surviving sherman fireflies

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Surviving Sherman Firefly tanks Last update : 30 June 2010 Quick note about M4 Sherman tanks in the British nomenclature (source : Wikipedia) : The British received far more M4 medium tanks, approximately 17,000 (roughly 34% of all M4s produced), than any other Allied nation. The British practice of naming American tanks after American Civil War generals was continued, giving it the name General Sherman after Union General William Tecumseh Sherman, usually shortened to Sherman. The US later adopted the name and the practice of naming tanks after generals. In British usage, Sherman I=M4, Sherman II=M4A1 and so on. Additional letters denoted other features; A for 76 mm M1/M1A2 L/55 gun, B for the 105 mm M4 L/22.5 howitzer, C for the OQF 17 Pounder gun, and Y for the wider tracked HVSS type suspension. As a result, the Sherman Firefly tanks were named this way : -Sherman Ic - M4 with an OQF 17 Pounder gun -Sherman Hybrid Ic - Sherman Ic with composite hull (cast front, welded rear) and a 17 Pdr gun -Sherman Vc - M4A4 with an OQF 17 Pounder gun Listed here are the Sherman Ic or Vc “Firefly” tanks that still exist today. Picture provided by Michel van Loon Sherman Ic – Royal Museum of the Armed Forces, Brussels (Belgium) SN 1604. This vehicle is stored at the depot of the Tank Museum in Vissenaken (Michel van Loon)

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Page 1: Surviving sherman fireflies

Surviving Sherman Firefly tanks Last update : 30 June 2010

Quick note about M4 Sherman tanks in the British nomenclature (source : Wikipedia) :

The British received far more M4 medium tanks, approximately 17,000 (roughly 34% of all M4s

produced), than any other Allied nation. The British practice of naming American tanks after American Civil War generals was continued, giving it the name General Sherman after Union

General William Tecumseh Sherman, usually shortened to Sherman. The US later adopted the name and the practice of naming tanks after generals.

In British usage, Sherman I=M4, Sherman II=M4A1 and so on. Additional letters denoted other features; A for 76 mm M1/M1A2 L/55 gun, B for the 105 mm M4 L/22.5 howitzer, C for the OQF

17 Pounder gun, and Y for the wider tracked HVSS type suspension.

As a result, the Sherman Firefly tanks were named this way :

-Sherman Ic - M4 with an OQF 17 Pounder gun -Sherman Hybrid Ic - Sherman Ic with composite hull (cast front, welded rear) and a 17 Pdr gun -Sherman Vc - M4A4 with an OQF 17 Pounder gun

Listed here are the Sherman Ic or Vc “Firefly” tanks that still exist today.

Picture provided by Michel van Loon

Sherman Ic – Royal Museum of the Armed Forces, Brussels (Belgium)

SN 1604. This vehicle is stored at the depot of the Tank Museum in Vissenaken (Michel van Loon)

Page 2: Surviving sherman fireflies

"Facundo" - http://www.saorbats.com.ar/foro/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=2978

Sherman Ic – Museu do Exército Argentino, Buenos Aires (Argentina)

Michel van Loon - http://www.afvregister.org/Details.aspx?AfvID=7299

Sherman Hybrid Ic – Private collection, Wommelgem (Belgium)

SN 44487 (Michel van Loon)

Page 3: Surviving sherman fireflies

"Armynius" - http://www.panoramio.com/photo/3317025

Sherman Hybrid Ic – Klein-Willebroek (Belgium)

Filippo Cappellano, 1992 - http://digilander.libero.it/pmg/contributi/censimento/3_m4_verona.htm

Sherman Hybrid Ic – Caserma "Passalacqua", Verona (Italy)

Page 4: Surviving sherman fireflies

“guidopiano”, May 2009

Sherman Hybrid Ic – Caserma "De Carli", Cordenòns (Italy)

http://www.kanwischerstrassberger.com/Webpages/Museum01.htm

Sherman Hybrid Ic – National Museum of Military History Johannesburg (Republic of South Africa)

