M4A3 in Austria
The applique gives it away as a dry stowage tank.  This one has the stowage rack.

M4A3's and M4's on Okinawa  (National Archives)
The foreground tank is a dry stowage M4A3, as evidenced by the applique and the forward hull vent.

The stowage racks area possible indication that these tanks were some of the rebuilt M4A3's.  The post war manuals don't distinguish between the wet of dry stowage vehicles.
 

M4A3 75mm (dry) Germany, April, 1945
This is another example discovered by Scott Smith.  This one has some interesting features like the narrow mud guards which were for the duckbill end connectors, rear stowage rack, T51 track with duckbill end connectors, and black camouflage bands.  The engine deck may also have the torsion bar springs for the engine access hatches.  The tank is undoubtedly a remanufactured M4A3.  The clearly visible applique and the forward hull vent prove this is a dry stowage M4A3.
 

Other pages:
6th Armored Division M4's
PTO Composites
ETO Composites
743rd Tank Battalion M4A3E2
M4A1 76mm
My other Sherman site
 

Mike Canaday
7-16-01

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