R975 Radials

[David Dunlop]

Interesting alternate thread on the proper operation of these engines in the Sherman Tank and Sexton got me wondering when production of the Sherman with these engines actually stopped.

There seems to be at least three different types of power plants used in various Shermans. One reads of the massive supply of these tanks leading up to D-Day and of how crews from knocked out Shermans could get another vehicle out of reserve stock so quickly and be back in action. It sounds so easy on paper, but what if you have been operating a tank for months with something other than a radial engine and the next tank you receive is radial equipped? Your learning curve for safe operation of the radial is going to be very short. Makes me wonder to what extent engine failures from inexperience took Shermans out of action.

David