Page 5: Surviving sherman fireflies

Charlie Hugo, 2006 - http://wildaviation.co.za/gallery2/main.php/milmuseums/Bloem-Armour-Museum/WWII/sherman/?g2_page=1

Sherman Hybrid Ic – School of Armour Museum, Tempe

Bloemfontein (Republic of South Africa)

"philrickerby", October 2006 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/philrickerby/2389650548/

Sherman Hybrid Ic – War Memorial, Bethlehem (Republic of South Africa)

Page 6: Surviving sherman fireflies

Barry van Veen - http://www.gotavapen.se/bilder/tanks/tanks.htm

Sherman Vc – Tank Museum Axvall (Sweden)

“Megashorts”, April 2009 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/megashorts/3465787040/in/set-72157609057315170/

Sherman Vc – Bovington Tank Museum (UK)

Page 7: Surviving sherman fireflies

Picture taken in 2003 - http://i45.tinypic.com/35a6vxu.jpg

Sherman Vc – Ducht Cavalerie Museum, Amersfoort (Netherlands)

This Firefly tank has a German muzzle brake, coming from a Pak 40 gun (Michel Krauss). It is currently having some restoration works being done and has the Serial Number 5228 (Joe DeMarco). Wartime pictures show this same tank in 1945, while it was in German service, alongside two other Sherman Vs. It wore several German crosses along the hull and turret. It is unknown if the 17-Pdr could

be fired with this German muzzle brake fitted (Sherman Firefly book, by Mark Hayward)

Pierre-Olivier Buan, August 2008 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/13963542@N08/4207293678/

Sherman Vc – Royal Museum of the Armed Forces, Brussels (Belgium)

Page 8: Surviving sherman fireflies

Paul Hermans, August 2008 - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sherman_Firefly_9-08-2008_15-05-43.JPG

Sherman Vc – Royal Museum of the Armed Forces, Brussels (Belgium) – running c.

This vehicle is stored at the depot of the Tank Museum in Kapellen

Michel van Loon - http://www.afvregister.org/Details.aspx?AfvID=6115

Sherman Vc – Royal Museum of the Armed Forces, Brussels (Belgium)

SN 16912. This vehicle is now stored at the depot of the Tank Museum in Vissenaken. Comes from the former armour school in Leopoldsburg (Michel van Loon)

Page 9: Surviving sherman fireflies

Michel van Loon - http://www.afvregister.org/Details.aspx?AfvID=4488

Sherman Vc – Marche-En-Famenne (Belgium)

SN 5114, the correct RN is 3056924. Its original British registration was T-288942. Until spring 2007 it was a wreck at the Groot schietveld fire range in Brasschaat (M. van Loon)

Rik Scherpenberg - http://wra-tanks.blogspot.com/2010/06/clermont.html

Sherman Vc – Remember Museum 39-45, Thimister-Clermont (Belgium)

SN 191?2. The sign next to this tank reads this to be an M4A4(76) (that never existed) retrieved from the camp Elsenborn in 1998. Obviously because the museum is dedicated to the US Army, this Firefly was restored into an US tank. This is the reason the tank has

US markings and the 17-pounder was cut off behind the muzzlebrake to make it look like a 76mm (Patrick Kraft)

Page 10: Surviving sherman fireflies

Paul Hermans, October 2008 - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shermantielt_28-10-2008_18-10-52.JPG

Sherman Vc – Tielt (Belgium)

This tank monument is devoted to Polish soldiers

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=fr&ie=UTF8&t=h&layer=c&cbll=41.974008,12.546682&panoid=IF6tv21pTI9ioKqBfUMahg&cbp=1

3,10.86,,1,3.15&msa=0&msid=112700765782996256344.000480937883edd2b407c&ll=41.974009,12.542589&spn=0,359.978027

