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Hanno_Spoelstra · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jun 04, 2006 Posts: 185

- Massimo_Foti

I managed to open one door, and it looks like a radial engine inside:

Massimo,

That is indeed a radial engine.

Thanks for sharing the pictures.

Regards,
Hanno

Massimo_Foti · Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 9:22 am Post subject: Re: Solbiate Olona. Sherman dozer

I went there but, once again, we had very little time. I managed to open one door, and it looks like a radial engine inside:

Massimo

Massimo_Foti · Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 4:45 pm Post subject: Re: Solbiate Olona. Sherman dozer

Thanks, I keep this in mind.
Are those shots from french tanks?

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

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

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

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

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

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 :

TrevorLarkum

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

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

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

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

TrevorLarkum

Well done, Massimo!

Here's the original link:

Solbiate Olona

Of course it needs updating now!

the_shadock

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

Thanks for the SN !!

P-O

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