Chapter Five
Many of the Sicilian and Italian invasion shots show the tanks waterproofed for amphibious landing. A veteran of 7th Armoured Division told me that they were only shown how to prepare their tanks for landing a few weeks before the attack in Tripoli. This involved a group of men from the REME arriving one morning to demonstrate how the tank could be reversed into turret-deep water and driven out again with its engine still running. This amazing feat was achieved by fitting a cowling over the air intake, extending the exhausts to stick up skyward, and plugging all apertures with an asbestos paste including the driver’s and machine gunner’s hatch doors. The tank crews of 7th Armoured gathered on the waterline to laugh and cheer at the perceived disastrous demonstration, but sure enough, the tanks that had been water-proofed rolled down into the sea, and virtually submerged were able to halt with engine running. After shifting gear they slowly emerged until driven ashore again. 7th Armoured Division was not to go into action for the invasion of Sicily, but were represented by General Bobby Erskine and his TAC HQ on the day. However, lessons learnt provided valuable information for amphibious tank landings on other D-Days in Europe and the South Pacific.
10 July 1943 marked the date for the landings on the Sicilian coast. British Eighth Army troops who had crewed their Shermans through the North African battlefields would be ordered to press on with the offensive departing from Cap Bon and other ports with wading equipment attached to their tanks. They were expected to take the Island and then make the hop to the toe of the Italian mainland and pursue the Axis forces until Italy was free. Three days later the allied army was embedded on the island and some 50,000 Italian troops had been cut off by Patton with his capturing of Palermo and isolation of the northern end of the island. Ports and airfields were falling, and the liberation appeared to be occurring rapidly. Messina fell on 17 August and so did resistance on the island. By 19 August it was being reported that the Italian Sixth Army had lost 300,000 in the defence of the island but that the Italian mainland now only lay three miles away. The most important British adaptation to the Sherman tank is first seen in combatphotography originating after the coastal landings on the Italian mainland. The Firefly used by the British, and later New Zealand, Polish and Canadian forces housed the 17-pounder high velocity cannon in a modified Sherman turret, and the addition of this gun created Allied armour in 1943 that could at last face up to anything the Germans could muster on the battlefield and destroy it. So, how did this innovative development come around? First mooted as early as 1941, the 17-pounder design had its origin in anti-tank gun development. Feedback from battles in North Africa and the realisation that Germany was introducing ever more heavily armoured tanks called for a weapon to fight back with. The first test model appeared in August 1942, and the first towed anti-tank guns were issued in Tunisia during January of 1943. Most of these arrived on 25-pounder carriages as their own purpose-built carriages were having production problems at the factories.
The Tank Division of the Ministry of Supply at first rejected calls to mount the gun in the amply available Shermans arriving by Liberty Ship in the UK by mid-1943. However, with the battlefield pressures of increasingly powerful German tanks they were forced to re-think, and ordered some initial experimentation. After further tests the scheme went ahead. The size of the gun created the biggest problem, or rather its housing in the standard turret of the tank designed with inches to spare for the smaller 75mm gun. A new mount and recoil system was required, but the old trunnions were utilised from the 75mm in true wartime spirit of making do. The radio set was moved into an armoured box welded to the exterior of the turret. Part of the turret was cut away inside to provide access in order to stop the larger 17-pounder breech recoiling back into it when fired. A distinctive egg shaped double baffle muzzle brake was threaded onto the end of the barrel and was often camouflaged in distinctive War Office counter-shaded paint scheme as is illustrated in both this and Chapter 6.
Other modifications had to be made to the tank to allow it to operate. The crew were reduced to four from five by removing the role of assistant driver. His crew station was remodellled to store additional ammunition, and of course without a crew member sat behind it the bow machine gun became obsolete. This was removed and the aperture for the mount was sealed with an armoured plug. This feature acts as a very good method of identifying those tanks in the Firefly mould. Test results from conduct in Italy ensured they would be present for the Normandy Invasion and the order went out to the Royal Ordnance factory to begin conversions. As many as twelve were issued to each British armoured regiment for the invasion. The Firefly remained present throughout the NW European campaign and are seen in the victory parades through Holland to Berlin.
