Sherman help please - D-Day landings

[billybookcase]

I'm thinking of doing a LCM/LCT Sherman diorama, and wondered what variants were used by each nation, whether it be one of the "funnies" or just a standard Sherman.

Many thanks.

BB

[BWP]

I'm thinking of doing a LCM/LCT Sherman diorama, and wondered what variants were used by each nation, whether it be one of the "funnies" or just a standard Sherman.

There's no easy answer to that question. There were multiple versions in use, all at the same time. It would be easier to identify versions which were not in use.

Your best approach is either "it doesn't matter" and build what you want (the chances that you would pick a version not being used would be slim), or if you're trying to recreate a specific vehicle, clear photos of that vehicle should enable Sherman experts to identify exactly what version it is.

[Bullardino]

There's no easy answer to that question. There were multiple versions in use, all at the same time. It would be easier to identify versions which were not in use.

Your best approach is either "it doesn't matter" and build what you want (the chances that you would pick a version not being used would be slim), or if you're trying to recreate a specific vehicle, clear photos of that vehicle should enable Sherman experts to identify exactly what version it is.

I quote this and add that if you need a picture of a Sherman landing in Normandy then PM me.

[Malcolm Shaw]

The British used these Sherman types in WW2. And maybe some others as well, especially very late in the war when some

76mm versions were received and some HVSS types too.

Sherman I (M4)

Sherman II (M4AI)

Sherman III (M4A2)

Sherman V (M4A4)

Firefly IC and the `hybrid` version of this type.

Firefly VC

Sherman Crab (M4A4).

Sherman DD

Sherman ARV I (M4A2, M4A4)

Sherman BARV.

Hope this helps.

Malcolm

Edited March 5, 2012 by Malcolm Shaw

[foxy]

Its your choice on sherman type as most landed from LCT or bigger.

Like all say it doe's not matter as long as you pick one of your choice.

By the way what scale are we talking about here.

I Imagine its 1.72nd or 1/35th scales.

In both those scales there are nearly all the types you need.

Have fun

[billybookcase]

Thanks for the info lads.

I was originally going to use an LCM, but on further investigation I understand that no tanks were carried on LCM's on D-day.

However I may still do a beach diorama with a sherman, and as you say most options won't be that far from the truth.

Probably it will be 1/48 or 1/35.

Cheers.

BB

[Wayne rc]

As far as I know only DD Shermans were actually used on the assault phase of D Day, and armour was brought in by LST etc to beef up the

beachead, LCM were used to bring fuel and ammo after the assault phase.

If you look at some pictures of the beacheads post assault,

Im sure you will get some ideas, ie a Sherman that has been landed by ship(off diorama)

on a makeshift road thru a gap in cleared obstacles, and an LCM either landing ammo etc or

evacuating wounded. This could be very shortly after the assault,

remember it is essential to beef up and supply any gain or foothold when assaulting a beach or

a river this would be done asa

[Test Graham]

The Sherman is actually quite a bit over the weight limit for an LCM. I think they were sometimes (rarely?) seen in the Pacific loaded from AKAs - on smooth days, perhaps! - but I don't think they'd have been risked in the Channel.

No-one has yet commented on US operations. They will have been predominantly M4A1s. The British had very few M4A1s (none in Western Europe?) and their M4A2s seem to have been much more widely used in Italy. The main British Shermans will have been Mk.Is and Mk.Vs, with initially a sprinkling of Fireflies that increased on proportion with time.

PS there would be nothing wrong about having an LCM on a beach with a Sherman driving past it.

Edited March 15, 2012 by Graham Boak

[billybookcase]

As far as I know only DD Shermans were actually used on the assault phase of D Day, and armour was brought in by LST etc to beef up the

beachead, LCM were used to bring fuel and ammo after the assault phase.

If you look at some pictures of the beacheads post assault,

Im sure you will get some ideas, ie a Sherman that has been landed by ship(off diorama)

on a makeshift road thru a gap in cleared obstacles, and an LCM either landing ammo etc or

evacuating wounded. This could be very shortly after the assault,

remember it is essential to beef up and supply any gain or foothold when assaulting a beach or

a river this would be done asa

I did have plans to make a DD, but due to the complexity it would probably need to be 1/35, and this plus an LCM would probably be too big for a diorama.

We'll see.

Thanks

BB

The Sherman is actually quite a bit over the weight limit for an LCM. I think they were sometimes (rarely?) seen in the Pacific loaded from AKAs - on smooth days, perhaps! - but I don't think they'd have been risked in the Channel.

No-one has yet commented on US operations. They will have been predominantly M4A1s. The British had very few M4A1s (none in Western Europe?) and their M4A2s seem to have been much more widely used in Italy. The main British Shermans will have been Mk.Is and Mk.Vs, with initially a sprinkling of Fireflies that increased on proportion with time.

PS there would be nothing wrong about having an LCM on a beach with a Sherman driving past it.

See previous reply.

I might just do an LCM and some infantry, and maybe a second one with just a sherman and some troops.

Thanks.

BB

[steve0]

on the british side one of the first ashore was the 27th armoured brigade its leading element the 13th/18th hussars hada and b squadroons equiped with sherman v dds but c squadroon had sherman111s and firefly vcs also attached was a recce troop of stuart 111s and damiler scouts rhq was sherman111s a couple of sherman arv mk1s and 6 crusader aa mk2 the staffordshieyeomanry and east riding yeomanry had sherman111s and firefly vcs