Picture of the day

I saw some at Farnham in the early 70s. I think that they had replaced the 75 with possibly a 90 mm, as the barrels looked similar to Israeli Shermans.
Henry

The Shermans that were used in Canada post WW2 were the M4A2E8- twin GM diesels, late HVSS suspension and the 76mm gun. In Korea the LDSH armoured squadron used the standard M4A3E8 (with Ford V8 engine) from in-theatre US Army stocks. Interestingly, when the squadron initially deployed from Canada it was equipped with the M10 tank destroyer with the 17pdr gun. This was because they expected to encounter Soviet supplied T34 tanks. This never happened and tanks were most often used for close support of infantry, not a good place for the M10 which had an open topped turret and no co-axial or hull mounted MGs. The Israelis upgunned many of their Shermans with a high velocity 75mm gun, and finally with a 105mm gun, both of French design. If memory serves me the French 75mm tank gun was developed from the same gun which equipped the German MkV Panther tank.
 
Shermans, huh? So WTF is this bad boy?

SK2.jpg


skink


Bonus points for naming the "Shermanesque" hull this is built on.
 
That is a Cdn designed and built "Skink" anti-aircraft system using 4x 20mm Polsten cannons on a Cdn built M4A1 "Grizzly" chassis. Note the unique Cdn built track shoes. A lot of these were used on the Cdn built "###ton" SP gun mounting a 25pdr on a Sherman derived chassis. The "Skink" didn't get shipped overseas in time to be used. By that time the Luftwaffe was "skunked" anyway. Unlike the "Skink", the "###ton" saw wide use in the Cdn and Brit artillery and was also used post-war.

For the benefit of younger members, I want to clarify that a "skink" is actually a lizard, somewhat different than a "skank", although I've heard of "skanks" which hang out at truck stops being called "lot lizards". When we were young 'sojer boys' they gave us lectures on how to ID and avoid a "skank". These featured any or all of the following; dirty knees, snaggle teeth, smoker's cough or TB, pancake makeup, bright red lipstick, torn nylons, and round heels on their shoes.:xes
 
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That is a Cdn designed and built "Skink" anti-aircraft system using 4x 20mm Polsten cannons on a Cdn built M4A1 "Grizzly" chassis. Note the unique Cdn built track shoes. A lot of these were used on the Cdn built "###ton" SP gun mounting a 25pdr on a Sherman derived chassis. The "Skink" didn't get shipped overseas in time to be used. By that time the Luftwaffe was "skunked" anyway. Unlike the "Skink", the "###ton" saw wide use in the Cdn and Brit artillery and was also used post-war.

For the benefit of younger members, I want to clarify that a "skink" is actually a lizard, somewhat different than a "skank", although I've heard of "skanks" which hang out at truck stops being called "lot lizards". When we were young 'sojer boys' they gave us lectures on how to ID and avoid a "skank". These featured any or all of the following; dirty knees, snaggle teeth, smoker's cough or TB, pancake makeup, bright red lipstick, torn nylons, and round heels on their shoes.:xes

the one prototype did make to europe as was used to good effect supporting infantry, but it never got to shoot at an aircraft
 
Them "sportin' ladies" are just trouble, and very much worth staying away from.

Here's a device substantially less troublesome (at least to the Allies) and likely possessing more teeth:

http://3.bp.########.com/_fhZZ63PRjhQ/TQkEeGr6OmI/AAAAAAAACAw/xY-LLNmxldI/s1600/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-382-0211-22%25252C_Flugzeug_Messerschmitt_Me_110.jpg
 
The Shermans that were used in Canada post WW2 were the M4A2E8- twin GM diesels, late HVSS suspension and the 76mm gun. In Korea the LDSH armoured squadron used the standard M4A3E8 (with Ford V8 engine) from in-theatre US Army stocks. Interestingly, when the squadron initially deployed from Canada it was equipped with the M10 tank destroyer with the 17pdr gun. This was because they expected to encounter Soviet supplied T34 tanks. This never happened and tanks were most often used for close support of infantry, not a good place for the M10 which had an open topped turret and no co-axial or hull mounted MGs. The Israelis upgunned many of their Shermans with a high velocity 75mm gun, and finally with a 105mm gun, both of French design. If memory serves me the French 75mm tank gun was developed from the same gun which equipped the German MkV Panther tank.

Which is not surprising since the French used all the Panthers they could get for some years after WWII.

As for the Skink, just one more example of Canadians thinking outside the boxes and coming up with what was logical and necessary, rather than what fit in the little doctrinal, traditionalist design slots the British clung to like limpets.
 
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