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the_shadock · Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 7:21 pm Post subject: OT - Higgins boat

Hello,

I was very surprised this evening, when I visited the ASPHM association website. They own several WW2 AFVs, like a Hetzer, an Italian AB 41, an US M19 GMC etc.. They just bought a Higgins boat, that you can see here :

[url= www.asphm.com/projets/...boat.html] www.asphm.com/projets/...html[/url]

Is this an original US WW2 one, or more likely a French post-WW2 construction? France built some of them after 1945.

Pierre-Olivier

Michel_Krauss · Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 11:50 pm Post subject: Re: OT - Higgins boat

Hi P-O,

the link you posted is not working I guess it should be Wink

:

www.asphm.com/projets/..._boat.html

great site, they also have an lot of other interesting hard-ware

Michel

Kurt_Laughlin · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 24, 2006 Posts: 577

Their M19A1 has the same R/N as the one that used to be in Hubbard, Ohio, USA, which I believe is S/N 270.

Now that I think of it, the Hubbard museum had a Higgins boat under restoration when the owner died. I wonder if this is the ex-Hubbard boat?

Their M5A1 light tank is one of those made by American Car & Foundry. It would be nice to know the S/N off that.

Their Sherman is a Fisher M4A2 but they have data listed for a Ford M4A3.

KL

the_shadock · Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 11:04 am Post subject: Re: OT - Higgins boat

- Kurt_Laughlin

Their Sherman is a Fisher M4A2 but they have data listed for a Ford M4A3.

KL

well, I'm a bit confused about the ASPHM Sherman.
Here is a pic of the tank :

it seems that the rear engine deck is an M4A3 one. The SN that I got when I visited the collection was 8831, but I could have found it on the differential housing, and if it comes from another tank, the SN is not the good one.

Kurt, did you recognize this tank as an M4A2 thanks to external hull particularities?

P-O

Kurt_Laughlin · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 24, 2006 Posts: 577

The pictures on their site are labelled "M4A2" for one thing, and it has the typical fabricated rather than cast drivers hoods. All the Ford M4A3s I've seen had a single drain hole in the turret ring splash guard (this tank has two) and there was no gap between the fuel cap splash guard and the turret ring splash guard (this tank has one). Fisher M4A2s, on the other hand had two drain holes and a gap. S/N 8831 is an M4A2 serial within the range of tanks with these features.

The deck in the picture you posted looks like an M4A3 deck - up to the front of the grills. Notice that there are no fuel filler caps immediately behind the turret, as would be present on an M4A3. I think this results from an engine change or the cobbling together of parts

KL

the_shadock · Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 6:00 pm Post subject: Re: OT - Higgins boat

thanks !!

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