After the loss of Sicily Mussolini was dismissed from office by Victor Emmanuel III and placed under arrest with an imposition of martial law. The Allies seized on this opportunity to launch their mainland Italian assault and chose 3 September to land Montgomery’s desert veterans of the Eighth Army at Reggio, with 1st Parachute Division landing amphibiously along the coast at Tarranto. Six days later the US VIth Corps arrived in force at Salerno. The slow and hard fought climb up the length of the Italian mainland had begun. Pietro Badoglio signed an Italian Peace agreement with Eisenhower later that summer leaving the German Army to fight on in Southern Italy alone. 5th Army took Naples on 1 October and Montgomery’s 8th took Foggia to the same schedule. Italy declared war on Germany during the 13 October and increased severity in fighting took place around the Gustav Line south of Rome. With worsening winter weather the assault slowed and it was not until January 1944 that a renewed assault took on the hilltop redoubt at Monte Cassino along with additional landings which took place at Anzio in attempts to cut communication lines and force withdrawal of the German 10th Army. German resistance finally cracked in the area during Spring and Rome fell on 5 June 1944. With the German 10th Army now pursued further north and fighting strong defensive actions all the way into winter the combat again ground to a halt as the snow and chilling temperatures took effect in the Northern mountains. Spring 1945 saw the seasonally effected campaign resume once again, until a treaty of unconditional surrender was signed in May at Casserta by General Karl Wolff. Fighting halted everywhere in Italy two days later when General Heinrich Vietinghoff, Commander of all German Forces in the country agreed and signed to the same terms. The Shermans shown operating with British, Canadian and New Zealand Armoured units in this chapter largely resemble those seen in North Africa, because initially at the beginning of the campaign they were largely the same tanks repainted. As the campaign progresses the arrival of the Firefly model and later production types is recorded. This is the Sherman tank as it looked in Italy.
Intensive exercises were held along the North African coast throughout June of 1943. Difficult beach landing areas were chosen to test the durability of tracks on volcanic surfaces for Sicily would be their next destination. Here an M4 Sherman is backed onto an LCT during training. I WM NA 3513
(6 June 1943) Comparison of two tanks side by side on Sicillian Coast, Sexton 25-pounder described as a Priest in original caption which was built on Sherman Chassis in the background leave landing craft to move inland on exercise. The M4 tank on the left has periscope for driver only and direct vision slots fitted and on the right an M4A2 with headlights and siren fitted. This variant also has the early direct vision slots fitted signalling early production run. IWM NA 3511
Sherman M4A2 tank is loaded onto an LCT on 6 June 1943 where valuable lessons for the Normandy Invasion were learnt. No rear turret box is fitted to this tank, which was a usual British service addition. IWM NA 3514
Beckoned off the landing craft, this exercise improved the speedy loading/unloading of armour with a guide external to the tank who provided hand signals. It appears to be an early M4A2. IWM NA 3516
Rumbling out of the dockside area after a comparatively easy landing in Sicily during July 1943, this 6th Armoured Division M4 advances inland. IWM NA 3550
Reversed on so these M4A2’s can be driven off forward facing on arrival, the jokers harbourside have written slogans and good luck phrases onto the dust-caked wading funnels. (July 1943) ‘Get it while it’s ‘ot!’ is one slogan on the lead tank. IWM NA 3955
July 1943 and Highland Division Infantry and Armour are landed – ‘Sun Shield’ framework to erect camo netting and canvas ‘artificial lorry’ cover can be seen mounted on this M4A2 Sherman, note the use of British Infantry style helmets hanging from turret and bomb thrower mounted on turret. Sun Shield was later renamed and evolved into the ‘House Boat’ scheme in the UK before D-Day and operated on a similar line of erecting a large canvas disguise over the tank to fool air reconnaissance sorties. IWM NA 4197
Loading between 3-10 July, these Shermans are from 50th R.T.R and are Sicily bound, many have 2” bomb throwers fitted to turrets. IWM NA 4160
Taken between 3-10 July, more M4 and M4A2 Shermans aboard this Sicily bound LCT. Note the differences around driver’s hoods with casting versus welded hood, and direct vision slots fitted to the tank on the right. IWM NA 4162
