±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: cgsimpson
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6645

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 537
Total: 537
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Community Forums
02: Community Forums
03: Community Forums
04: Community Forums
05: Community Forums
06: Community Forums
07: Downloads
08: Community Forums
09: Home
10: Home
11: Home
12: Community Forums
13: Home
14: Community Forums
15: Home
16: Photo Gallery
17: Community Forums
18: Home
19: Home
20: Community Forums
21: Community Forums
22: Home
23: Photo Gallery
24: Community Forums
25: Community Forums
26: Community Forums
27: Community Forums
28: Downloads
29: Community Forums
30: Community Forums
31: Community Forums
32: Community Forums
33: Community Forums
34: Community Forums
35: Photo Gallery
36: Community Forums
37: Community Forums
38: Your Account
39: Home
40: Community Forums
41: Downloads
42: Home
43: Community Forums
44: Community Forums
45: Downloads
46: Community Forums
47: Community Forums
48: Home
49: Community Forums
50: Community Forums
51: Statistics
52: Community Forums
53: Community Forums
54: Photo Gallery
55: Photo Gallery
56: Community Forums
57: Community Forums
58: Community Forums
59: Community Forums
60: Community Forums
61: Community Forums
62: News Archive
63: Community Forums
64: Home
65: Photo Gallery
66: Community Forums
67: Community Forums
68: Community Forums
69: Community Forums
70: Photo Gallery
71: Member Screenshots
72: Community Forums
73: Community Forums
74: Community Forums
75: Photo Gallery
76: Community Forums
77: Photo Gallery
78: Community Forums
79: Community Forums
80: CPGlang
81: Photo Gallery
82: Photo Gallery
83: Home
84: Community Forums
85: CPGlang
86: Community Forums
87: Community Forums
88: Home
89: Home
90: Member Screenshots
91: Photo Gallery
92: Community Forums
93: Community Forums
94: Home
95: Community Forums
96: Photo Gallery
97: Community Forums
98: Photo Gallery
99: Home
100: Home
101: Community Forums
102: Community Forums
103: Community Forums
104: Community Forums
105: News Archive
106: Your Account
107: Home
108: Your Account
109: Downloads
110: Home
111: Community Forums
112: Community Forums
113: Community Forums
114: Member Screenshots
115: Community Forums
116: Photo Gallery
117: Community Forums
118: Community Forums
119: Community Forums
120: Home
121: Photo Gallery
122: Community Forums
123: Downloads
124: Community Forums
125: Statistics
126: Photo Gallery
127: Community Forums
128: Community Forums
129: Community Forums
130: Community Forums
131: Community Forums
132: CPGlang
133: Photo Gallery
134: Home
135: Community Forums
136: Home
137: Photo Gallery
138: Community Forums
139: Community Forums
140: Photo Gallery
141: Photo Gallery
142: Statistics
143: Your Account
144: Photo Gallery
145: Photo Gallery
146: Photo Gallery
147: Community Forums
148: Community Forums
149: Community Forums
150: Home
151: Community Forums
152: Community Forums
153: Community Forums
154: Community Forums
155: Photo Gallery
156: Community Forums
157: Photo Gallery
158: Community Forums
159: Community Forums
160: Community Forums
161: Community Forums
162: Community Forums
163: Home
164: Photo Gallery
165: Photo Gallery
166: Community Forums
167: Community Forums
168: Home
169: Community Forums
170: Home
171: Community Forums
172: Community Forums
173: Community Forums
174: Community Forums
175: Photo Gallery
176: Community Forums
177: Photo Gallery
178: Home
179: Community Forums
180: Community Forums
181: Photo Gallery
182: Community Forums
183: Community Forums
184: Community Forums
185: Community Forums
186: Community Forums
187: Photo Gallery
188: Community Forums
189: Community Forums
190: Community Forums
191: Community Forums
192: Community Forums
193: Community Forums
194: Community Forums
195: Community Forums
196: Community Forums
197: Photo Gallery
198: Community Forums
199: Community Forums
200: Community Forums
201: Community Forums
202: Community Forums
203: Community Forums
204: Your Account
205: Community Forums
206: Home
207: Your Account
208: Member Screenshots
209: Community Forums
210: Home
211: Community Forums
212: Community Forums
213: Community Forums
214: Community Forums
215: Community Forums
216: Photo Gallery
217: Photo Gallery
218: Community Forums
219: CPGlang
220: Photo Gallery
221: Photo Gallery
222: Community Forums
223: Downloads
224: Downloads
225: News
226: Community Forums
227: Photo Gallery
228: Your Account
229: Community Forums
230: Home
231: Downloads
232: Photo Gallery
233: Community Forums
234: Photo Gallery
235: Community Forums
236: Home
237: Community Forums
238: Home
239: Community Forums
240: Community Forums
241: Member Screenshots
242: Community Forums
243: Downloads
244: Community Forums
245: Community Forums
246: Community Forums
247: Community Forums
248: Community Forums
249: Member Screenshots
250: Photo Gallery
251: Community Forums
252: Community Forums
253: Community Forums
254: Community Forums
255: Community Forums
256: Community Forums
257: Community Forums
258: Photo Gallery
259: Community Forums
260: Community Forums
261: Community Forums
262: Community Forums
263: News Archive
264: Community Forums
265: Photo Gallery
266: Community Forums
