- Yes
- No
South African Sherman VC Firefly, showing a common method of disguising the 17pdr - painting half of the barrel.
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 vehicle being discussed in this suggestion is the Sherman Firefly in service with the 6th. The Sherman Firefly is a British modification of the American Sherman, first being produced in January 1944. Its design, despite opposition in Britain, was motivated by the urgent need to get the 17pdr deployed on to the battlefield on a reasonably armoured and mobile chassis. By the end of the war, over 2100 Sherman Fireflies were produced, and they were readily distributed to Commonwealth and other Allied nations, including Canada, Poland, and South Africa.
South Africa generally operated ‘VC’ Fireflies, the V indicating that the Sherman is an M4A4 model. In South African service, there was generally one Sherman VC and three Sherman Vs in each Squadron of the Pretoria Regiment, Prince Alfred’s Guard, and Special Services Battalion of the South African Armoured Core. These provided the heavy hitting firepower for whenever a Tiger or Panther was encountered on the Italian battlefields. The Sherman Firefly saw service with the 6th from the invasion of Italy in 1944 until the closing days of WW2.
Specifications
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Images
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