[Would you like to see this in-game?]
Introduction
Established in early 1943, the 6th South African Armoured division was a mechanised division representing the bulk of South Africa’s heavy armour during WW2. The division was composed of South African volunteers and integrated Allied forces. Under the command of Major General W.H.E. Poole, the division was trained in Egypt for much of 1943, before being deployed into the invasion of Italy alongside the British, Americans, and other Allies.
Over the course of the campaign, the 6th South African Armoured Division distinguished itself highly, including during the liberation of Florence and battles in the Apennine Mountains. It played a vital role in disrupting German defensive lines, utilising its tanks effectively, despite often being significantly outmatched by Axis armour. The Italian campaign was an absolute hellish slog, against well entrenched German forces, but the South Africans consistently managed to do more with less. By the end of the war, the division had a well-earned reputation as an effective fighting force, leaving a lasting legacy in South African military history.
The tank discussed in this suggestion is the Sherman IB in lend-lease South African service with the 6th. The Sherman IB, or M4(105), made up the bulk of the 6th’s armoured artillery, alongside M7 Priests. The Sherman IB saw service with the South Africans from 1944 all the way to the end of the war, taking part in the famous Monza Victory parade.
Specifications
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Images
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Sources
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M4(105) Sherman
South Africa in WW2
South African Tank and AFVs (1950-2030)
Republic of South Africa - Tank Encyclopedia
https://www.saarmourmuseum.com/exhibits-cfvg
https://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/124/2019/12/6-South-African-Armoured-Division-1944-45.pdf
https://www.gf9.com/hobby.aspx?art_id=4419
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Sherman IB is not an M4A3 (105). That would be the Sherman IVB.
The Sherman IB, as the name indicates, is an M4 (105). That means it has the Wright R-975 radial engine with 400 or 460 horsepower depending on if it is the C-1 or C-4 variant.
And from the images you’ve shown at least the black and white one does indeed show M4 (105)s.
Edit: I’ve checked Wikipedia and while it’s not the greatest source ever (that to say it’s not a good source), it does say that no Sherman IVBs were ever sent to other countries on lend-lease, so it is unlikely that the South Africans ever used M4A3 (105)s.
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Fixed, it’s odd that the info on the South African Armour Museums website is wrong, unless they have a tank that they purchased after the war instead of keeping one from their own stock.
Thanks for the correction!
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It seems the SA Armor Museum talks about the M4A3 (105) in their article, but what they show is an M4 (105), as far as I can tell from other images of this specific Sherman. For example:
Images
Here is, as far as I can tell, a side profile picture of the M4 (105) they have in display. According to Wikipedia this image is from 2014, hence the worse condition of the tank.
This highlighted piece of armor is specific to the M4 and M4A1 variants. It’s basically some plates of armor that cover the radiator vents, as shown inside WarThunder.
In fact, the very video that they make available on their website, which uses WarThunder shows the in game M4A3 (105) shows how it lacks these plates of armor.
It’s the same with their M4A3 (76) article, which talks about the M4A3 (76), but the tank they have there is very clearly not an M4A3, it is an M4A1 as it has the cast hull.
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The museum article may be wrong but the plaque on the actual tank is correct. Likely just a case of an inexperienced writer.
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Although barely visible, it says M4/105.
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