Operation Infatuate II: Sherman tanks at Westkapelle

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Jakko.
Do you know if the refurbishment is being considered solely as a ‘standard’ Sherman, or is the plan to reconstruct an acceptable external representation of its wartime Crab entity?

I don’t know for sure, but I would be highly surprised if restoration of the Crab fittings was in the works. Here’s what the tank looked like in 1962, very soon after it was originally put next to the existing memorial:



(Note the sheet metal over the remains of the jib attachment points on the front sides.)

I strongly suspect that I know how people would react if the mine-clearing gear were to be reinstated … “That’s not the Tank! What’s all that stuff on the front?”

Oh, and just for fun, here’s when it was replaced in 1988:



I’ve got scans of a whole series of pictures of that, and intend to make my own similar ones of the upcoming restoration

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Jakko Westerbeke

Oh, and just for fun, here’s when it was replaced in 1988:

Was it lifted for restoration in 1988 as well?

Here are some pictures of the last restoration: back in 1994 apprentices of Royal Schelde shipyard restored this Sherman as part of their training. The project was led by Jan Roelse of Royal Schelde, and help was given by fellow Keep Them Rolling members collectors like Peter Aalderson (parts) and Goud (transportation).


Lifting the Sherman off the dyke at Westkapelle (25-03-1994).

Source: https://proxy.archieven.nl/0/8DC83B9...DD454FF6255BA7 and https://proxy.archieven.nl/0/2FB4082...1470128CE56594


Sherman being transported by low loader to Royal Schelde shipyard in Vlissingen. The transport was donated by Goud Transport company (1994).

Source: https://proxy.archieven.nl/0/8430EC9...3B9C8F82FD10EE


The team of apprentices of Royal Schelde shipyards pictured in front of their recently completed restoration project (28-10-1994).

Source: https://proxy.archieven.nl/0/C4414E4...6D36C27D8E5E39


Unveiling of plaques on the restored Sherman tank (28-10-1994).

Source: https://proxy.archieven.nl/0/181F165...4CAA071EDFAA7E

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Was it lifted for restoration in 1988 as well?

I thought you had read my book?

It was moved in the mid-80s because the dyke was strengthened, to bring that up to Delta-height. It was shifted to the southern side of the Gap, very close to where the lifeboat station is now, and when the works had been completed, it was replaced on a rebuilt and enlarged pedestal. Not in exactly the same spot as before, but close.

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Here are some pictures of the last restoration

Cool, I hadn’t seen those before

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Update: this Tuesday afternoon, 8 December, the tank will be removed from its pedestal and taken to the restorers. The lifting will be done by a local crane company, the moving by the Dutch Army.

Needless to say, I intend to be there

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Today was the day! Went there early in the afternoon, met Hanno IRL a bit later (he’s the one all the way on the right in the first photo) and talked about AFVs, landings, etc. Then we took some photos when the crane and transporter eventually arrived, only several hours after the originally intended time

[Jakko Westerbeke]

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Was good meeting you in person today, Jakko! Thanks for the chat and sharing your photos.

It was a long, cold wait - but worth it.

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Yeah, like I said yesterday, it would have been a lot better if they could have done this in September But at least something is finally happening!

[Hanno Spoelstra]

I’ve uploaded a video of the lifting on 8 December 2020 on YouTube

See it here: https://youtu.be/vZoIQa_qBZ0

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Follow the restoration of the Sherman V here:

https://www.bevrijdingsmuseumzeeland...n-tank-v-m4a4/

Currently the Sherman is being disassembled to assess which parts need repair and overhaul or replacement.

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Now to see when we can visit

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Jakko Westerbeke

Now to see when we can visit

Indeed, let's see if we can find any remnants of the serial number!

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Follow the restoration of the Sherman V here:

https://www.bevrijdingsmuseumzeeland...n-tank-v-m4a4/

During the restoration of the Sherman V, a temporary sign has been placed in situ to inform visitors of the restoration. The sign also has a link to the website linked above.

[Ed Storey]

I like the way you guys do things, from the tank restoration through to the signage and website, very professional.

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

During the restoration of the Sherman V, a temporary sign has been placed in situ to inform visitors of the restoration.

Heh, I came here to post pictures of that too It was supposed to be a full-size version, but that would have cost too much. This one is scale 1:3, and I’m glad to see Ivo (of the Polderhuis museum — the building with the solar panel roof in the second photo) took my advice to have the “5” removed from the turret

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Jakko Westerbeke

Heh, I came here to post pictures of that too It was supposed to be a full-size version, but that would have cost too much. This one is scale 1:3, and I’m glad to see Ivo (of the Polderhuis museum — the building with the solar panel roof in the second photo) took my advice to have the “5” removed from the turret

Hi Jakko, by all means share your pictures here. The one above were sent to me by Ivo.
Good to see they are taking advice from someone who has researched Operation Infatuate II and the vehicles in depth

[Jakko Westerbeke]

I have those same photos, Ivo mailed them to me too, so I thought I’d share them here, only to find them already up. You saved me the trouble

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Bas Rijk (69) and Hans Mulder, two volunteers of the Bevrijdingsmuseum Zeeland are making great progress on dismantling the Sherman of Westkapelle. The are pensioners who spend two days a week on restoration and they plan to have it restored in time for the annual commemoration on 1st November this year.

Read more at https://www.pzc.nl/walcheren/bas-en-...dijk~adad0d5d/







See the full album here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...07840542628251

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Let me add this photo that you haven’t seen before:



It dates from July 1954, according to the caption on the back in old-fashioned handwriting, and was clearly taken when the tank was next to the old war museum in the Leitstand bunker. The most interesting bit to me is how clearly visible the registration number is inside the stowage bin — based on a photo from a few years later I had assumed it had been painted over and become visible again when that paint wore away, but you can tell very clearly here that this wasn’t the case.

