_Nice bunker you have there, would be a real shame if somebody came along and blew it up_ - M4 Sherman 105

@unclemetal8774

3 жыл бұрын

Monte python?

@cdfe3388

3 жыл бұрын

@@unclemetal8774 Let us now read from the Book of Armaments!

Living in the states and getting to enjoy these with my morning coffee is one of the best ways to start the day.

@m-egreenisland7086

3 жыл бұрын

Living in New Zealand doing the same thing 😀

@dougjb7848

3 жыл бұрын

Ending a day with a Tank Chat and a cuppa is nice too.

@jimmykimo1972

3 жыл бұрын

"Or joining one of membership schemes"...that sounds a little nefarious :)

@brettimkopp7514

3 жыл бұрын

Same here in Germany. I love to see Tanks bringing the world together. A nice Day to everyone

@dougjb7848

3 жыл бұрын

@@jimmykimo1972 Quite a nice little tank museum you’ve got here, eh? Be a shame if something were to ... happen to it. Accidents happen, right? Supposing one of your armored cars was to get ... broken...

As a teenager, I had a friend who was a Churchill driver in the Canadian army. He told me, "Ninety percent of the firing we did was hull down as artillery."

@PhilippBrandAkatosh

8 ай бұрын

if you ask me then the AVRE version was the strongest. What version do you prefer ?

The curator's chats have a lot more info,but there's just something warm about David's chats,that always make me want more of them.

@adamg7984

3 жыл бұрын

And make you wish they had all the info from Wiley's chats but the charm of Fletcher's chats.

@bubbles190

3 жыл бұрын

Because he feels like a grandfather, warm guy

@jimmykarlsson4126

Жыл бұрын

yeah he is like a sweet granpa

Until today, I was unfamiliar with this tank, but as soon as I saw the ammunition, it was obvious to me that it was a 105 SP howitzer dressed up as a Sherman. (I was in 105 howitzer batteries of the RCA from 1973 to 1986.) The M67 HEAT round, unlike the HE M1 shell with its M14 cartridge case and adjustable propelling charge, was fixed and not adjustable.

@shabut

3 жыл бұрын

Trans Howitzer.

@RonJohn63

3 жыл бұрын

"Self-propelled artillery" was the first thing I thought of, too.

@beanzbeanz

2 ай бұрын

Hello Captain Chaplin!

@abchaplin

2 ай бұрын

Hello back atcha, @@beanzbeanz. I was promoted major by LCol Bruce Armstrong while in 1st Air Defence Regiment (Lanark & Renfrew Scottish) back in 1996, so you owe me a beer! 😉

Never get tired of hearing from the moustache, or Finn's pet human. Best museum in the world.

The welded Sherman looks like it was inspiration source for the Tesla's Cybertruck, what comes to styling.

@Mishkafofer

3 жыл бұрын

You ate Right. But also, Tank body is its structure, same as cyber truck. In regular trucks, you got external panels and the real body is hidden.

Perfect timing with the HE buff lol

@dem0nchild610

3 жыл бұрын

I was thinking the same thing when I saw the thumbnail in the feed

@NovardNoodle

3 жыл бұрын

Darn I was too slow with this comment XD

@emillerner6362

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah the HE is nuts on this tank, it should be atleast 3.3

@davidestrada1084

3 жыл бұрын

You brought back the nightmares

@AtrociousAK47

3 жыл бұрын

Are you guys referring to world of tanks or warthunder? I havent played since the HE nerf, since it stopped being fun not being able to use HE derp to counter the incessant APCR overmatch spam

Now THAT triggered a memory! There was one of those 105mm howitzer Shermans in one of the field exercise areas when I was attending the USMC's Basic School (for officers) in Quantico VA back in 1975. It wasn't a display piece or target, it was just there. Maybe awaiting museum display at some point? Anyway, we young lieutenants were thrilled to see a surviving piece of Marine Corps WW2 history like that tank! One last thing, that 105mm howitzer round was referred to as "semi-fixed" ammunition. The "select your powder charge and insert the shell in the case" system was still being used in the 105 howitzers we had back in the 70's. The cannon-cockers didn't seem to mind.