267: Community Forums
268: Community Forums
269: Home
270: Photo Gallery
271: Community Forums
272: Community Forums
273: Community Forums
274: Home
275: Community Forums
276: Photo Gallery
277: Community Forums
278: Community Forums
279: Community Forums
280: Community Forums
281: Community Forums
282: Community Forums
283: Community Forums
284: Downloads
285: Community Forums
286: Photo Gallery
287: Community Forums
288: Community Forums
289: Community Forums
290: Community Forums
291: Community Forums
292: Home
293: Community Forums
294: Your Account
295: Statistics
296: Photo Gallery
297: Community Forums
298: Your Account
299: Community Forums
300: Home
301: Community Forums
302: Community Forums
303: Community Forums
304: Community Forums
305: Community Forums
306: Community Forums
307: Community Forums
308: Community Forums
309: Community Forums
310: Community Forums
311: Downloads
312: Community Forums
313: Downloads
314: Photo Gallery
315: Community Forums
316: Downloads
317: Community Forums
318: Community Forums
319: Community Forums
320: Community Forums
321: Community Forums
322: Photo Gallery
323: Community Forums
324: Community Forums
325: Community Forums
326: Your Account
327: Photo Gallery
328: Downloads
329: Community Forums
330: Community Forums
331: Community Forums
332: Community Forums
333: Community Forums
334: Photo Gallery
335: Community Forums
336: Community Forums
337: Community Forums
338: Downloads
339: Photo Gallery
340: Photo Gallery
341: Downloads
342: Community Forums
343: Community Forums
344: Community Forums
345: Community Forums
346: Home
347: Community Forums
348: Photo Gallery
349: Community Forums
350: CPGlang
351: Community Forums
352: Home
353: Community Forums
354: Community Forums
355: Community Forums
356: Search
357: Community Forums
358: Member Screenshots
359: Downloads
360: Downloads
361: Community Forums
362: Community Forums
363: Photo Gallery
364: Community Forums
365: Community Forums
366: Community Forums
367: Photo Gallery
368: Home
369: Community Forums
370: Member Screenshots
371: Community Forums
372: Community Forums
373: Community Forums
374: Downloads
375: Statistics
376: Photo Gallery
377: Community Forums
378: Community Forums
379: Home
380: Community Forums
381: Photo Gallery
382: Community Forums
383: Community Forums
384: Photo Gallery
385: Photo Gallery
386: Community Forums
387: Community Forums
388: Community Forums
389: Community Forums
390: Community Forums
391: Photo Gallery
392: Community Forums
393: Home
394: Community Forums
395: Photo Gallery
396: Community Forums
397: Community Forums
398: Community Forums
399: Community Forums
400: Member Screenshots
401: Community Forums
402: Home
403: Your Account
404: Community Forums
405: Community Forums
406: Community Forums
407: Photo Gallery
408: Your Account
409: CPGlang
410: Photo Gallery
411: Downloads
412: Photo Gallery
413: Community Forums
414: Downloads
415: Community Forums
416: Photo Gallery
417: Community Forums
418: Home
419: Community Forums
420: Community Forums
421: Community Forums
422: Community Forums
423: Downloads
424: Home
425: Home
426: Community Forums
427: Community Forums
428: Community Forums
429: Community Forums
430: Photo Gallery
431: Community Forums
432: Downloads
433: Community Forums
434: Community Forums
435: Downloads
436: Community Forums
437: Community Forums
438: Member Screenshots
439: Home
440: Photo Gallery
441: Community Forums
442: Community Forums
443: Community Forums
444: Photo Gallery
445: Community Forums
446: Community Forums
447: Community Forums
448: Photo Gallery
449: CPGlang
450: Community Forums
451: Home
452: Community Forums
453: Photo Gallery
454: Community Forums
455: Community Forums
456: Community Forums
457: Home
458: Community Forums
459: Community Forums
460: Community Forums
461: Community Forums
462: Community Forums
463: Community Forums
464: Community Forums
465: Community Forums
466: Photo Gallery
467: CPGlang
468: Statistics
469: Downloads
470: Community Forums
471: Community Forums
472: Community Forums
473: Community Forums
474: Community Forums
475: Photo Gallery
476: Community Forums
477: Community Forums
478: Community Forums
479: Member Screenshots
480: Community Forums
481: Community Forums
482: Community Forums
483: Home
484: CPGlang
485: CPGlang
486: Community Forums
487: Community Forums
488: Community Forums
489: Photo Gallery
490: Home
491: Community Forums
492: Community Forums
493: Community Forums
494: CPGlang
495: CPGlang
496: Community Forums
497: Community Forums
498: Community Forums
499: Community Forums
500: Photo Gallery
501: Community Forums
502: Your Account
503: Photo Gallery
504: Community Forums
505: Community Forums
506: Community Forums
507: Community Forums
508: CPGlang
509: Home
510: Community Forums
511: Community Forums
512: Community Forums
513: Downloads
514: Community Forums
515: Community Forums
516: Community Forums
517: Community Forums
518: Photo Gallery
519: Photo Gallery
520: Community Forums
521: Your Account
522: Downloads
523: Community Forums
524: CPGlang
525: Downloads
526: CPGlang
527: Community Forums
528: Community Forums
529: CPGlang
530: Community Forums
531: Community Forums
532: Community Forums
533: Community Forums
534: Community Forums
535: Photo Gallery
536: Community Forums
537: Home

