Military Vehicles

Sherman Tanks played an important part with the South African troops in the World War II campaign in Italy. The following information is taken from the book South Africa in World War II, A Pictorial History, edited by John Keene of the SA National Museum of Military History.

'During November (1943) the (6th) SA Armoured Division was ordered to rest as many troops as possible in order to prepare for an attack on Monte Sole. Field Marshall Alexander visited the division on 4 November. The armoured regiments were re-equipped with Sherman tanks mounting 76mm and 17-pounder guns and 4th/22nd Field Regiment, SA Artillery, was equipped with Sextons (self-propelled 25-pounder guns). The warning order for the division to prepare for operations against Monte Sole was received on 30 November......'

Sandstone Heritage Trust has recently reached an agreement with the Armour Museum, Bloemfontein to restore an M20 Diamond T Tractor Unit and an M9 Rogers trailer , the combination being designated the 'M19 Tank Transporter'.

Between 1941 and 1945 about 6,554 M19 tank transporters were built to British specifications by the Diamond T Motor Car Company. The USA and the Soviet Union also used these vehicles. The combination of M20 tractor and 40/45 ton Rogers M9 trailer was capable of transporting all tanks then in use, so that even 30 years after the war these vehicles were still in service with Western armies including the German army.

The Diamond T was initially a marque of touring car with models up to 70 hp. The company later became known for its trucks. During World War 2, Diamond T produced a classic heavy truck in the model 980/981, a prime mover (tractor unit) which was quickly snapped up by the British Purchasing Commission for duty as a tank transporter tractor. Coupled with a Rogers trailer, the Diamond T gave sterling service with the British Army in North Africa, where its power and rugged construction allowed the rescue of damaged tanks in the most demanding of conditions.

By 1967, as a subsidiary of White Motor Company, Diamond T was merged with Reo Motor Company to become Diamond Reo Trucks, Inc.

Two Diamond T tractors with the correct specification trailed low bed units have been delivered to the Sandstone Heritage Trust workshops for restoration. This is in terms of an ongoing agreement we have with the Armour Museum in Bloemfontein to assist them with collecting, restoring, demonstrating and displaying Classic Military Vehicles with a South African historical background.

We have been fortunate in being able to trace manuals on the combination which have been purchased so that our technical personnel can restore them correctly. See this link.

On the following web site...

http://www.mheaust.com.au/IDF/Research/TT/DIAMOND%20T.JPG

...there is an excellent photograph of a restored Diamond T and Samson & Rogers trailer (identical to the one that we are restoring) which gives a good indication of what they look like when they are restored.

A model kit is also available for the M20 Diamond T low bed and M9 Rogers trailer on link: http://www.revell.de/manual/03226.PDF.

At the same time, friends in Malta are tackling the restoration of a similar trailer, rescued recently from the scrapman. Here is a dramatic photographic sequence of the rescue:

We hope to compare notes during the restoration!

One can already imagine Sandstone Heritage Trust's Mk IV Sherman loaded on the M19 Tank Transporter!

As we sift through the many pictures sent to us of all the different items that were on display and on patrol during the Cosmos Festival in 2008, we are occasionally struck by a picture that really gives one a wake-up call. This evocative picture of the Mk IV Sherman in action certainly rates a second look.

The Mk IV Sherman, which does not come out every day, was put through its paces a few days ago at Sandstone Estates in the Eastern Free State.

We were asked by the authorities to prepare a report on the border road which had fallen in to disuse and the Sherman was the best equipped machine on the farm to cope with the challenge and in any event it is the policy of the Sandstone Heritage Trust to use everything and to ensure that everything is kept in running order.

The Sherman heads out through the wheat lands for the border

Heritage - News

21st December 2007, updated 6th January 2008, 25th February 2008, 18th March 2008, 11th April 2008

To see this tank in action come to the Steam & Cosmos Festival 2008.

Andy Selfe says, " This book is highly to be recommended for anybody with an interest in this subject. It covers the history from the beginnings of Tank development and has one A-Z up to 1945 and another from that date to the present, from which the scans below are typical examples. www.lorenzbooks.com "

The Mk IV Sherman Tank that was made available by the South African Defence Force School of Armour in Bloemfontein and which has been undergoing major reengineering work for the last 8-months is now mobile. The following report has come in from Jan Fouche who is in charge of the restoration team.