Sherman Vc – Bentivoglio Bruno & C. Snc, Via della Bufalotta Casal Boccone, Rome (Italy)

Page 11: Surviving sherman fireflies

P. Seravalli, August 2008 - http://preservedtanks.com/Profile.aspx?UniqueID=1048

Sherman Vc – Piana delle Orme Museum (Italy)

The main gun and mantlet don’t seem to be original ones

"masss11",originally posted by "centaur815" - http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?p=4264530

Some Sherman Ic and Sherman Vc – AFVs scrapyard in Tyre barracks,Tyre (Lebanon)

Any information confirming the current status of these vehicles are the most welcome (http://web.inter.nl.net/users/spoelstra/g104/lebanon.htm)

Page 12: Surviving sherman fireflies

“Panzerknacker”, March 2007 - http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4516

Sherman Hybrid Ic – Monument for the fallen of the 3th Airborne Artillery Regiment in the

1982 war, Cordoba (Argentina)

Massimo Foti, July 2009 - http://preservedtanks.com/Profile.aspx?UniqueID=854

(Former) Sherman Ic – Museo Storico dei Carristi, Rome (Italy)

Former Firefly converted back to a 75mm Sherman. The serial number, direct vision slots and vertical rear hull plate indicate this is an M4 manufactured by Baldwin Locomotive, probably in October 1943 (K. Laughlin). It has features characteristic of a British Firefly

conversion, including mounting pads for methyl bromide extinguishers ahead of the tail lights, brackets for a 17pdr towing spring, lugs for the 17pdr gun crutch on the rear deck, remains of the weld from the bow MG plug, a British cupola, and a Number 19 radio set

antenna on the turret rear (“tankbarrell” and “recceboy”)

Page 13: Surviving sherman fireflies

Pierre-Olivier Buan, September 2008

(Former) Sherman Vc “Battling Annie” – Hermeton-sur-Meuse (Belgium)

SN 4875, RN 3056685. SN from Keith Goode (G104, 5/2001). Former M4A4 Sherman Firefly, restored with a 75mm gun turret, missing the mantlet. This tank replaces an M4A3E2 Sherman Jumbo, which is now in the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces in

Brussels, and which previously stood at this spot (Belgium AFVs register)

“stijn.ghesquiere”, January 2008 - http://www.panoramio.com/photo/6890941

(Former) Sherman Vc – Mopertingen (Belgium)

Rebuild by the Rocourt Arsenal with a 75mm gun, served until early 2000 as a target at the Brasschaat range. Painted RN 3036872. Information from André Flener (G104, 1/2001).

Page 14: Surviving sherman fireflies

Rik Scherpenberg - http://wra-tanks.blogspot.com/2010/06/hechtel.html

M4 hull with Firefly turret – Near the Police Station, Hechtel (Belgium)

This tank seems to be a Firefly turret fitted on an M4 hull. The hull doesn’t show any of the Firefly fittings, like the armor piece welded over the bow machine-gun. The hull comes from a Dozer tank, the dozer blade was removed, but some of the fittings are still present on the glacis. It was formerly located at the crossing of the roads Leopoldsburg-Peer and Hasselt-Lommel. It is a monument for the

casualties during the liberation of Hechtel. The SN is 4060, it was build by ALCO in April 1943 (Michel van Loon)

Michel van Loon - http://www.afvregister.org/Details.aspx?AfvID=4487

M4A4 hull with a Firefly turret – Railway Station, Leopoldsburg (Belgium)

SN 21652 (Michel van Loon). This appears to be an M4A4 rebuilt as a Firefly by Belgium after WW2, by putting a Firefly turret on a classic M4A4 hull. The hull of this tank doesn’t have the classic Firefly fittings, like the piece of armor welded on the bow machine-gun

Page 15: Surviving sherman fireflies

Neil Baumgardner, May 2008 - http://www.com-central.net/index.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=9300&highlight=firefly