The full load in place on one LCT. Wading trunks and British infantry style helmets are visible as these Shermans are loaded ready for landing on Sicily. More bomb throwers are visible on these M4A2 variants. IWM NA 4166
Clive, a rounded single cast transmission cover M4A2 lands in Sicily. The original caption only notes that ‘LCT 367 carried out its task, as tanks come ashore.’ Additional fuel and oil is racked onto the hull as are ammunition crates. Look at the camo scheme too. IWM NA 4264
Taken 10 July 1943, a good example of Siscilian Invasion camo scheme, this Sherman exhibits three colour scheme, with a sprayed on divider line, and also retains frame work fitting for Sun Shade used in the desert. Everything is in place to go into immediate action! IWM NA 4188
11 July, 1943. ‘CHU’ moving inland from ‘George Beach’ in pursuit of the enemy with the remains of wading trunk still in place, this Sherman heads down the road while commander keeps an eye out for enemy aircraft over head. (Taken by Sgt Chetwyn, AFPU) IWM NA 4369a
15 July 1943 and success is being well established on the advance through the Island. A Sherman M4A2 of 44th RTR being passed by Austin K2 Ambulance, note caked dust and the holed damage to front wing. The story behind the crew of this particular tank is told in NA4531’s caption. IWM NA 4532
Taken by Sgt Mott on 15 July 1943, this photo shows some of the British Sherman crews of 44th RTR who captured the Commander of the Napolli Division General Gotti-Porcinari and his Headquarters Staff. Shortly after this photograph was taken the crews were ordered to mount up and continue to Carlintini after the RAF had bombed. Note the sand-shield wing has been punctured twice on front right side. IWM NA 4531
12 July 1943. Narrow roads and crumbling track were hazards to be overcome for the Sherman driver in the Med. Here a Sherman M4A2 has rolled down a small incline off the road. Note jeep’s unusual camo pattern in the background. The road apparently collapsed in the dry heat under the weight of the tank and here crewmen and recovery experts ponder the task ahead. IWM NA 4550
10 July and Sgt. Silverside (AFPU) travelling with troops through Cassible on Sicily captures this shot as an M4 Sherman rolls through the huge masonry gateway to the town. Note the markings obscured by dust coating, an early armoured forces tricolour painted on turret side. The early direct vision slots and three piece transmission cover identify this as an early M4 production model. IWM NA 4581
Sgt. Rooke, AFPU snaps another photographer at work as he focuses on a passing Sherman M4A2, 12 July 1943. IWM NA 4649
Condor creates a dust storm on 4 August, 1943 advancing across the Catania Plain before reaching the hills around Paterno. A smoke discharger bracket is fitted to the turret on this M4. IWM NA 5522
5 August, 1943 entering Catania an M4A2 Sherman and deserted local tram vie for space down the Via Garibaldi. This tank belonged to 44 RTR and was cheered into the city by Sicilian civilians. It is still marked up LST 3/6 from the landing and has the rounded one piece cast transmission cover fitted. British style ‘wing bins’ are fitted to the front of the tank. IWM NA 5558
Local Sicilian children enjoy the arrival of M4A2 ‘RAJPUT’ as tanks park up in Catanian streets. Rear deck equipment includes camo netting, ammo boxes and even the mugs for a quick brew! (5 August, 1943.) IWM NA 5561
The Fall of Regalbuto on 5 August 1943. Rubble strewn streets are no obstacle to this dust covered Canadian Sherman M4 although one pictures the imagery of the dust created by a column of tanks moving at speed and how this would easily betray numbers, direction and intentions. Royal Engineers had already filled the craters in the bombed streets before the Canadians arrived twenty-four hours later and even the BBC reported that the town had been taken by Canadian Forces. In fact the Devons had assaulted the outer defences and the Dorsets and Royal Engineers were first to enter the town and pacify enemy resistance. IWM NA 5593
Submerged in foliage, this Sherman let’s rip with its main gun as an infantry observer looks on. The blade sight protrudes from the camouflage. IWM NA 5786
Landing Craft loading detail daubed across transmission cover, this Sherman M4 crew meet local villagers in Reggio. General Montgomery had observed the landings at close quarters at Reggio and had recently passed along the same road. The local inhabitants remained to cheer on the rest of the liberating force. IWM NA 6223
