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M4A4 s/n 5271 as found > engine restoration > engine ready > dismantling > hull restoration > fitting engine & track > hull finishing > turret and gun restoration > finished! |
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M4A4 s/n 5271 as found > engine restoration > engine ready > dismantling > hull restoration > fitting engine & track > hull finishing > turret and gun restoration > finished! |
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| This M4A4
with serial number 5271 was built at Chrysler's Detroit Tank Arsenal during
September 1942. It was allocated US Army registration number 3057081 and
was Lend-Leased to Great Britain, where it received War Department census
number T-146309. After WW2 it ended up on an artillery range in the UK,
from where it was rescued for restoration by Adrian Barrell.
This is where we pick up the story of serial number 5271: |
 1)
As found in 1985.
This Sherman was one of about 25, all M4A4, on an artillery range in the UK. This particular one, although looking good, had been hit on the right-hand side. This had cracked and bent the lower hull side and caused a lot of internal damage. The tank was situated very close to a road and this resulted in it being well robbed of parts but also it received numerous coats of paint to make it more visible. This of course protected the outside from corrosion very well. |
 2)
Loading on 6-6-1991.
This was difficult as the right-hand centre and rear bogies had been blown off and the left-hand front wheels removed. The bulldozer did cause some damage to the engine as a result. |
 3)
Damage to the left-hand sponson.
It appears as though a shell entered through the drivers hatch and blew out the sponson from the inside, causing a lot of internal damage. |
 4)
The Chrysler multibank engine was still in situ and looking reasonably
intact. |
 5)
Driver's area.
The rear of the instrument panel is still there, though the front is long gone. Also visible are the steering levers, the end of the gear stick and the choke lever on the lower hull side. The choke is peculiar to the M4A4. |
 6)
Co-driver's area.
The .30 cal mount is obvious as is the direct vision slit. The bent rod on the side plate is the travel lock for the machine gun. |
 7)
Turret interior looking forward.
Not much to see apart from how rough it was. The foot firing buttons are visible lower right. |
 8)
Turret interior looking back.
Fan, propshaft, air cleaners and oil tank all fairly obvious. |
 9)
Split and bent lower hull side caused by a large shell landing very close
between the right-hand centre and rear bogies.
This removed the bogies, bent the lower side plate, engine bulkhead, floor and sponson plates, smashed the front engine mounting and mangled much of the interior. |
 10)
Gunners area.
The breech ring is missing allowing the tube to slide back in the cradle. Also visible is the elevation handwheel and the Westinghouse electric traverse. The small box just under the cupola rim is the commanders traverse control switch. This allows the commander to override the gunner when he spots a target. |
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M4A4 s/n 5271 as found > engine restoration > engine ready > dismantling > hull restoration fitting engine & track > hull finishing > turret and gun restoration > finished! |
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Created 17 March 2004 | Latest revision 19 July 2004 | Copyright © 1988-2004 H.L. Spoelstra - All Rights Reserved |