M4A2 Sherman with Firefly turret – Aberdeen U.S. Army Ordnance Museum, MD (USA)

The turret is probably the one sent by Great Britain to the United States in 1944/1945 (along with a sister sent to Canada) and originally mounted on an M4A3 Sherman for test by the AGF Board and the Ordnance Department, according to Mark Hayward, Sherman Firefly (Essex, England: Barbarossa Books, 2001), p 145, 153 and David Fletcher, Military Ordnance Special No. 19

Sherman VC M4A4 Firefly (Darlington, Md.: Darlington Productions, 1997). If so, the placement of the turret on this M4A2 appears to have been done post-war. The Sherman hull is SN 1405, RN 3065484, the first M4A2 hull built by American Locomotive,

according to Joe DeMarco (G104, 4/2004 and 7/2006) (USA AFVs register)

Michel van Loon - http://www.afvregister.org/Downloads/M7B2/Brasschaat.htm

First Sherman Vc wreck – Groot Schietveld Range, Brasschaat (Belgium)

SN 4873, RN 3056683. The engine and main gun are missing. This Sherman still has the original US and British markings painted and visible on its hull. It probably never served in the Belgian army, because there aren't any Belgian marking visible. The British

Registration Number T-289477 is also still visible. On the front half of the vehicle are some more markings visible, a triangle with MSU in it, the shipping codes 4-G-5491 and ORD3/LL/04765 painted under the triangle. These markings indicate that it was one of 104

M4A4's delivered to Great Britain in March 1944 (Michel van Loon)

Page 16: Surviving sherman fireflies

Michel van Loon - http://www.afvregister.org/Downloads/M7B2/Brasschaat.htm

Second Sherman Vc wreck – Groot Schietveld Range, Brasschaat (Belgium)

The gun is missing. SN 19833 (Michel van Loon)

Michel van Loon - http://www.afvregister.org/Downloads/M7B2/Brasschaat.htm

Third Sherman Vc wreck – Groot Schietveld Range, Brasschaat (Belgium)

The gun is missing. SN 16655. One side was badly damaged by anti-tank weapons (Michel van Loon)

Page 17: Surviving sherman fireflies

Michel van Loon - http://www.afvregister.org/Details.aspx?AfvID=4526

Sherman Ic hull – Groot Schietveld Range, Brasschaat (Belgium)

Removed from the range in Spring 2007 (Michel van Loon)

Michel van Loon - http://www.afvregister.org/Downloads/M7B2/Brasschaat.htm

Sherman Hybrid Ic hull – Royal Museum of the Armed Forces, Brussels (Belgium)

This vehicle is stored at the depot of the Tank Museum in Vissenaken, it was previously a target on the Groot Schietveld Range, Brasschaat (as seen on the picture)

Page 18: Surviving sherman fireflies

Michel van Loon - http://www.afvregister.org/Downloads/M7B2/Brasschaat.htm

First Sherman Hybrid Ic hull – Groot Schietveld Range, Brasschaat (Belgium)

SN 44441, RN 30100675. The British Registration Number T-269?35 is also still visible (Michel van Loon)

Michel van Loon - http://www.afvregister.org/Downloads/M7B2/Brasschaat.htm

Second Sherman Hybrid Ic hull – Groot Schietveld Range, Brasschaat (Belgium)

SN 44533. Hull heavily damaged by anti-tank weapons (Michel van Loon)

Page 19: Surviving sherman fireflies

Robert De Craecker - http://www.primeportal.net/tanks/de_craecker/m4a4_wreck_walk.htm

Sherman Vc hull – Kevin Wheatcroft Collection (UK)

This vehicle was previously stored at the depot of the Tank Museum in Kapellen, Belgium (as shown on the picture), it was then donated or sold to the Wheatcroft Collection, minus the turret.