Dusty Canadian Sherman crews of the 1st Canadian Division check maps in Reggio during September, 1943. Note the double smoke dischargers fitted to the turret and good view afforded of the rounded steel cuff track, type T54E2. IWM NA 6241
M4 advancing onto the Italian mainland. ‘War Admiral’ the famous American race horse has provided inspiration for the naming of this tank. Pistol port is open and penant flies. Infantry are caked in dust from the traffic as usual on the road near Mileto. They race up country in pursuit of the retreating enemy. (17 September, 1943) IWM NA 6560
1C Hybrid version of the Firefly type Sherman mounted with 17-pounder AT gun, (note cast front to hull) using cover amongst buildings in preparation for firing on enemy strong-points on the banks of the River Reno in Italy on 6 April 1945. It was about to fire in support of C Company, 1st Btn, London Irish Rifles making an assault crossing. The Firefly model is illustrated in all its guises throughout the chapters in this book. It remained the most powerful version of the Sherman in British service during the Second World War. Unusual track extensions made from ‘T’ section angle iron are fitted to rubber chevron tracks, and logs are roped to the sides of the hull. Camo net, bedrolls and tarps are strapped on the rear of the deck and rear of turret displays a large squadron identification sign and additional stowage box as seen on many Shermans in Italy. IWM NA 23754
A frontal view of the same 1C Hybrid rolling into position. T-shaped track extensions and welded ammunition boxes on the front glacis plate have been utilised, a common British adaptation, to provide more external storage of personal kit. War Office designed camo pattern for the gun barrel is present. This particular scheme was specific to the 17-pounder main gun barrel on Allied tanks, and involved counter shading with white paint both inside the muzzle brake and along the underside of the barrel to the point on the barrel where the regular 75mm gun barrel would end. The idea, and effective it was, was to give the impression from observation at a distance that the tank was only fitted with standard armament. See various other examples of this W/O Counter-Shading scheme in Chapters 6 and 7. IWM NA 23755
Three point turn being conducted on narrow dusty track in order to squeeze between these farm buildings and use them as cover on the top bank of the River Senio. Note large number painted on appliqué armour patch and the destruction of the un-mettled road due to the tank. This tank of C Squadron, 18 Armoured Regiment was being used in support of the 2nd New Zealand Division along the banks of the river. Fascine carriers and bridging tanks appear in the same series in preparation for the assault crossing. IWM NA 23797
Over the River Santerno on 12 April 1945. This heavily camouflaged Sherman is probably a 1C Hybrid although it is difficult to tell in this ‘mobile bush’ incarnation. A tin can has been placed half way up the barrel, and W/O counter-shaded camouflage paint scheme with hessian wrapping used on barrel end disguises its true power from enemy observation. T-shaped track extenders are again apparent. Note the crewman sat in the additional loaders hatch cut into the top of the turret, another method of identifying Firefly of 105mm howitzer turreted variants. IWM NA 24026
North of Imola on 17 April 1945 a New Zealand 4th Armoured Brigade Hybrid 1C Firefly travelling at max speed through the town of Medicina. This town was heavily fortified by the Germans, with earthworks thrown up to block every street and anti-tank weapons stockpiled. However, not a shot was fired in the liberation of the town due to the sheer speed of allied advance. Note the counter-shaded barrel end. The three bogies have been turned white by the caking of dust! The cast and welded composition hull is clearly outlined IWM NA 24147
In the devastated streets of Portomaggiore, men of the 5th Northants, (56 British Division) take a pause in the advance. Stretcher bearers pass a Sherman mounted with single smoke discharger. A knocked out Tiger tank which had been backed into a collapsing building had been assaulted by Infantry to provide safe passage for this armour. The road from Portomaggiore led onwards to Argenta with further unknown dangers ahead. This early M4 has a .30 MG to use for AA cover and has British type T51 Cast steel track, plus appliqué armour added to the turret cheek. IWM NA 24246
Near Ferrara, Infantry of the Lancashire Fusiliers, 11 Bde, 78th British Division move forward partnering M4A2 Sherman armour on 20 April 1945. IWM NA 24365