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UNIQUE ID 854: M4 SHERMAN FIREFLY TANK

Museo Storico dei Carristi, Roma, Italy

(Location: External Display Area)


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Sample Photo from Tank with UniqueID 854


Unique ID: 854
Added to Database: July 2009
Last Edited: July 2009
Type (ID): Sherman Firefly (1400)
Model (ID): M4 Sherman Firefly (1401)
Location Category (ID): Museo Storico dei Carristi (5620)
Location (ID): External Display Area (5620)
Serial Number: “15981” stamped into right rear towing lug.
Registration: “EI 103109” painted on nose and left rear hull plate.
Name:
Other Identification:
Collection Reference:
Links:
References:
Associated Tanks:

Location History:
(see map)

1: USA (Country of origin)
2: Museo Storico dei Carristi, Roma, Roma, Lazio, Italy (Current location)


Text in original Preserved American Tanks publication:

[No entry]

Text in Preserved American Tanks Update:

[No entry]

Text in original Preserved Tanks In Italy publication:

The serial number, direct vision slots and vertical rear hull plate indicate this is an M4 model of Sherman manufactured by Baldwin Locomotive, probably in October 1943 (source: K. Laughlin via Com-Central). It has features characteristic of a British Firefly conversion, including mounting pads for methyl bromide extinguishers ahead of the tail lights, brackets for a 17pdr towing spring, lugs for the 17pdr gun crutch on the rear deck, remains of the weld from the bow MG plug, a British cupola, and a Number 19 radio set antenna on the turret rear; these features indicate that it was a Firefly converted back to a 75mm Sherman (source: tankbarrell and recceboy via Com-Central).
A plaque in front of the tank reads as follows:

CARRO SCHERMANSHERMAN TANK
DI PRODUZIONE U.S.A. FU PROTAGONISTA DAL 1942 DELLE MAGGIORI OPERAZIONI DI GUERRA SU TUTTI GLI SCACCHIERI. CON LA RIORGANIZZAZIONE DELLE FORZE ARMATE L’ITALIA OTTENNE, NEL 1948, UN ALIQUOTA DI TALI MEZZI QUALI RESIDUATI DI GUERRA. RESTITUITI ALLA PIENA CAPACITA OPERATIVA DALLA PASSIONE E PROFESSIONALITA DEI CARRISTI ITALIANI ESSI COSTITUIRONO CON L’INVITTO SEGNO DELL’ “ARIETE”. IL 132: CARRI LA CUI BANDIERA VENNE ALLORA DECORATA DELLA MEDAGLIA D’ORO AL VALOR MILITARE. SEQUI NEL 1951 LA COSTITUZIONE DELLA “CENTAURO”. FU SOSTITUITO, A PARTIRE DAL 1953, DAL CARRO M47. 1 CARRISTI DI ALLORA RICORDANO CON ORGOGLIO IL CARRO SCHERMAN CHE FU SIMBOLO DELLA RESURREZIONE DELLE FORZE CORAZZATE D’ITALIA. OF U.S.A. PRODUCTION IT WAS THE ENEMY FROM 1942 IN ALL MAJOR OPERATIONS OF THE WAR ON ALL BATTLEFIELDS. WITH THE REORGANISATION OF THE ARMED FORCES ITALY OBTAINED, FROM 1948, SOME WAR RELICS. RETURNED TO FULL OPERATIONAL CAPACITY THE PASSION AND PROFESSIONALISM OF THE ITALIAN TANKERS WITH THE INVINCIBLE NAME “ARIETE”. THE 132 TANKS WERE DECORATED WITH THE MEDAL OF GOLD FOR MILITARY VALOUR. FOLLOWING IN 1951 THE CONSTITUTION OF “CENTAURO” IT WAS REPLACED, FROM THE BEGINNING OF 1953, BY THE M47 TANK. THE TANKERS WERE THEN TO RECALL WITH PRIDE THE SHERMAN TANK THAT WAS THE SYMBOL OF THE RESURRECTION OF ITALIAN ARMOURED FORCES.



Images - Photographs and NavPix (click to expand or browse)

July 2009

Front left view
1: Front left view

Taken: 1 July 2009
Contributor: M. Foti
Photo ID: 1575
Added: 12 July 2009
Filename: IMG2780_...
Views: 398
Select/Has Priority: 21/0
    

 

Front view
2: Front view

Taken: 1 July 2009
Contributor: M. Foti
Photo ID: 1576
Added: 12 July 2009
Filename: IMG2782_...
Views: 221
Select/Has Priority: 21/0
    

 

Front right view
3: Front right view

Taken: 1 July 2009
Contributor: M. Foti
Photo ID: 1577
Added: 12 July 2009
Filename: IMG2786_...
Views: 267
Select/Has Priority: 21/0
    



Front left view
4: Front left view

Taken: 1 July 2009
Contributor: M. Foti
Photo ID: 1578
Added: 12 July 2009
Filename: IMG2785_...
Views: 207
Select/Has Priority: 21/0
    



Plaque
5: Plaque

Taken: 1 July 2009
Contributor: M. Foti
Photo ID: 1590
Added: 12 July 2009
Filename: IMG2782_...
Views: 221
Select/Has Priority: 21/0