The turret is believed to be still owned by the Tank Museum, either in Kapellen or in Vissenaken

Michel van Loon

Sherman Vc hull – Royal Museum of the Armed Forces, Brussels (Belgium)

SN 20835. The British Registration Number T-148463 is also still visible (Michel van Loon). This vehicle is stored at the depot of the Tank Museum in Vissenaken, it was previously a target on the Groot Schietveld Range, Brasschaat

Page 20: Surviving sherman fireflies

Robert De Craecker - http://www.primeportal.net/tanks/de_craecker/m4a4_wreck_walk.htm

Sherman Vc hull – Royal Museum of the Armed Forces, Brussels (Belgium)

This vehicle is stored at the depot of the Tank Museum in Kapellen

Michel van Loon - http://www.afvregister.org/Downloads/M7B2/Brasschaat.htm

First Sherman Vc hull – Groot Schietveld Range, Brasschaat (Belgium)

The turret was removed recently (Michel van Loon)

Page 21: Surviving sherman fireflies

Michel van Loon - http://www.afvregister.org/Downloads/M7B2/Brasschaat.htm

Second Sherman Vc hull – Groot Schietveld Range, Brasschaat (Belgium)

Removed from the range in Spring 2007 (Michel van Loon). This appears to be an M4A4 rebuilt as a Firefly by Belgium after WW2, by putting a Firefly turret on a classic M4A4 hull. The hull of this tank doesn’t have all the classic Firefly fittings, like the piece of armor

welded on the bow machine-gun, but it has the rear gun travel lock

Picture provided by Dirk Van Ooteghem

Sherman Vc hull – Private collection, Durbuy (Belgium)

The hull comes from the Elsenborn fire range, in Belgium (Dirk Van Ooteghem)

Page 22: Surviving sherman fireflies

Pierre-Olivier Buan, February 2007 - http://news.webshots.com/photo/2445609930100192038IewfCM

Firefly turret w/o gun on M4A3 HVSS – Auto & Technik Museum, Sinsheim (Germany)

It is a fire control/observation vehicle which served on the Meppen fire range, in Germany

"cjv32" - http://news.webshots.com/photo/1023264313031766371NxxaInECPa

Sherman Firefly turret – IJssel Line, Olst (Netherlands)

Page 23: Surviving sherman fireflies

http://www.criba.be/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=221:53rd-welsh-divisions-monument&catid=2:battle-of-the-

ardennes-british-army&Itemid=7

Sherman Firefly turret – Hotton (Belgium)

Franco Corgna, 2002 - http://digilander.libero.it/pmg/contributi/censimento/21_firefly_ml.htm

Sherman Firefly turret – Sacrario Caduti di Montelungo (Italy)

Page 24: Surviving sherman fireflies

http://picasaweb.google.com/conegliano.ana/2009AdunataNazionaleDiLatinaNettunoAnzioPianaDelleOrme#5343527217152921026

”conegliano.ana",June 2009

Two Sherman Firefly guns – Museo di Piana delle Orme (Italy) The gun in the middle isn’t a Sherman Firefly gun

I’m looking for photos of those tanks :

Sherman Ic – Staman International Trading, Nijverdal (Netherlands) Sherman Ic – Staman International Trading, Nijverdal (Netherlands) Sherman Vc – Staman International Trading, Nijverdal (Netherlands) Sherman Firefly – Soest (Germany) Sherman Firefly – Trier (Germany) Sherman Firefly – Special Services Battalion Museum, Tempe, Bloemfontein (South Africa) any tank that I forgot….

This document is a compilation of photos published on the web. I would like to thank especially Rafał Białęcki, who deserved the most of the job on this document, and also the people who took these photos and put them on their websites, or sent them to me,

and those who helped me doing these lists (particularly people of the AFV News Discussion Board). For any question, you can email me at [email protected]

Main page : http://the.shadock.free.fr/Surviving_Panzers.html