Operation Infatuate II: Sherman tanks at Westkapelle

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

LCT 650 "6 Cherry":

• Sherman V Crab
• Sherman V Crab, T-148656
• Sherman V Tank, COCK O'THE NORTH
• Churchill AVRE SBG
• Churchill AVRE
• D7 Armoured Bulldozer

Sherman V Crab, T-148656, landed from LCT 650 "6 CHERRY" (source). This Crab made it off the beach and into Westkapelle, only to be flooded during the night after the landing rendering them useless. This is the Crab which would later be turned into a monument on the dyke.

It is pictured here in the Zuidstraat, circa 1945:
4ea161ce73cc5437e195430027966ec657580a2bb7381f550698441efdf14112.jpg
(Source)


Circa 1946, still in the same spot and still complete but the WD census number seems to have been painted out. Maybe because it has been struck off census?
Note the road wheel missing from the left rear bogie:
5d394a4d263d801a43308def4e102c2c91b4bc33bc46daa4bfac0a0d9480f4f7.jpg
(Source)


Circa 1947 the Crab was dragged out of the main street by ex-Army trucks: a Ford Canada CMP (left) and GMC CCKW-353 (right).
By that time it was still complete with flail arms:
bb5fbf5b92da31f75a9d3f69d011e1ff020a968c951eaabff3b746d000a02ed5.jpg
(Source)


By 1960 it had lost its flail booms and was left as a memento halfway on the dyke, on the land side:
f0d40e47afaead689a8cb55cba83eedb51c97f7c8e5811c9c026cc2da761079c.jpg
(Source)


Shortly after, T-148656 had all the flail remains removed. It was then moved to a spot on top of the dyke with a memorial plaque in front.
The turret was still trained to the right and the right hand track seems to be broken:
b6c9c5b04f14ace39a049383c80f558d9d4a0c4e8756de1bb351f6f6ada1a178.jpg
(Source)

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

LCT 650 "6 Cherry":

• Sherman V Crab
• Sherman V Crab, T-148656
• Sherman V Tank, COCK O'THE NORTH
• Churchill AVRE SBG
• Churchill AVRE
• D7 Armoured Bulldozer

Sherman V, T-147976, "COCK O'THE NORTH", Turret No. 11, of "A" Sqn HQ, was the second Sherman gun tank to successfully reach the village. Like WOLF OF BADENOCH, Turret No.10, it played a considerable part in the Commando operations between 2-8 November. After the Operation, it was driven back to the other tanks left in Westkapelle, and abandoned.

Pictures taken on 31 July 1946:
b8e7fa9927b77d83d1d4421ad9a57e726db3fa75f1e2a799cc01afdedf28cbdd.jpg
(Source)


It's name "COCK O'THE NORTH" proudly displayed on the applique armour plate on the right hand sponson:
36a8a5c3ce0d0ebbfd5e7b9095ed56f41c0cfcea9486127b10a69dc2491e9ba9.jpg
(Source)


The WD census number T-147976 and Turret Number 11 are clearly visible:
0160fdb4ee7bdc94832c1ec1a80ba89dae804a31760602d271318d8bea1de9f3.jpg
(Source)

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

LCT 650 "6 Cherry":

• Sherman V Crab
• Sherman V Crab, T-148656
• Sherman V Tank, COCK O'THE NORTH
• Churchill AVRE SBG
• Churchill AVRE
• D7 Armoured Bulldozer

The second Sherman V Crab on LCT "Cherry" remains unidentified.
Judging by the marking "CHERRY 6" on the right-hand front of the flail, it must be this Crab pictured in an unknown street in Westkapelle in November 1944:
606495c6-1ea0-22e2-86c6-4b4ce10ea1d4.jpg
(Source)

[MicS]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

The second Sherman V Crab on LCT "Cherry" remains unidentified.
Judging by the marking "CHERRY 6" on the right-hand front of the flail, it must be this Crab pictured in an unknown street in Westkapelle in November 1944:
Attachment 97957
(Source)

This is actually yet another photo of the 'Memorial' Crab T148656:

Crab T148656.jpg
Crab T148656
Source

Just the three Crabs made it out of the beach, only to get flooded during the night of 1 Nov when stationed in Zuidstraat in Westkapelle town.

The second Crab in '6 CHERRY' could not land because it was pinned down by the fallen SBG bridge which had been shot off the AVRE behind it on the LCT.

Michel

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by MicS

This is actually yet another photo of the 'Memorial' Crab T148656:

Attachment 97981
Crab T148656
Source

Thanks Michel! I had not seen that photo before. It indeed clearly shows the "CHERRY 6" marking identifying the same Sherman on both pictures.

This picture must have been made during the operation as it shows two soldiers sitting on top. It came from the "collection Hillsman, John A.B." - does that name ring a bell with you?
606495c6-1ea0-22e2-86c6-4b4ce10ea1d4.jpg
(Source)

The first picture confused me as all other pictures show it in a different location. This is the well known spot where it stayed until ca. 1947 or a few years until it was dragged away to be placed on the dyke.
Not having seen the 'CHERRY 6" marking on the right hand flail boom before, I drew the incorrect conclusion this was another Sherman V Crab.

Was this picture the source for your remark on WW2Talk forum?

Incidentally, the Crab used as a monument did not even land from '5 BRAMBLE', but from '6 CHERRY' (LCT 650)...(source)

39368203345_9806b7c36e_o.jpg
(Source)

As luck would have it, when I was typing this message a new photo came in! Courtesy of Marcel van Hoepen from Westkapelle, it shows T-148656 in front of his grandmothers house.
The marking "CHERRY 6" can be clearly seen:
28056261_547548988963450_3614043899182297204_n.jpg

I will correct my postings above, same for Turret No.22.

Thanks,
Hanno

[David Herbert]

I expect Marcel will be happy to see another view of his grandmother's house. Bet she wasn't too happy to have the Sherman parked outside for so long !

David

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by David Herbert

I expect Marcel will be happy to see another view of his grandmother's house. Bet she wasn't too happy to have the Sherman parked outside for so long !

I would be very happy - and have made sure to park it on my premises

Hanno