Grizzling... The M4A1 Grizzly - Southsea

Back in 2016 I visited the D-Day museum in Southsea.

Outside the museum there is an M4A1 Grizzly and a Churchill Crocodile.

You can see the cast in thickened armour (under the star and the maple leaf) on the right hand side.

Grizzling... The M4A1 Grizzly

Previously I mentioned the T34 in "Dress up" at the IWM Duxford, there was another two vehicles there that were not as they seemed.

Canada started licensed production of Sherman tanks (as the M4A1 Grizzly), based on the M4A1 pattern (cast hull and Continental Radial Engine), however from their experience with the Ram, there were some minor modifications: the armour was thicker (some examples) and sloped more and the track used was lighter and simpler and did not use scarce rubber. The track required a different 17 tooth drive sprocket (the M4 used a 13 tooth sprocket).

They built 188. As US production of the M4 series was thought to be sufficient, production was then turned over to the Sexton Mk 2.

After the Second World War a number of Grizzly tanks were sold to Portugal. They remained in service until the 'eighties. It is this late survival which has led to their appearance in museums, as the other marks of Sherman were either lost or scrapped.

So, if you see an M4A1 Sherman, it might be a Canadian in disguise.

So, going back to IWM Duxford, here are some pictures of the example that was there in November 2015.

 This is a doubly dodgy paint job, Akilla was a welded hull tank (see surviving photographs) .

 General Steel logo on the glacis

The IWM Duxford Land Warfare hall is not convenient for photography as the exhibits are close together and poorly lit.

 Probably not an original style box.

The D-Day museum at Southsea (near Portsmouth) has an M4A1 outside.

References:
Wikipedia
Sherman Minutia page

M8 Grizzly Medium Walker

Clockwork Goblin Miniatures had their new range of 28mm War Without End figures and vehicles at Salute this year.

One of the models was the M8 Grizzly Medium Walker. Rules for incorporating the walker into Bolt Action games are available as a download on their website (it is classified as a Walker, Light Tank equivalent armour - all round, armed with a medium anti-tank gun).

The M8 Grizzly Medium Walker is supplied as a mixed resin and white metal kit.

The resin pieces are cleanly cast, with very limited mould feeds. As can be seen above, there are feeds on the shoulders and the hip joints. It was not until I examined the picture that I realised that the gun mantlet was not in the picture.

The only major work was to widen the turret hatch openings and make the hatches a slightly smaller diameter so the hatches were nearly flush.

The hip joints were pinned, and a circle of milliput provided a secure joint. The dark areas are where I painted the inside of the vision slits and parts of the body.

The walker compares well in size with the M4 Sherman tank from Warlord Games.

William Killan for scale. I should have been more careful removing the mould feed on the shoulder.

Warlord Games BEF infantry man.

A quick comparison between the M100 Comanche light walker from Westwind (SOTR).

The model will be finished as a Lend Lease vehicle in British service (as will the Comanche) when I get round to it.

Some additional shots of an undercoated M8 with an M4 for comparison.