GHQ Models Forums

I'm currently working on some FOW stuff and am basically building up a Sherman squadron based on the Sherbrooke Fusiliers, which was the 3rd regiment of the 2nd Canadian Armoured Regiment in NWE from D-Day onwards. I'm having trouble trying to find some pics and more information on the unit. What I'm looking for is the location of the tactical symbols for the unit, or if it even used them and the tanks were just numbered.

I have been on armoured acorn and a couple of other sites, but still can't seem to find what it is that I'm looking for. If anyone has any suggestions that might of some use, then please, please, please help out a fellow gamer...

Note to GHQ- not trying to step on toes here by mentioning the competition gaming.

Here are the pics that I had found.





I don't see any tactical symbols, thus I'm guessing at the fact that the SF used tactical numbers on the rear of the turret. Essentially, the 2nd CAB was classed as an 'Independent Brigade' to say the least as it had no infantry, recon or artillery support.

One of the standard ways armored units that worked primarily with infantry identified their tanks was the number on the rear of the turret... That was not true all of the time, ...and you can find units whose identification numbering system changed as they switched assigned tasks. Units that tended to work with other tank formations had large ID numbers on the side of the AFV since standard formations allowed supporting tanks a view of the side, in addition, ...each company and often platoons, had differing number styles based upon who painted the number.

The pictures you supplied may have applied to that battle alone... without information directly from the unit in question you never really know.

Will

I have purchased a book "The Royal Canadian Armoured Corps history by John Marteinson and Micheal R. McNorgan. It contains lots of info. on many of the armoured reg`ts of Canada including the Fusiliers, even some pics. My reg`t the FGH and SALH etc. are mentioned and some the exploits of these units along with the infantry they supported. This book starts and the beginning of when reg`ts were horse units from beginning of Canada up to modern armour used in the Balkans. See if you can get in your part of the country. I got my book in Winnipeg for about $70.00 . Great for references.

Thanks guys, I appreciate it. Oh and Wayne, I might look into getting that book as well.

Hey Doug,

Did a bit of rummaging in the wee small insomniac hours. As part of 27th Armoured div the Sherbrooke Fusiliers ran an M4A4 named Bomb which reputedly fought from D-Day to VE day - the only armoured combat vehicle to lay claim to that accolade. Believe it or don't!

A film was also produced about the Sherbrooke's part in the invasion, which may be available on DVD but certainly was released on VHS.

Fonds/collection: CANADA. DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENCE / MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE NATIONALE
Item number (ISN): 193970
Title: Green Fields Beyond
Accession number: 1982-0246

Description:
Film about the Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment (27th Armoured Regiment) during the Second World War. In England, prior to D-Day, Troopers J.W. "Tiny" Hall of British Columbia; A.W. Alfred Rudolph of Clairsholm, Alberta; "Red" Fletcher of Timmins, Ontario; and Lance Corporal J.G. "Rudy" Moreau of Quebec, all of the Sherbrookes, receive their M4A4 Sherman tank (Serial No. T152656) and christen it "Bomb" at the Sun Inn pub. Sergeant Harold Frutter, the crew commander, takes their picture. "Bomb" is waterproofed. Other scenes show: their mascot (a dog named Fitz); loading equipment and embarking for sea assault; landing craft N1062 2441, 1415 and others; and personal effects (letters, pay books, memorabilia and valuables) collected for security reasons.
The Sherbrooke Fusiliers land at 10.30 on D-Day, 6 June 1944. Intensive activity at JUNO, the Canadian beach, includes film shot by Sergeant Bill Grant of the Canadian Film and Photographic Unit of the first wave landing at Bernieres-sur-Mer and Courseulles-sur-Mer. Footage includes naval activity. The swamped Sherman tanks possibly belong to the First Hussars. Units of the Third Canadian Infantry Division advance, fighting through to the streets of Carpiquet and Caen; Vickers machine gun; Fitz the dog digging a slit trench; a destroyed German 88-millimetre gun; Sherman tanks in action; and Lieutenant Paul Ayriss and Trooper Ken Jeroux joining the crew.
This is followed by footage of the Sherbrookes in the fighting at Falaise between 14 and 21 August 1944, and subsequent action. It shows: Sherman tank interiors; Bren light machine gunner; 5.5-inch gun/howitzer artillery; riflemen; street fighting and house clearing; German prisoners-of-war; and the promotion of Lieutenant J.W. Neill to troop commander. A map showing the Sherbrooke Fusiliers' line of advance through France, Belgium, and in the Netherlands, superimposed over actions and the commanding officer receiving a Distinguished Service Order from Field Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery.
During a lull in the fighting in the vicinity of Nijmegen, the troopers read and write letters, then continue and prepare for a night attack on Calcar, Germany (part of the fighting in the Hochwald 20 February to 4 March 1945). Footage includes: 25-pounder gun/howitzer night firing; tracer fire; prisoners of war; damaged town; and a Sherman bogged bogies and tracks. Lieutenant Neill receives the Military Cross. The new troop commander, Lieutenant Walter White of Nova Scotia, is wounded on 10 April 1945. A tank whips up swiftly to protect his body. Other footage shows: street fighting; infantry advance in file; Shermans; Bren-gun carriers; and a M5 Stuart tank. The liberated Dutch celebrate with Canadians at "Bomb" carries on to Emden where VE Day is announced in the Maple Leaf newspaper. "Bomb" is turned-in but arrives at the Port of Halifax with the disembarking troops.



