Operation Infatuate II: Sherman tanks at Westkapelle

[Alex van de Wetering]

What about the old trick of putting a thin piece of paper over de number and rubbing a pencil against it?

I tried to spice up one of the pictures, but I can't get a clear view.....2106 (too much space between 1 and 0 I guess), 2030, 2036???

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

What about the old trick of putting a thin piece of paper over de number and rubbing a pencil against it?

You can tell I’m not used to doing this kind of thing, because the thought didn’t occur to me at all when trying to make the number visible on the actual tank.

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

I tried to spice up one of the pictures, but I can't get a clear view.....2106 (too much space between 1 and 0 I guess), 2030, 2036???

I’ve also tinkered with the colours, contrast, levels etc. a bit and didn’t really have much success yet. I may need to try again … I think the fourth digit is a 0, though: there seems to be nothing in the middle of the number that would indicate a 6 or a 9, and the left side isn’t pinched in like you would expect for an 8.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Scan from a German language magazine showing two of the Sherman Crabs lined up in the Zuidstraat, Westkapelle, ca.1945-1946.

Closest to the camera is Sherman V Crab, "DANDY DINMONT" Turret no. 15 of 1LBY, "A" Sqn., No.1 Troop. Behind it is Sherman V Crab T-148656 which survived to this day.

Bramble002.jpg

[MicS]

Ahem, Hanno, Jakko alreary posted this photo in this very thread and so did you

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Heh, I got a notification of a new reply to this thread, read it, and thought: “Is this something that got held up for quite some time, or a new photo we haven’t seen yet?”

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Sorry chaps, forgot about that!

As for something new, here are some pics lifted off the FB page of Bevrijdingsmuseum Zeeland showing progress is being made on the restoration of the Sherman V:

180456065_3878257542210006_7282347059330099604_n.jpg 225961615_4137567382945686_4724152889658363330_n.jpg

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Maybe I should go back for another visit before they put it all back together again

By the way: note the front mudguards. I gave them a drawing of what they’re supposed to be like, explained the shape some more on one of my visits to the workshop, and they even made them with the strengthening rib that I didn’t actually expect to see.