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Massimo_Foti · Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 7:43 pm Post subject: Solbiate Olona. Sherman dozer

This was my first tank-hunting trip of the year. Unfortunately I faced some problems:

- I had literally 10 minutes to cover 4 tanks

- Due to security restrictions it was forbidden to shot from certain angles (it's an active army base)

- There was snow around, not that much but still annoying

Anyway, back to the interesting things. There was a Sherman, S/N: 21596. Looks like it has attachments for the dozer blade. I rely on the in-house Sherman experts to learn more about it. I can provide additional pictures at the moment, but I may be able to visit the place again in the future:

There are at least other two Sherman dozers in Italy:
digilander.libero.it/p...er_cec.htm
digilander.libero.it/p...kdozer.htm

Massimo

L.Delsing · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Feb 10, 2006 Posts: 960

Hello Massimo,
What was the name of the barracks and what were the other tanks?
Regards,
Lesley

Massimo_Foti

Caserma "Mara", there is also an L 6/40 (see dedicated topic), an L 3/38 and an M47.

I already posted on the L 6, I've got only 2 shots of the M47 and something about the L 3/38 but due to its position it's not that great. Anyway, I can post them if you want. Trevor has something on his website too, but it lists an M55 instead of the M47, based on a wrong list on Ferrea Mole website.

Please feel free to ask for more, or contact me directly as you see fit.

Massimo

the_shadock

yeah, it seems to be an ex-Dozer.
For sure it is an M4A4(75).

Thanks for the SN !!

P-O

TrevorLarkum

Well done, Massimo!

Here's the original link:

Solbiate Olona

Of course it needs updating now!

Massimo_Foti

I know for sure the italian army tried, as much as possible, to get rid of the multi-bank engines in M4A4s and replace them with radial ones. Is there a way I could figure out which engine is inside this tank without opening hatches left and right?

Massimo

the_shadock

- Massimo_Foti

I know for sure the italian army tried, as much as possible, to get rid of the multi-bank engines in M4A4s and replace them with radial ones. Is there a way I could figure out which engine is inside this tank without opening hatches left and right?

Massimo

the engine hatches/plates were replaced, because the air cooling system needed openings that were not at the same place on these plates, given the engine type.
That's why M4A4Ts don't have M4A4 engine plates, but M4A1s instead (IIRC). Please correct me if I'm wrong.

P-O

Massimo_Foti

the engine hatches/plates were replaced, because the air cooling system needed openings that were not at the same place on these plates, given the engine type.
That's why M4A4Ts don't have M4A4 engine plates, but M4A1s instead (IIRC). Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I am not a Sherman expert. Does it means we can identify the engine used by the tank from the pictures above? If not, where I should look next time?

Massimo

TrevorLarkum

Shermans aren't my expertise either, but that central bulge on the engine deck with bolts around it is typical for an M4A4.

the_shadock

- Massimo_Foti

I am not a Sherman expert. Does it means we can identify the engine used by the tank from the pictures above? If not, where I should look next time?

Massimo

That's the original engine deck for an M4A4 with the original Chrysler Multibank engine :

and that's the engine deck for a French M4A4T with the Continental R-975 C4 radial engine :

Massimo_Foti

Thanks. Looks like it missed the engine upgrade.
One of these days I will manage to get additional pictures and maybe collect additional info

Massimo

giacomo415

Hi everyone,
I think that also this M4A4 have received the radial engine because the pics showns that on the rear plate there is the small hole for the hand crank, a typical feature of the radial engined Shermans that lacks on the others.

I think the hole was drilled when the radial engine replaced the multibank one.

Giacomo

Massimo_Foti

Next time I will be there I will try to open the engine's rear doors and look inside Wink

In the meantime thnaks all for the help

Massimo

Massimo_Foti

Looks like next month I should be able to visit the place again, and have plenty of time for a full walkaround, but I don't think I will be able to climb the tank.
Any suggestion for areas or details I should cover? One main goal here is to try and figure out if it still has the original multi-bank engine or the radial one.

I will try to open the engine's rear doors and look inside, but I am not sure if it will be doable.

Tips and suggestions from our Sherman experts are welcome. Wink

Massimo

the_shadock · Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 3:59 pm Post subject: Re: Solbiate Olona. Sherman dozer

there is a very easy way to see if the Continental engine was installed on this M4A4 :

this is a normal M4A4 back engine doors area :

this is a modified M4A4 back engine doors area, you can see that the rectangular filters and a grille were added :

P-O

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