Thank goodness it’s Friday. Another tank chat. Time to sit down and enjoy.

The higher the angle and the slower the shell, the better the dispersion of fragments, making the shell more effective. That's why the round was loaded with the amount of propellant that gave it the desired range for the highest elevation. The German artillery worked quite similiar.

@colbeausabre8842

3 жыл бұрын

US 105mm howitzer ammunition was semi-fixed. The shell came with all seven propellant bags in the cartridge case and the shell inserted. The commander would order the charge be to be used ("Charge Four" or :"Zone Four"), the loader would remove the shell, remove the correct number of powder bags, throw the unneeded bags out his hatch, replace the shell in the casing and load the round. In the indirect role, the powder bags would be policed up and burned to avoid an obvious dangerous situation around the firing position.

I suggest you watch this in 1080P High def and full screen to get the true glory of the mustache.

David Fletcher has, again, provided us with a fascinating tank chat. Thank you.

Nice introduction to an unusual tank. Thats why I am a Patron.

Yassss! Mr. David Fletcher is back boys! Jokes aside. I'm glad you are safe and sound Mr. David.

105 Howitzer ammo comes in two parts shell and full loaded cartridge case all in one tube with padding between them. You pull bags out to reduce the charge not add bags from some other source to build a charge Then the shell is firmly seated into the cartridge any fuze settings needed to be done are taken care of then the shell is loaded.

Bovington Tank Museum is a treasure. They have a special collection of steel beasts both common and rare. This is my favorite channel

My father had been TC on one of these with 3rd Armored Division before and during the Bulge. He said you lived in fear of meeting a German Panzer. Was delighted to be able to return to his original job as an infantry scout after a chance meeting with his old Regimental commander

@kevinyaucheekin1319

3 жыл бұрын

Was it not capable even if its a 105mm HE shell quite capable of smashing apart the the frontal armour arc of a very late war Pzkw IV J or Stug IIIG with its medicore armour quality? Is it not that the 105mm HE filler was in well in excess of 6 pounds.

@michaelnorth5215

3 жыл бұрын

@@kevinyaucheekin1319 Not in WWIi reality; perhaps in a game-designer's imagination

@kevinyaucheekin1319

3 жыл бұрын

@@michaelnorth5215 By the by, i did served in the colours, beside being a post grad of Shrivenham/Cranfield. Not a game developer or a World of tank player beside being a old boomer. Quality of average German Panzer crews were very poor, given the incapacity of the Third Riech to produce the necessary quantities of petrol to train their tank crews to match/keep up with battlefield losses. Also the German Panzer of the time in the "westfront" had almost no acess to Pzgr 40/43 rounds. I used the Pzkw 4 Ausf J very late war as comparsion. By then its tranverse was by hand crank. It was very slow comparatively to turn its turrent as compared to the hydraulic tranverse of a Sherman. By then you much more likely to meet a Pzkw IV J late war or very late war production then a more "Battle worthy" PzKw IV H. A much larger porportion of Sherman had 76s and a significant minority of British Sherman were Fireflies. Sherman were mechanically reliable and the Panther gear box & tranmission due to constraints of special high precision machine tools, scarce metallic alloying materials like molybenum, nickel, chrome maganese, etc, the lack of oil lubricant meant they were mechanically unreliable with a MMBF Mean mile before failure of 50 or 60 or 70 miles or less when you add to it inadequately trained Panther drivers. As mention overall qty of German tank armour had fallen badly by then. The German Panzer threat as a combat effective force by then very late winter 1944/45 was well spent and past. British tankers in Shermans, or even Churchills or Cronwells did not have much to fear from German Panzers not only because they massively overmatch them in training & numbers. Also because by the time 3 Armoured show up and started counter attacking, the Soviet has launch its super massive Vistula Oder offensive which necessitate the withdrawal of what few serviable Panzers & Stugs to counter it. The chronological timeline fits.

