Destroyed Sherman ID Assistance...

[Hundestaffel]

Before (eventually) putting this photo on the e-stand, I thought I would first post it here to see if any WAF'ers can help me out. It will probably take a small miracle, but would anyone be able to identify the unit that this Sherman belonged to ???

[byterock]

I would say a M4A3. Looks like a US tank judging by the aerial.

The # does not look like US or CW marking I have seen though the US numbering system '30' was the start of Tank.

Could be a replacement tank quickly taken out of storage/shipping before if had a chance to be marked up with unit numbers etc.

Opps I forgot the other 4000+ other Shermans that served in the USSR. Could be one of those as well.
Would account for the Lth, wth ht on the side as that would of been used when it was shipped and for the odd number on the side

[Hundestaffel]

byterock:

Thankx for your reply....did not even consider this one to possibly be a US / USSR Lend-Lease tub , but the particulars on the side may have indeed been for quick reference overseas shipping (and or possible rail shipping when it got there - wherever "there" was).

Anyone else with an opinion (or three ??)

[FrenchVolunteer]

Hi,

the fact that the shipping instructions were not removed is a strong point to identify this one as a soviet tank.

Byterock, i think this is more an M4A2, as the soviet army only got those (diesel engine).

Could the "W" on the hull be for "Federal Machine & Welder Co" ?

I know that specialists know how to explain the various markings used for shipping the tanks oversea.

The turret is missing the side hatch, the tank probably exploded at some point.

See You

Vince

[MarcRikmenspoel]

I agree, it is probably an M4A2 diesel-engined model. These started to be used by the Red Army in significant numbers by early 1944. While the Sherman supposedly had a poor reputation, they were in fact generally issued to the Guards Tank Armies. These units exploited breakthoughs in the German front, and this is the sort of mission for which the Sherman was created. It had much greater reliability and radius of action than did the T34 (or the Panther, for that matter), and so was ideal for Soviet "deep battle" operations.