Tank ID help

I recently on youtube watched a pretty bad B-movie from 1957 called the Beginning of the End about an invasion of Illinois by giant grasshoppers, during the battle scene there is a number of tanks (WWII era) that I am curious about that I have no idea what type they are. I thought maybe you guys could help with IDing them if you can.


First up is this line up of tanks, I know they are some sort of Sherman but can't pin down what type.
tank1.png picture by ShermanTankUS - Photobucket

Then there is this tank which appears to be a flamethrower one attacking a giant grasshopper
tank2.png picture by ShermanTankUS - Photobucket

Next is another sort of Sherman tank that I am not sure of type wise
tank3.png picture by ShermanTankUS - Photobucket

Another sort of flame throwing tank...
tank4.png picture by ShermanTankUS - Photobucket

More flame tank action here
tank5.png picture by ShermanTankUS - Photobucket

Unknown Sherman type (to me atleast) what era is this even?
tank6.png picture by ShermanTankUS - Photobucket

And lastly is another flamethrower...
tank7.png picture by ShermanTankUS - Photobucket


So can anyone crack these mysteries? Sorry also about the bad quality of the pics, hope this is in the right place, and that some good discussion could come out of it! Thanks guys!

PS. Location and dates could be cool too of these tanks if possible, or what units they are from.

 

1. Looks like a bunch of M4A3E8 ("Easy 8s"). Note the suspension and the 76mm gun. It looks like there is a canvas shroud attached to the front of the turret -- this was introduced after the war. Lots of Korean War-era Shermans have it.

2. Quality is way too low to see. It looks like a small tank, so maybe a Stuart or a Chaffee?

3. Another M4A3E8.

4. I'm guessing the tank is that piece of metal on the far right side? Again, its impossible to tell from that angle. I'd guess that it was not a Sherman -- I don't recall any models having that strip of channeling bolted on the side.

5. Again, the quality is way too low, but it looks like the the turret has a flat top and a bulge on the back -- this would match with the back view of an Easy 8. I'd guess it was that. The hatches on the turret match as well.

6. More Easy 8s. 100% sure.

7. This is a much better view. It doesn't appear to have a turret, and looks like its built on a light tank chassis. I'd guess it was a some type of artillery tractor (likely the M5).

 

Yeah sorry about the bad quality it was the best shot I could get on those flamethrower tanks though, and yes its the metal thing on the far right in pic 4th,

Thanks for the help though on finding those are easy eights in some of the pics though, the first pic I thought was strange since they looked to have shorter barrels than the ones in the other pics I posted.

So those are Korean War era Shermans then I guess?

 

No problem. The ones in the first picture don't look like they have muzzle brakes. The first two versions of the 76mm gun didn't have muzzle brakes -- these could be early production models, or could just have the muzzle brakes removed for whatever reason (they just screwed onto the end). Seeing as how this is a low-budget movie, I'm guessing they just used the cheapest vehicles they could find.

 

Well actually I think that all the military gear shown is just stock footage as the director of this movie was know for making very cheap films, I doubt he had the budget for all those tanks


If it is of interest here is the movie's trailer: Beginning of the End movie trailer - YouTube some of the tanks can be seen at 0:51, 1:04, 1:10 and also 1:20 to 1:24

 

Second shot looks like a british carrier, could be the flamethrower wasp. Same thing for the other flamethrower. Probably original film with the grasshoppers "added" in studio.

 

I'd say that's it. I actually had "Bren gun carrier" in my original message, but pulled it out because I didn't think the production would have access to one. However, after doing some research, I see that most of the military vehicles in the movie are from stock footage -- it makes sense now.

 

Wow thanks TOS! That makes alot of sense! Has the same shape and size, so that could very well be it.

I am pretty sure the US did not use Wasps though, so the director of this movie did not seem to have a clue at all over what footage to use, that's just sad

 

Its Hollywood -- everything is "just sad".

 

True that

I have also made a discovery myself check this video out, look at 2:39 to 2:42 WW2 Western Front Battlefield in Motion - From D-Day landing (Overlord) to Paris - YouTube The same footage in one of my pics! (Pic 5)
Anyone know that tank?

Found it while looking for flame tank vids on youtube

 

What i want to know is what was the first clue this might be a bad movie ?

GB

 

Heh bad movies are just sometimes fun to watch, the "battle" scene was interesting to me, which is why this thread came about.

Its fun looking at these movies and seeing all the WWII equipment that shows up for the military, whether stock footage or actually used by the director.

 

Churchill Crocodile, mate. As at 2:32.
I suspect the footage has been compressed slightly in format when making the clip, so it looks a little squashed.

~A

 

Ah the expert himself! Thanks Von Poop