green FOV sherman US flag

[aferguson]

anyone know what unit the green fov sherman is supposed to belong to? Were US flags seen on the sides of american shermans in europe? I've seen it on shermans in north africa and italy. Was it done in europe too?

[flyboy_fx]

No... :0 I think they did it just to remove any doubt it wasn't American.

[pickelhaube]

No... :0 I think they did it just to remove any doubt it wasn't American.

I think you are right. But for the American market in today's market.

The American flags were used on the side of their tanks during the invasion of Africa.

So the the French would not shoot at them early in the war.

After that they flag was not used.

The FOV is a M4A3 . A middle run for that series. The BBI Shermy is a LATE M4A3

[flyboy_fx]

Yep.

I always hate when they add silly things like the flag to tanks... but whatevs... it pleases the 5 year olds.. .

[aferguson]

i've always kinda liked the look of the american flag on the side of US vehicles in africa. I'd just never seen it anywhere else, except for italy, which were probably carry overs from north africa.

some modern day abrams army tanks in iraq have us flags on the side.

[binder001]

As with many FoV vehicles, it's just poor research. As stated,the painted flag was only used in the initial actions in North Africa. Due to the tensions between the French in North Africa and the British, the US wanted to make sure that the French knew that it was the USA coming in. The flags didn't help anyway, but they add a unique touch to the vehicles there.

There were some colored US flags printed on paper along with de-waterproofing reminders attached to some vehicles' windshields for DDay in Normandy. They are small but they also add a touch of color.

The FoV is an M4A3 with "dry" ammo stowage. These ended up in training use in the USA and didn't go overseas in any numbers until 1945. Oddly enough, the later M4A3s went first (mid-1944), the older ones followed (in 1945) to make up for heavy tank losses in the Battle of the Bulge.

[aferguson]

interesting stuff. Fortunately, shermans are like motorcycles and rifles to me...ie they all look the same, so i can happily use them for whatever i want. I am deliberately trying to stay un-knowledgable about the detail differences with shermans because i know that if i know too much it will wreck the freedom i enjoy.

[dragon53]

AFERGUSON:

I think Flyboy_fx got it right about 5-year-olds.

When the first FOV 1/18 Shermans appeared in Target, a poster on SSHQ said he had talked to an FOV rep who told him the new 1/18 armor were "toys" (if I remember the quote correctly) and weren't to be considered as serious collector's models like FOV's 1/16 and 1/32 armor....so the US flag is appealing to the kids.

[flyboy_fx]

interesting stuff. Fortunately, shermans are like motorcycles and rifles to me...ie they all look the same, so i can happily use them for whatever i want. I am deliberately trying to stay un-knowledgable about the detail differences with shermans because i know that if i know too much it will wreck the freedom i enjoy.

Well, I have learned the differences... Makes finding Shermans harder. LOL

[Panther F]

Educating ones self on Sherman's is NOT an easy task. There are a few I still get wrong.


- Jeff

[flyboy_fx]

THERES A BAGILLION SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT VERSIONS!!! MY FKING HEAD IS GOING TO EXPLODE!!!!!!!

[MCalamari]

Yep.

I always hate when they add silly things like the flag to tanks... but whatevs... it pleases the 5 year olds.. .

A flag on a tank isn't much different than the German roundel or whatever you call the Iron Cross when Germany plastered them on everything. I like the Iron Cross on my German armor and I actually like a US flag on my US tanks.

That said, it is often said that I've the sensibilities and maturity of a 5-yr old, so that might explain a thing or two.

-M

[flyboy_fx]

I new someone was going to say that. lol