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Abbeyman · 19th July 2009

The tank here is a Sherman Duplex Drive former swimming tank! I can tell by the fairing around the bodyline, thats where the skirt "hull" was lifted and set up so it could float; at the back there will be a pair of propellers, one off each of the track drives, the power came from each track thats why it was called duplex drive!

**phill** · 30th July 2009

Thats spot on there are two small propellers at the back and it was a floating tank well done abbeyman

Abbeyman · 1st November 2009

There are a few hulls in Normandy i believe, rescued from the depths by a french team, but there's only one complete one left which lives at Bovingdon camp in the tank museum.

Abbeyman · 23rd January 2012

The propellers were steerable. and when the skirt hull was extended and the tank was in the water, the water came to about 1ft from the top of the skirt hull! The commander had to stand on the turret to see over it and diretc the driver in the right direction.

Many of these were lost off the Cherbourg peninsula in rough sea on D-Day. They came off the transport ship and launched into rough seas which had a strong undercurrent. That pulled them further south out of range of the beach and into rougher waters and many tanks sank. many of them with their crews.

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19th July 2009	#1
Abbeyman Camping God Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Right HERE! Posts: 6,421	Re: My new car The tank here is a Sherman Duplex Drive former swimming tank! I can tell by the fairing around the bodyline, thats where the skirt "hull" was lifted and set up so it could float; at the back there will be a pair of propellers, one off each of the track drives, the power came from each track thats why it was called duplex drive!

30th July 2009	#2
phill C4U Super Mod Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Potteries Posts: 13,347	Re: My new car Thats spot on there are two small propellers at the back and it was a floating tank well done abbeyman

1st November 2009	#3
Abbeyman Camping God Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Right HERE! Posts: 6,421	Re: My new car There are a few hulls in Normandy i believe, rescued from the depths by a french team, but there's only one complete one left which lives at Bovingdon camp in the tank museum.

23rd January 2012	#4
Abbeyman Camping God Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Right HERE! Posts: 6,421	Re: My new car The propellers were steerable. and when the skirt hull was extended and the tank was in the water, the water came to about 1ft from the top of the skirt hull! The commander had to stand on the turret to see over it and diretc the driver in the right direction. Many of these were lost off the Cherbourg peninsula in rough sea on D-Day. They came off the transport ship and launched into rough seas which had a strong undercurrent. That pulled them further south out of range of the beach and into rougher waters and many tanks sank. many of them with their crews.