SleeperService Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 So when you remove the M4A2s in Italy and those transferred to the French you haven't got that many left. 2 or 3 Armoured Brigades?? IIRC the French M4A2s were transferred back to the US inventory before reissue. Not sure about any others. It's a bit of a minefield this Allied Armour I think... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 Were the French M4A2s all transferred out of British inventory? Can't find any mention of it in Hunnicutt, but then I also can't find any delivery figures for French Shermans in there either and they most definitely had Shermans! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threadbear Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 I think that French Shermans came straight from American stocks as they didnt have British modifications, like pyrene extingushers and blanket boxes. They were a significant operator of the M4A2 diesel variant as the American prefered the gas version for logistical reasons. The French certainly had a mish mash of variants such as the M4A1, M4A2, M4A3, and M4A4. Didnt have Fireflys but did have 76mm variants which the Americans used. Which also suggests stock from the USA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 (edited) Just occurred to me, based on the figures above, that the number of 75mm gun armed Sherman III & Sherman Vs in British inventory would have been very similar, as approximately one in four of the latter were conveted into Sherman Vc Fireflies, which often served alongside Sherman IIIs in the field (I'm building a troop from 13/18 Hussars with this mix). Edited September 26, 2013 by Sgt.Squarehead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrzeM Posted October 19, 2013 Share Posted October 19, 2013 You should remember that 1st Polish Armoured Division has used many Shermans Va, Vc, later many IIa and some Ic (Hybrids). All came through British supply system. In Italy Polish Corps had variety of Shermans (initially mostly IIIa) but in 1945 huge number of Ic (welded) was used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shermaniac Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 Sherman III (M4A2) were used in NWE but mostly by the French Armoured Division (supplied via US Forces who used both M4 but mostly M4A3)) although many thought French Forces formed part of Brit/Comm command - we had Polish, Czech & Canadian Armour with us. LeClerc's French 2nd AD landed post D-Day with US Forces - raised from escapees from metropolitan France. The French 1st AD was raised in Algeria and invaded Southern France Part of the confusion was the use of French Commando's on Brit/Canadian Beaches during D-Day ALSO: Fireflies were usually built on Early/Mid hulls except the Composites which utilised the 'big hatch' no late 47degree hulls were used for the 17pdr armed vehicles. Those would have been the 'a' types with a T23 turret and 76mm Gun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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