Greetings everyone. I am reaching out to anyone avaliable on this forum who may be an expert with Marine Corps Shermans during WW2 specifically Iwo Jima. Please see attached photo. I am after as much information on this exact tank pictured as avaliable. I have plenty of technical knowledge of the tank, workshop information, varient etc I am specifically looking for unit history, callsigns, tank name, which marine battalion etc. If anyone could also provide scope on the number 12 inside a square and if possible colouring along with its meaning that would also be helpful. I have never seen any other photographs of this tank from any other angle. I have the tank serial number and its manufacturer infomation. Any assistance leading to an accurate paint scheme, callsign, unit history and markings would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks Regards Sherman Guy
Welcome to the forum! Have you looked through a copy of David Harper's "Tank Warfare on Iwo Jima" ? It is an excellent reference. I do not have my copy handy at the moment. I trust you know that the tank in the photo is an M4A3, which narrows it down to a vehicle of either (if memory serves me right) the 4th of 5th Tank Battalion of the USMC?
Thanks George. I have a copy on the way, fingers crossed there is some information in there. So far, i stand to be corrected, i have been told that 4th tank battalion had the bird wire cage type improvised hatch protection and the 5th had the weld on nail spikes, it was some kind of unit directive of the time. I have also been told it may be one of 4 flame tanks in the 5th on Iwo Jima.
5th Marine Tank Battalion, vehicle #12, so probably 'A' Company. The 5th Marine Division used the square tac sign.
I thought 'Oh, I'll get myself that', being in a book-buying mood this month. Errr, not at those prices. Most expensive Squadron/Signal book I've seen. 9780897475594 - Tank Warfare on Iwo Jima - Armor Specials Series 6096 by David E Harper - AbeBooks (With apologies, @Sherman Guy for not helping with your query. Good luck, & welcome aboard.) Edit: Phew. Available elsewhere at far more sensible levels. Looks like the Amazon & Abe dealers have got themselves into an algorithmic pricing tailspin.
Took a quick glance through the book before work, didn't help much. Will give a more thorough search when I get home. But, I believe it to be a 5th Battalion M4A3. They used geometric identifiers on their tanks - square, diamond, etc. Although, most were on the sides/rear of the tanks.
Thankyou for all the input so far, A company 5th Narrows things down a little further. Can anyone recommend any organisation or book detailing 5th tank battalion?
From what I have found in the Iwo Jima book for 5th Tank Battalion. However, there are several were numbers are unreadable or missing. Numbers in Square 32 31 King Cobra 20 52 Tokyo Express 61 Davy Jones Numbers in Diamond 11 Earbanger F4 14 21 Hobo 23(probably) or 33(less likely) 41