@dominicvucic8654

2 жыл бұрын

@@kevinyaucheekin1319 the 105s were issued a heat round incase they met a german panzer and it was capable of nicking out a tiger tank during the battle of the bulge which was cool

@The68Mercury

Жыл бұрын

There are only 2 men left from this Battalion. My FIL was in the 737 which is the unit I am thinking you are talking about. The have a Facebook account. Hope this helps.

I love listening to this well spoken gentleman narrator. He has a gift for just such a job.

My grandfather was a tank commander in one of these. I found a letter from his service complaining about the promotion and the new tank he was assigned, because he was concerned the larger gun would make his crew a more prominent target.

@The68Mercury

Жыл бұрын

Also know a fellow that used this tank. He is now 100 and still active. He and my Father-in - law were in the 737 tank battalion. He was Charlie company and my FIL was in A company. Did he attend any of the reunions and if not there is a Facebook group that covers their journey through the war. They have the picture and all. I also have pics of the complete unit personnel. Maybe u can find him in the group. By the way there are only 2 left of this Battalion.

@theultimategamer8537

Жыл бұрын

Well at least he wasn’t put into a long barrelled Sherman, those were absolutely shell magnets

@alpacaofthemountain8760

9 ай бұрын

Wow

I can listen to David all day, his no rubbish approach to his topic is so refreshing, cheers

My grandfather, may he R.I.P., crewed one of these as well as an M45 during his time in the US military in the early to mid 50s. That tanks name was TARFU.

While killing time playing WOT, the 105MM equipped Sherman is a favorite! Smashing results!

We all LOVE David Fletcher's Armor lectures here in Canada, GREAT Historian!!!!

The marines loved this tank, it serious firepower, againest Japanese fortifications, bunkers and trenches.

I'm a simple man; I see David Fletcher stood next to a tank in a thumbnail.... I click immediately.

My grandpa was a crew chief on an M7 preist, 5th AD 95th AFA CC R battery c. He could recite the range and firing formulas till the day he died, silver star and purple heart recipient. ..my hero.

I am glad that David Fletcher covered this misunderstood tank. Yes, this tank was a mobile howitzer, providing potent, mobile support without calling in artillery support.

Great to see you still taking good care of these vehicles considering the pandemic . I look foward to visiting the museum again soon

War Thunder makes HE shells and Sherman 105 especially strong and there is a new tank chat on Sherman 105 shortly after. Coincidence?? I don't think so. 🤨😁

@dukeoftoast2420

3 жыл бұрын

Gaijin fixed THE overpressure glitch now

@douglasparkinson4123

3 жыл бұрын

chances are, because this tank has become trending on the internet post warthunder update. this has pinged the tank museums radar, and without knowing why its popular, they still know they can capiltalise of sherman 105 popularity

@PavelKahun

3 жыл бұрын

@@douglasparkinson4123 That is one very plausible explanation. But I prefer mine. And that is, that Mr Big Daddy Fletcher is an absolute pro War Thunder player and he loved the changes so much he made a video about his new favorite vehicle. In my scenario, every time he kills an enemy he says "That seems rather unpleasant". 😁

@Kyle-gw6qp

3 жыл бұрын

@@PavelKahun The museum needs to do a gaming video! People can sponsor them, 50p a kill or something. That would be great way to raise money.

@HanSolo__

3 жыл бұрын

@@PavelKahun This is far from plausible. They have a certain interesting tanks that want to show and they show them. If somewhere else on the planet sme people play a game with some tank... Just listen how it sounds. The most possible situation is - they are closing some part of exhibition to replace it with another. So they want to cover a tank before it goes into the big dusty garage. It is just as possible as having some new piece in collection and rushing to show it

To whoever disliked, what are you doing with your life? This is one of the most enjoyable series’ on KZread

@lisandrochavez7169

3 жыл бұрын

Probably an Axis soldier on his bunker...

@2ndcomingofFritz

3 жыл бұрын

@@lisandrochavez7169 ye lol

@ptonpc

3 жыл бұрын

Often it is bots.