There’s also a second, almost identical photo with six rather than two kids on the tank.

[Jakko Westerbeke]

This afternoon, I went to the workshop where the monument tank is being restored. The tank has been almost completely stripped.

Here’s some photos I took:



And for interest, the inside of a VVSS bogie, showing details I never knew was there:



Unfortunately, I could not find a chassis number on the hull. The vehicle data plate is long gone, and the area where the chassis number should be stamped into the sponson floor is very rusted — not to mention that the plate sounded very thin when I knocked on it, so I suspect it’s been replaced at some point previously (as someone told me when the tank was moved back in December).

There were concerns about how long the tank would last when it’s replaced. According to Stef Traas, who’s in charge of the restoration, it will be made watertight so no water will get into it, and the outside will be painted with something that’s also used to corrosion-proof wind turbines in the North Sea. This sounds to me like it should be a good solution to the problem.

I also fortuitously arrived just in time to hopefully correct the front mudguards. They had been looking at them recently, and were about to remake them as they had been — that is, flat and rectangular. I explained the shape they should have and will send them some drawings showing the real shape (scanned from a model kit’s instructions).

As for the colour to paint it, I will spray a bit of material in SCC 15 intended for models (for those interested: MRP No. 349, “SCC No. 15 Olive Drab”) and send it to the museum, so they can have the right colour mixed.

[MicS]

Nice photos Jakko, thanks!

WRT the tank Serial Number, have you looked on the rear towing lugs? It shoud be stamped there (on both lugs), but you might have to scrape the paint off, which I suppose will not be a problem since the paint job is not done yet?

See: http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_m...n_serials.html

Michel

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Originally Posted by MicS

Nice photos Jakko, thanks!

I have plenty more. If you want to see them, send me an e-mail?

Originally Posted by MicS

WRT the tank Serial Number, have you looked on the rear towing lugs? It shoud be stamped there (on both lugs), but you might have to scrape the paint off, which I suppose will not be a problem since the paint job is not done yet?

I didn’t think to look there now, but I did check those last year or the year before and couldn’t find anything — but that was with the paint on, of course. I might have to see about going back and re-checking, and if that doesn’t turn up a number, going back after it’s been sandblasted.

[MicS]

Jakko,

Yes please send me your pics! (email sent)

Thanks in advance,
Michel

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Thank for the update, Jakko!

Originally Posted by Jakko Westerbeke

Unfortunately, I could not find a chassis number on the hull. The vehicle data plate is long gone, and the area where the chassis number should be stamped into the sponson floor is very rusted — not to mention that the plate sounded very thin when I knocked on it, so I suspect it’s been replaced at some point previously (as someone told me when the tank was moved back in December).

Michel shared the webpage with details on where to find the serial numbers on a Sherman above.

I recall last December when we looked at the rear and front towing lugs that the rear ones were especially rusty. I'd suggest to go back and try to carefully file and scrape the indicated locations to try to get some numbers to show up. If you wait till after sandblasting, the numbers which may remain in or under the rust layer will have been blasted away.

I also fortuitously arrived just in time to hopefully correct the front mudguards. They had been looking at them recently, and were about to remake them as they had been — that is, flat and rectangular. I explained the shape they should have and will send them some drawings showing the real shape (scanned from a model kit’s instructions).

Thanks for that intervention. If they need them ready-made, please contact Adrian Barrell as he has made copies in the past.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by MicS

WRT the tank Serial Number, have you looked on the rear towing lugs? It shoud be stamped there (on both lugs), but you might have to scrape the paint off, which I suppose will not be a problem since the paint job is not done yet?

See: http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_m...n_serials.html

I think the best bet to find any number on this rusty hulk is to look in the driver's compartment, where the Serial Number may be stamped 6 inches (15 centimeters) left from the dataplate (as per the link above).

[David Dunlop]

Hanno and Jakko.

I would suggest using a Dremel tool with lots of brass and steel wire discs to slowly cut through the paint and rust on the rear towing lugs.

Over time, the paint and rust will have infilled the letter stamping. The trick is to clean back the paint and rust carefully from the surrounding metal to let the infill highlight what is left of the stamping.

To do that you must work the wire wheels slowing on a diagonal across the face of the lugs. The lines of most letters and numbers will be parallel to the length and width of the lugs. If you work the wire wheel in either of those directions, you risk sweeping the paint and rust out of the stamping and losing the benefit of them to highlight what might be left of the marks.

A bit like cleaning an elephant with a toothbrush, but this might be the only opportunity left to carefully examine these areas for valuable production markings. Something that should not be rushed or done too aggressively at this point in time.

David

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Thanks for the suggestions, all I had misremembered the serial number’s location and so looked in the wrong place. I will go back soon, equipped with some tools to remove paint, and check the different locations where it might be.

[Jakko Westerbeke]

We went back to the tank today and attempted to find the serial number. Starting in the area Hanno pointed out, we found nothing, but above where the data plate would have been, traces of the number did appear.



Once located, I took a whole bunch of photos of the remains of the number: straight on, from above and the sides, with and without flash, with and without a light shining from side on. I’ll put the usable ones in this message and the following ones.

As you can see, the number appears to start with 21 but the last two digits are very hard to make out. They’re both “round” numbers, though: something like 60, 66, 69, 80, 86, 89, or maybe even 30, 36 or 39. I hope our collective recognition ability and/or tinkering with images can give us a definite answer

[Jakko Westerbeke]

[Jakko Westerbeke]