Below are some links to various places with images of said Bomb. The vehicle in question was rescued from a scrap heap in Belgium (I believe) and returned to Canada where she is on display. The quote below is related to the restoration of the paint job on Bomb drawing on the Green Fields Beyond. How accurate it is - who knows? But I thought it might be useful.

Regards

Matt

http://www.geocities.com/rifles23/BombTank.html
http://img440.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... anknh7.jpg
http://mikan3.archives.ca/pam/public_mi ... al_items=1&

"Enclosed are the full-size stencils for painting of the tank “Bombâ€￾ as promised at the Corps Conference in October. The size, style and positioning of the insignia are based on the photos enclosed and the views of the tank in the film “Green Fields Beyondâ€￾.

At least three different tanks were used to represent “Bombâ€￾ in the film, and the markings vary. I have based the stencils primarily on the photographs taken at the time the film was made.

The best procedure to apply the markings would be the traditional method using a stencil brush with a dabbing motion. There is less chance of paint runs and overspray if stenciled by hand.

The stencils are on waxed butcher paper and should stand up to 2-3 uses. You may wish to make “hard copiesâ€￾ of them on Bristol Board to preserve the style of the markings for future repaintings/restorations. New stencils can be made from the hard copies.

Some will note that these markings differ from those that were on the tank before the recent restoration. I have taken care to copy the markings as nearly as possible to those that appear in the 1945 photos and the film. The original numbers for the serial number were painted individually, and do not line up neatly. As well, the legend “BOMBâ€￾ and the bomb symbol were altered in later repaints.


1. Base Colour:
a. Currently the tank is painted NATO Olive Green, the same as our in-service vehicles.
b. The correct colour for a Sherman tank in 1944-1945 is Lustreless Olive Drab #319. The paint is available in Canada from:

Willy Acres Inc.
R.R. #2 3224 Conc. 7
Oro Stn. ON
LOL 2E0
Tel: 705-835-5739
www.willysacres.com

The paint is listed for $65/gallon or $12/spray can. 3-4 gallons should cover the tank and the spray cans would be handy to have for touch-ups as needed.
c. The rubber on the 12 road wheels is painted flat or gloss black, or very dark gray.
d. The tracks can be painted dark gray or a rust-brown colour.

2. Left (drivers) Side:
a. Apply the full-size stencil without the bomb emblem to the appliqué armour plate and stencil the markings in matt white paint.
b. The legend “BOMBâ€￾ can be traced out from the stencil in pencil, and then painted in by brush for a more authentic look. This is how it was done originally.
c. Optionally, you can also add the “SHERBROOKE FUSILIER REGTâ€￾ stenciled letters at the top of the plate. This legend was added before the tank was shipped to Canada. I did not make a stencil for this, but you can cut out the letters on the paper sample enclosed and use it if you choose.

3. Right Side:
a. Apply the full-size stencil with the bomb emblem to the front appliqué armour plate and stencil the markings in white paint.
b. The legend “BOMBâ€￾ and the bomb symbol can be pencil traced and painted on by brush for a more authentic look.
c. Optionally, you can also add the “SHERBROOKE FUSILIER REGTâ€￾ stenciled letters at the top of the plate.

4. Right Rear of Hull:
a. Apply the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade flash in three layers. Spray paint is best here as the original was a cellulose decal.
b. First, the rectangle, to be semi or gloss black.
c. Second, the blue bar across the centre of the rectangle, to be royal blue
d. Third, the maple leaf, to be metallic gold.

5. Left Rear of Hull:
a. Apply the Unit Serial (53) flash in two layers.
b. First, the rectangle, in semi or gloss signal red
c. Second, the white bar and numbers in white. The original numbers were hand-painted.

6. Optional Markings:
a. On the top of the turret, the Allied Recognition Star could be added. There are no photos of the turret top of BOMB but most vehicles carried this insignia, and it adds colour to the vehicle. The stars and circles were hand-painted in white. The drawing below shows the position and design of the star.
b. D+365 marking. This was chalked on the right side between the appliqué armour plates on June 6th 1945. I t could bee applied with paint freehand if desired, based on the photo enclosed.
c. Unit serial, 2CAB flash and Bridge Classification circle. There is no evidence that “Bombâ€￾ ever carried these markings, though they were required by regulation. I have included an illustration to show where they were intended to be located.

I hope the above information will be of use to you in completing the restoration and ongoing maintenance of this important piece of Canadian history."

miffster,

All I can say is...WOW I was actually very impressed by what you had posted. I even looked at the pictures of the Sherman called Bomb, and you know what, I didn't even see any tactical symbols at all on the sides of the turret. Which leads me to think that there were no symbols at all, probably just numbered on the rear of the turret, much like 1ComOpsCtr had mentioned. The SF were attached out to infantry units for support roles, as they themselves didn't have any infantry, not like the 4th Armoured Brigade, 4th Armoured Division, so I can understand the reason for the numbers on the rear of the turret.

thanks again, that was great.

I have chosen to go with the numbers on the back of the turrets for my SF squadron. The only thing is, is that I'm not sure who would get the #1, #2 and so on. But I am guessing that the squadron commander would get 1, the 2iC would get 2 then the first troop would be from 3- 6 and so on.