@Crosshair84

3 жыл бұрын

It clearly is the 105mm loaders who had to keep faffing about with the propellant charge instead of just loading the shell and letting the gunner do the rest.

@2ndcomingofFritz

3 жыл бұрын

@@ptonpc hadn’t thought about that, but yeah probably true

Thank you , Mr Fletcher .

Finaly the one i was waiting for. Thank you uncle fletcher. I love your work1

One of my favourite tanks in the Sherman lineup in WT. Thanks for making this video!

Handy piece to have around if you're infantry. If you have to fight in an urban area, you'd want one of these boys around.

I have been hoping for this video for a long time

This is my favorite Sherman variant. Thank you!

I am the proud owner of a Sherman 105. In War thunder of course

@makarov_mw3

3 жыл бұрын

Because of the over pressing of course.

@makarov_mw3

3 жыл бұрын

I’m an average sturmpanzer II enjoyer

@Damian-03x3

3 жыл бұрын

M3 lee cooler tbh.

@Mr_Bunk

3 жыл бұрын

War Thunder? I thought you're a WoT Blitz player.

@makarov_mw3

3 жыл бұрын

@@Mr_Bunk why?

Btw, someone should probably mention that you not only support the museum by purchasing items from their store, BUT YOU GET NICE THINGS AS WELL

this tank is incredibly powerful for its battle rating in war thunder

No 105mm HE shell could penetrate this moustache. This man is legend.

The M4 used a 75mm cannon mounted on the stronger 105mm howitzer carriage. Ordnance came up with a kit that allowed the barrel to be swapped out for a 105mm howitzer barrel in case the armor commanders needed one for direct fire against buildings and bunkers. The M7 Priest made use of the obsolete M3 hulls as self-propelled artillery which proved to be dangerous to use when needed for direct fire situations. The Army then had the 105's installed in M4's to provide their crews with better armor protection by fighting inside an enclosed vehicle.

I'm still so confused by Sherman variants sometimes, even having seen and studied so many with all kinds of media, and thankfully one in person. It seems like even the major variants have tons of differences between individual vehicles, differences which I'm not sure make them a new variant altogether or just a slight modification. Major variants are relatively simple. M4, M4A1, M4A2, M4A3, and M4A4. Differences in hull design, armor layout, and engines for the most part. Then you've got the long 76mm gun and 105 howitzer variants which fit into some of the major variants like the M4A3. Suspension systems were upgraded on some, front plate sloping can be different, hatches and view ports can be added or removed, exterior armor bulges are sometimes over the ammo racks, wet ammo racks were a thing on later variants like the E8... It seems to me like if you add together all the different combinations, there must be dozens of different variants! And that's not even including the likes of the Jumbo or Firefly, not to mention post-war modifications like the French/Israeli project to put an SA50 gun in one. My god, one could go absolutely insane trying to keep this stuff straight.

what an incredible state...!

Great way to start the day, watching tank chats

Hi guys, love your Tank Chats. Please can you do one on your Sherman M4A2E8?

Just back from tankfest last weekend, fabulous event and the shop was far, far better than we expected. great range of books, models and hobby supplies.

Thanks David. That was a lot of information I had never heard before.

Solution. Full charge at all times.

Great video on the model everybody overlooks. The Americans also had a WP white phosphorus round for the 105.

A cute little Sherman and some devastatingly handsome moustache. I wish the Tank Museum said something about the post WW2 Yougoslav Sherman armed with the Soviet 122mm gun howitzer. It was probably more cumbersome than the British 183mm Tank Destroyer. I guess the Yougoslav Army got some hints that everybody was going to build bigger tanks with bigger guns so they wanted to have an also run. However building such an vehicle in a country with barely any automotive industry or any industry whatsoever was doomed. 122mm Yougoslav Sherman was a Funny at best. They should have added some Stalin Organs on the turret too. The 105mm was the largest artillery piece of practical use in the Sherman tank as Mr.Fletcher explained in this Oscar winning video.

The Moustache knows, he always knows.

Thank you

Another excellent interesting video thank you for sharing.