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
Solbiate Olona. Sherman dozer
The AFV ASSOCIATION was formed in 1964 to support the thoughts and research of all those interested in Armored Fighting Vehicles and related topics, such as AFV drawings. The emphasis has always been on sharing information and communicating with other members of similar interests; e.g. German armor, Japanese AFVs, or whatever.
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board

View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Massimo_Foti
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 08, 2008
Posts: 5397
Location: Lugano, Switzerland
PostPosted: 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


Last edited by Massimo_Foti on Thu Aug 19, 2010 8:57 am; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile
L.Delsing
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Feb 10, 2006
Posts: 960

PostPosted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 8:19 pm
Post subject: Re: Solbiate Olona. Sherman dozer?

Hello Massimo,
What was the name of the barracks and what were the other tanks?
Regards,
Lesley
Back to top
View user's profile
Massimo_Foti
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 08, 2008
Posts: 5397
Location: Lugano, Switzerland
PostPosted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 8:33 pm
Post subject: Re: Solbiate Olona. Sherman dozer?

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
Back to top
View user's profile
the_shadock
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: May 27, 2006
Posts: 2865
Location: Normandy, France
PostPosted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 8:34 pm
Post subject: Re: Solbiate Olona. Sherman dozer?

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

Thanks for the SN !!

P-O

_________________
soldat_ryan @ hotmail.com

Looking for photos of Sherman manufacturer's plates
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website MSN Messenger
TrevorLarkum
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Sep 16, 2007
Posts: 1596
Location: Northampton, England
PostPosted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 9:22 pm
Post subject: Re: Solbiate Olona. Sherman dozer?

Well done, Massimo!

Here's the original link:

Solbiate Olona

Of course it needs updating now!

_________________
Trevor

Dr Trevor Larkum
Preserved Tanks: PreservedTanks.com
Armour Archive: ArmourArchive.co.uk
EVs
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website
Massimo_Foti
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 08, 2008
Posts: 5397
Location: Lugano, Switzerland
PostPosted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 9:56 pm
Post subject: Re: Solbiate Olona. Sherman dozer?

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
Back to top
View user's profile
the_shadock
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: May 27, 2006
Posts: 2865
Location: Normandy, France
PostPosted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 9:28 pm
Post subject: Re: Solbiate Olona. Sherman dozer?

- 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

_________________
soldat_ryan @ hotmail.com

Looking for photos of Sherman manufacturer's plates
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website MSN Messenger
Massimo_Foti
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 08, 2008
Posts: 5397
Location: Lugano, Switzerland
PostPosted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 7:24 am
Post subject: Re: Solbiate Olona. Sherman dozer?

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
Back to top
View user's profile
TrevorLarkum
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Sep 16, 2007
Posts: 1596
Location: Northampton, England
PostPosted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 11:11 am
Post subject: Re: Solbiate Olona. Sherman dozer?

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

_________________
Trevor

Dr Trevor Larkum
Preserved Tanks: PreservedTanks.com
Armour Archive: ArmourArchive.co.uk
EVs
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website
the_shadock
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: May 27, 2006
Posts: 2865
Location: Normandy, France
PostPosted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 7:31 pm
Post subject: Re: Solbiate Olona. Sherman dozer?

- 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 :


_________________
soldat_ryan @ hotmail.com

Looking for photos of Sherman manufacturer's plates
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website MSN Messenger
Massimo_Foti
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 08, 2008
Posts: 5397
Location: Lugano, Switzerland
PostPosted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 11:15 pm
Post subject: Re: Solbiate Olona. Sherman dozer?

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
Back to top
View user's profile
giacomo415
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jun 06, 2006
Posts: 26
Location: Sardinia - Italy
PostPosted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 11:14 am
Post subject: Re: Solbiate Olona. Sherman dozer?

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
Back to top
View user's profile
Massimo_Foti
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 08, 2008
Posts: 5397
Location: Lugano, Switzerland
PostPosted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 11:30 am
Post subject: Re: Solbiate Olona. Sherman dozer?

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
Back to top
View user's profile
Massimo_Foti
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 08, 2008
Posts: 5397
Location: Lugano, Switzerland
PostPosted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 8:56 am
Post subject: Re: Solbiate Olona. Sherman dozer?

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
Back to top
View user's profile
the_shadock
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: May 27, 2006
Posts: 2865
Location: Normandy, France
PostPosted: 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

_________________
soldat_ryan @ hotmail.com

Looking for photos of Sherman manufacturer's plates
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website MSN Messenger
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board
Page 1 of 2
All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Go to page 1, 2  Next



Jump to:  


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum