The unit organization of 186 Sherman tanks in an Armored Division is subject to many variables.
One of them is the availability of the M4 Sherman with 105mm howitzer.
In North Africa they used the T19 105mm howitzer mounted on the M3 Halftrack instead.
Some of these units went on into Italy and later Southern France with the T19 halftrack rather than the Sherman 105mm howitzer.
Others used the Priest 105mm howitzer and I think some of these landed at Normandy or soon afterwards.
So while you got 186 Shermans some might actually be M7 Priest, or T19 halftracks. And of course in North Africa the US started with Lee tanks which saw only limited combat before replacement. Also in North Africa the Armored Division had a different organization above company level, so much was different there.
2 comments:
From what I can recall, the M4(105) wasn't accepted into service until early 1944 which is why they weren't used in North Africa or the early stages on the Italian campaign. It's likely that insufficient numbers had arrived in time to equip and train crews for Overlord but might have had them in time for Anvil/Dragoon.
I imagine that as they arrived and crew were trained they replaced the M7 Priests and half-track gun carriages in units.
That's kind of what I have gleaned but firm dates and numbers seem elusive.
Research never ceases however.
Thanks for commenting TamsinP.
Bunkermeister
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