Love this channel

I get that the shermans a big tank, but next to him it looks massive.

Loved to ask Mr. Fletcher why the 105mm couldn’t be used as a direct fire gun against bunkers, buildings or built up positions.

I see the initials USMC on the side which indicates that it was used by the United States Marine Corps. Granted USMC can also stand for United States Maritime Command, but that was the Merchant Marines responsible for ship transports and thus not a branch that used tanks.

@colbeausabre8842

3 жыл бұрын

Maritime Commission, not Command, was responsible for building civilian type vessels. Produced over 5000 hulls in WW2 - everything from harbor tugs and barges to ocean liner sized troop transports - including 2800 or so Liberty Ships, largest class in history

@schizoidboy

3 жыл бұрын

@@colbeausabre8842 I made a mistake with commission.

Very informative indeed. As always

Yea! My all-time favorite Sherman variant!

Another very interesting video. Thank you.

Another David Fletcher master piece. I really enjoy his commentary format....the tank has strengths and it has weaknesses. Some liked it, some didn’t and here’s why. Having to pack the charge in a live 105mm round for range......I’m giving the nod to British tankers on this one. Like them, I wouldn’t have liked that either. Armored warfare is dangerous enough without having to fiddle around with live ammo.

@SlavicCelery

3 жыл бұрын

The interesting thing, is adjusting the charges is what American's did with their mortars as well. I believe the current British mortars use the same principle as well. Although, that's a little easier because you're not building the charge in the shell casing. You're just putting a varied number of doughnut shaped accelerator charges on the base of the mortar round.

BIG GUN SHERMAN WOOO

The Fort Garry Horse used these near the end of the war in Europe. On 09 May '45 H26613 Sgt. W.E.N. McMillan commanded a 105mm armed Sherman. This tank was part of an experimental 5 tank troop, #4 Troop, FGH; Commanded by Lt. J. Trump consisted of 2 * 75mm Shermans, 2 * 17 Pdr Shermans, and the 105mm Sherman. It was authorized by Gen. Foster for spearheading and tank busting. Incidentally, Sgt. McMillan thought the 5 tank troop worked much better than the 3 tank troop.

My favourite tank, cheeky little blighter.

I wanted him to refer to the gun as a derp gun.

Ah, fresh Tank Chats in the AM. Better than a cup of coffee, for waking up. Edit: Really, more a bit of mobile artillery, than a tank. Sort of a hybrid between SP artillery and an actual AFV.

@MrDgwphotos

3 жыл бұрын

If you're using it largely in an indirect fire role, why bother to have it inside armor? I don't think even modern SPG's have or need the level of armor this thing has.

@lairdcummings9092

3 жыл бұрын

@@MrDgwphotos probably intended that at least occasionally it might be used in direct fire against fortifications.

Commenting for the algorithm. Keep up the great work gents!

YESSS a sherman. my favorite.

A new tank chat, nice :)

beautiful. new video as i pour the milk into my morning coffee.

Might be worth getting this thing up and running again after the HE buff!

You know, ive seen a sherman thousands, if not millions, of times, and only now something has come to my mind. Look at the shape of the hull. It was clearly meant to be a tank destroyer, but then some yank came over and went "we aint got time for this sh**! Slap a turret on top and leave it be!" And so the sherman became the tallest medium tank in history.

This was known to US troops as the "Assault Gun". The basis of issue was one per tank company headquarters section and a three vehicle platoon in the battalion HQ company. Most battalions stripped the howitzer tanks from the line companies and attached them to the platoon to serve as the battalion commander's personal artillery (think a mchanized horse artillery battery). Interestingly, HQ company also owned an 81mm medium mortar platoon mounted on half tracks (3 M21's). I think the reason for the three vehicles in each platoon is so one vehicle could be attached to each line company when operating on an extended front. Note that this is a USMC tank. The primary role for their vehicles was as "bunker busters" in the Pacific Campaign using direct, not indirect, fire.

