degree glacis plate hulls but the “wet stowage” was replaced by armoured bins for ammo stowage.
Re: Artillery version of M4 Sherman tank
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/G104/message/5317
Some pictures and a bit of information (in German) can be found at
http://www.panzerbaer.de/guns/bw_pzh_m7b2_priest-a.htmHope this helps.
Have a nice dayHenrik Teller
DK - 6270 Toender
http://www.armyvehicles.dk
(Danish Army Vehicles Homepage)
E-mail: webmaster@…
Sherman M4 105mm Howitzer tanks
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/G104/message/5320
Henrik and other G105 members here is another book that has some information on
the M4 (105mm Howitzer tank and tha tank gun.“The American Arsenal, subtitled, The World War II Official Standard Ordnance
Catalog of Small Arms, Tanks, Armored Cars, Artillery, Antiaircraft Guns,
Ammunition, Grenades,Mines, Etcetera” Introduction by Ian V. HoggPage 30 has the 105mm tank, and page 182 has informationabout the gun.
It was published in 1996 by Stackpole books, in the USA, and by Greenhill Books,
in the UK.
It is ISBN 1-85367-254-8. You can probably find a copy on Amazon dot Com used
books.Good hunting,
Rich Lowry
San Francisco
The History of the M4 Sherman 105mm Howitzer
http://www.tamiya.com/english/products/56014sherman/sherman_expl.htm
Medium Tank M4(105mm) Sherman
http://afvdb.50megs.com/usa/m4sherman.html#M4(105)
105mm Howitzer with 66 rounds.
The British named 105mm howitzer Shermans by adding a “B” suffix, making M4(105) Sherman IB.
One hundred-five millimeter howitzer tanks retained the turrets of the 75mm gun tanks, but lacked stabilization and power traverse. Early models also lacked a tank commander’s cupola and loader’s hatch. The small oval loader’s hatch was added, as well as the TC’s cupola. These tanks also did not have a turret basket, but a partial platform suspended from the turret ring. Wet ammunition stowage was not instituted on 105mm howitzer Shermans, but the ammunition stowage racks were armored.
Medium Tank M4A3(105mm) Sherman
http://afvdb.50megs.com/usa/m4sherman.html#M4A3(105)
105mm Howitzer with 66 rounds.
A British M4A3(105) would be called Sherman IVB.
The first M4A3(105)s lacked a commander’s vision cupola and power turret traverse. Powered traverse was later incorporated, but VE Day came before it could see action. An armored cover for the direct sight telescope to the right of the howitzer was developed in late production vehicles to protect the turret interior from small arms fire.
Medium Tank M4(105mm) Horizontal Volute Spring Suspension Sherman
http://afvdb.50megs.com/usa/m4sherman.html#M4(105)HVSS
105mm Howitzer with 66 rounds.
M4(105) HVSS became Sherman IBY in the British naming style. The final 841 M4(105) produced were fitted with HVS suspension.
Medium Tank M4A3(105mm) Horizontal Volute Spring Suspension Sherman
http://afvdb.50megs.com/usa/m4sherman.html#M4A3(105)HVSS
Under the British system of tank naming, M4A3(105) HVSS would be called Sherman IVBY.