M4 Sherman in South African service

M4 Sherman in South African Service Part 1- (WW2 Use) Part 2: Postwar use.

Paer 3: M10, Priest, Sexton, M32 INTRODUCTION The M4 Sherman and South African forces officially first met in the Western Desert of North African during 1943. The 1st SA Division was disbanded at the end of the campaign and 2 SA Division was lost at Tobruk Many members of these divisions then joined the 6th SA Armoured Division that was forming in Egypt after the conclusion of the NA campaign.

The members of the SA forces were not entirely unfamiliar with armoured warfare as some tanks and armoured cars were used during the campaign in East Africa. The first and second divisions all being motorised, it was decided to create a new division for armoured conflict. The 6th thus came into being as a armoured division and drew many personnel from the other two divisions. This was still not enough and a British brigade had to be added to complete the division.

Initially the division started out with obsolete equipment taken over from the British forces in Egypt for training purposes. These being mostly Crusader tanks, Priests, Stuarts and a couple of Grant command tanks. These tanks were sufficient for their intended training purpose and was gradually exchanged for new tanks during the training phase in the desert.

The obsolete equipment was replaced during 1943 as new lend-lease tanks started to arrive in the Middle East. The 6th SA Armoured Division was then equipped with new M4 Sherman tanks.

NOMENCLATURE To be able to identify the different types of vehicles in use it is necessary to understand the nomenclature used, not only by the US but also the UK. The Sherman initially started out with the name of ‘Swallow’. This was soon discarded for the name ‘General Sherman’. The following official nomenclature was extracted from a document dated 12 November 1942: British Name Sherman I

US Designation M4

Sherman II

M4A1

Engine 340 HP Wright Radial 9 Cylinder 340 HP Wright Radial 9 Cylinder

Armament 75mm M3 main gun Turret – cast Hull – welded 75mm M3 main gun Turret – cast Hull top – cast

Sherman III

M4A2

375 HP GMG – 71 (Duel diesel)

Sherman IV

M4A3

390 HP Ford

Sherman V

M4A4

425 HP Chrysler (5)

Sherman I ARV III Sherman II ARV III Sherman III ARV III Sherman IV ARV III Sherman V ARV III

M32

Hull bottom – welded Small hatches – direct vision for driver 75/6mm main gun Turret – cast later T23 (76) Hull – welded 75mm M3 main gun Turret – cast Hull – welded 75mm M3 main gun Turret – cast (stretched) Hull – welded three piece transmission cover M4 chassis

M32BI

M4A1 chassis

M32B2

M4A2 chassis

M32B3

M4A3 chassis

M32B4

M4A4 chassis

A letter dated 08 Jul 1944 from the HQ 6 Armd Div Reserve Group to the Main HQ 6 SA Armd Div requesting additional training tanks gives one a picture of the early types used by this division. The following are stated as being in their possession: Number 3 12 4 3

Type Sherman V Sherman II Stuart I Stuart V (Sawed-off)

Remarks M4A4 M4A1 Possibly Stuart Recce

The author of the document states that the Sherman IIs are long overdue to be declared “Beyond Local Repair”. Some of the guns had fired well over 5000 rounds during these training sessions. It is also pointed out that spares for these tanks have become a problem. He also stated that the Sherman II were not appropriate for training as the Division was equipped with Sherman V tanks.

A convoy order dated 27 May 1944gives the best layout of the divisions vehicles.

This convoy was divided into three sections and mover on three different days starting on the 27th.

SSB PAG NMR DIV HQ

Sherman Stuart 52 11 68 11 43 30 4

Grant

3

Val Bridge

M10

Priest

Total 63 79 73 7

PR 11 Bde HQ 1/6 Fd Regt 4/22 Fd Regt 7/23 Med Regt 1/11 AT Regt FDS Total

53 8 6 13 2

11 3 24 24

27 276

63

3

3

24

24

64 11 6 37 2 24 27 393

It should be noted that the artillery units made use of the Sherman OP. The 21 Sherman tanks issued to them were mainly used in this role.

Liaison Letter No 28 from Maj Gen E. Poole, GOC, 6 SA Armd Div to Lt Gen Sir P. van Ryneveld dated 13 April 1945, Gen Poole mentions that they had exchanged their current Sherman tanks for the following: a. b. c. d.

9 X Sherman 105mm howitzer close support tanks per Regt.

9 X Sherman 17pdr per Regt.

6 X Sherman Bulldozer tanks.

3 X Flail tanks.