I've often wondered why this gun wasn't used on the Jumbo Sherman. For that matter it seems as though a Jumbo version of the E8, fitted with a 105, powered traverse and elevation, and a diesel engine, would have made a very effective tank.

@TheEvilmooseofdoom

3 жыл бұрын

I think by the time of the E8 they wanted a more general purpose gun.

@dougjb7848

3 жыл бұрын

I think the added weight of the 105, on top of the extra weight of the regular Jumbo (which was already much slower and rougher-riding than regular Shermans), would have resulted in either an excessively slow and fragile vehicle, or an unacceptable reduction in ammo capacity.

@Paladin1873

3 жыл бұрын

@@dougjb7848 Let's build one and find out. ;-)

I honestly thought the 105 Sherman was made up by the company Wargaming for videogame purposes and it was a joy to play. Ironically excellent that my favourite Sherman of that game was real and that the good folks at Bovington have one

@Mr_Bunk

3 жыл бұрын

I don't like how Wargaming blurs the lines between fake and real to the point where it makes people think real tanks were fake. However, the 105 was historically never fitted to the T23 turret, so the in-game 105 Sherman is inaccurate anyway unless you want to either ditch the essential turret upgrade or switch to the 76mm gun.

@vincentrees4970

3 жыл бұрын

@@Mr_Bunk true, when I realized just how mashed together the upgrades were between real and fake it put me off, most egregious being the L71 going on Tiger 1 imo. This is why I stick to vehicles that are sufficiently realistic like the Chieftain or purely paper tanks like E50

Exact model of M4 Tamiya made as RC 1/16 kit.

Pretty cool vehicle :)

Fletch does not like "mucking about"....and that is that! :-)

The real life Derp Sherman yay! \o/

Ahhhhh, the 2.7 jumbo

Friday afternoon at work? New tank chat? say no more, I'm in.

Good show Fletch old boy..🤔

Derpy derpy!

If I were a German soldier in a 75mm-resistant defensive fighting position, saw this bad boy coming, and recognized _exactly_ what it was, I'd be out the back faster than you could say "Scheisse."

Not only a rare M4 105mm but a USMC model at that. It was the only Marine in the ETO.

*Bell Rings* "CRITICAL HIT"

How about 55 minutes instead of 5 minutes next time 🙏 Top content

Man, this thing is crazy in WT.

The HEAT shell murdered a panther through the manlet.

It might not have been that good IRL but it sure is fun in War Thunder. Both the HEAT and the HE rounds it comes with are great.

“ ..mucking about..” hahaha

Yeah that thing is quite op prob gonna get a Higher BR quite soon I hope

You didn't need to adjust the charge. You could just fire max charge, and adjust the elevation but it would be a flatter trajectory.

Didn’t know they made this

Cheers for the upload. Looking forward to the next Tankfest whenever that may be. Whats the deal with the museum at the moment? Are the doors open for visitors?

Was the Sherman 105 used like self-propelled artillery or was it more of close support? What were the typical engagement ranges?

@SlavicCelery

3 жыл бұрын

The first question, yes. It was used in both capacities. Ranges of engagement largely depend on the theater of combat. In Italy, they tended towards longer distances 1000-5000 meters/yards are pretty common. If you're in the hedgerow, or lots of western Europe the combat distances are significantly shorter 100-400 meters/yards were not uncommon combat distances. It's one of the reasons that the German's cats were not as invulnerable as the stats might indicate. Most of the time, you're going to be dealing with longer ranges in the country side, and closer ranges in urban environments. Urban conflict used the 105's quite a lot like Stug's.

Why would the Brits have such a hard time figuring out the powder charge when the 25lbr used a similar arrangement?

Please put a complete set of tracks on this tank.

i have a request for a video! you like to talk about the models and other stuff for sale from the online shop and you do a really good job at that, very inviting and doesn't feel like I'm pressured to do so, so honestly I'm just waiting for an excuse to do so but in the mean time, i think it would be cool to see a video of the museum curator assemble one of these models! or perhaps get all the people from tank chat together and all assemble a model of there own and use it as a chance to sit down a record a larger general sit down chat of tanks in general