From the Editor: Sherman Tanks of Northern Ohio

On our drive back from the MVPA convention in Cleveland this weekend, we had a chance to check out some of the armored vehicles on display in various towns along the way.  Our stops included three examples of Sherman tanks, all M4A3 models.  These tanks are located at Port Clinton, Parma Heights, and Walbridge Ohio.  We snapped a few pictures of each tank with our Samsung phone, the photos are included in some galleries below.  All three tanks are “small hatch” M4A3 tanks with the narrow gun mantlet.  The Walbridge tank is interesting in that it is a M4A3E9.  This particular Sherman variant had a suspension and drive sprocket that was spaced out from the hull to allow for duckbill extenders to be used on both sides of the track.

According to the US AFV Registry, there are two other Sherman tanks in Northern Ohio that we did not have the time to visit. One is housed at a veterans home facility in Sandusky that requires registration in order to gain access to the grounds.  The other is at a National Guard Armory in Cleveland.

M4A3

American Legion Post 703 Parma Heights OH

On the right had side of the hull can be seen the hole created for the infantry phone

Obviously, birds have been nesting above the rear idler assembly

M4A3E9

Ohio Army National Guard Armory, Walbridge OH

Oddly, this was the only roadwheel to feature rubber with these lines. All other wheels had solid rubber

M4A3

Camp Perry Military Reservation, Port Clinton OH

This sign has some problems…