I think it's a double post, there's one book.

AUS has identified himself as the author, Christian DeJohn.

Everything has to be a 'scandal' or 'dark conspiracy' to sell a book these days. Otherwise I doubt another book about the Sherman would sell any copies at all. Simply telling the truth, that the Army believed the M4 was adequate for intended role (infantry support and exploitation of breakthroughs) and that doctrine was the tank destroyers were supposed to handle enemy armor is not sexy enough for 'AUS' to sell his tome. 

Rob Gronovius

Talking about one's self in the third person while knowing others in the conversation do not know you are the third person is bad form.

 

I gotta agree with Rob on that. It is deceptive. Especially when one is pitching an item for sale.

I seriously do wish him well on the sale of this book, but it's way out of my price range personally. I'm a bargain shelf/overstock clearance/secondhand kind of guy for most of my library.

stikpusher

 

 

AUSTanker

QUICK- Somebody tell the National Armor and Cavalry Foundation that they don't exist- because their Museum is going to take up 30-plus acres of land and 100,000 sqaure feet at Ft. Benning!!

armorcavalrymuseum.org

"Our mission" to create a world-class museum to honor all our mounted warriors, past, present, and future, and their families.  The site is on land adjacent to the National Infantry Museum.

When completed, this site will be the US Army's largest museum complex."

A worthy cause- support and pass it on.

 

 

 

 

I hope they did not replace my Infantry Museum at Ft Benning 

Good luck with your book.

 

Nope its still there...just now the D.A.T.'s and stinking Cav have infested Ft. Benning like cockroaches. 

Its no longer Home of the Infantry. Sad day for sure.

Steve Zolga's book Armored Thunderbolt is one of the best books on the M4 Sherman that has been written.

The Hobbyist

Is solicitation even allowed in here???

 

My thoughts exactly.

Frankly, I know just enough about the M4 Sherman to know that it was designed with a specific purpose in mind. It was built to fulfill that purpose. And it performed that role very well when it was used in that role. If I remember correctly, that role was infantry support. That's why it was armed with a medium velocity 75mm cannon with very good HE characteristics. As far as I can tell, it was designed, built and intended for that role. I see no reason how there was a scandal.  Could there have been a better tank used? Sure. Did we need that tank at the time the Sherman was designed? Not really. The Sherman was more than good enough to do what we needed it to do at the time of design. That is not what I call a scandal. Now if you wrote a book called the Pershing Scandal... That might garner a bit more of a positive result than this book has. Maybe. There, I just gave you your next book idea. 

The Hobbyist

How about a book on the Tiger II scandal?  I mean, at that stage of the war the Germans had NO business building such an expensive and unrelaible tank designed for breakthrough operations when they were clearly fighting a denesive war...actually, a case could be made for the Tiger I being a scandal as well... 

 

So in the spirit of really dumb things militaries do, how about the Graf Zeppelin and her sister ship "B"?

When by 1943 the US had lost 4 fleet carriers, but would go on to build 12 more before the end of the war, the British had lost 6 and would build 4 more, and the Japanese had lost 4 and would build 1 1/2 more, the Germans plugged along with the fated sisters.

The steel alone could have built by my estimation 50- 60 Type 9 U Boats. Wouldn't that have been a sweet command? Good thing they didn't; might have changed the war.

Why are these "scandals" and "conspiracies" always about something western, preferably American things? Whenever somebody decides to cash in on something it is the easiest thing to do. "Dirty secrets" of this or that, "hidden/secret" whatever, but it always referes to something American or western. Can you spell boring and overused? Can somebody be inovative once for change and write someting new, say, about something scandlous  in Chinese army wepon development or Soviet/Russian army conspiracy? Anything about Iranian army scandal or something? Anything about scandals/conspiracies/dirty secrets about Israely army?

AUS, honestly, what are you up to?

Trading TOWs for money?

I stayed in Tito's Villa on my honeymoon. That guy must have had an offshore account?

GMorrison

I stayed in Tito's Villa on my honeymoon. That guy must have had an offshore account?

 

Which one? He had few  

The one on Lake Bled

Didn't you use the King of Yugoslavia's deluxe train to travel to Weich's HQ? And drank all of his Slivovitz!

GMorrison

Didn't you use the King of Yugoslavia's deluxe train to travel to Weich's HQ? And drank all of his Slivovitz!

 

Until the Partisans blew the bridge...

Slivovica- hoo boy! When I was serving in Bosnia we would be patrolling and the civilians would come out with a tray of little shot glasses full of it. We had to explain that as much as we appreciated their Yugoslavian hospitality, the US Army was forbidden to drink on duty! Meanwhile the other 20 or so armies serving there beside us were gulping it down!

We recovered WWII arms there alomost on a daily basis, doing what was called a "Weapons Harvest-" PPSHs, Mauser K98s, MG 42s, the works. The OSS was working there at one point, so would hear rumors of some GI recovering "Tommy guns," but I suspect they were really PPsHs.

Would have loved to incorporate some of these experiences into "FOR WANT OF A GUN," but it wasn't directly tank-related. But probably my most dramatic "tank memory" of Bosnia was stepping off the plane at Eagle Base, Tuzla, on day one of my lovely tour, and upon descending the airplane steps, being confronted by the bombed-out hulk of a T-34 right off the runway. You can imagination the impression that made on a Trooper just arriving for his deployment.

.

WTH let me jump in here. i am currently preparing to teach a class on LENINGRAD and the siege and a class on THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR so i am eastern campaign focused but that has never stopped me from opining.

i understand part of the problem was shipping requirements and unlaoding capability. not sure how much is a scandal, any more than the Germans putting 37mm on PZ-III when hitler wanted a bigger gun. 

we developed an entire branch called tank destroyers which weren't needed as envisioned by the time they were deployed. same with ADA.

i will look into the book. it does sound interestin.

Rob Gronovius

One of the reasons the Sherman was successful and designed as such was that it was one of the few tanks in existence that could road march for a hundred or more miles and roll into the fight. Mechanically speaking, it was automotively one of the best tanks on the battlefield.

(My paragraph break).It was developed by a country that knew it would not be fighting at home and had to make it to another land to fight.

I knew a guy, who was a member of a Volkswagen car club that restored and ran Beetles with original parts. Mine was a 63 with a sunroof.

He ran the things into the ground. One he had went 350,000 miles. Three transaxles and ten engines.

He claimed to have been, and I believe him, a member of the Wehrmacht during the war, a mechanic. He always said that they lost the war because every part number had 12 digits (his opinion, not mine), and that what made VW great was the engineering expertise that the Allies brought in after the war to the company. Canada was a major factor.

On the subject of Shermans themselves and battle damage to them, check out this link. From the British Guards Armoured Divsion War Diaries this covers individual tank casualties for a certain period with detailed damage listed, as well as photos. Sobering and enlightening at the same time.

http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/46405-2nd-armoured-battalion-grenadier-guards-gad-tank-casualties-1945/

I wonder if this is related to Belton Cooper and his contentions that General Patton kept the Sherman in service while holding up development of its replacement (T-26)?

A very interesting (but long) thread on this controversy.  I found it informative.

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=113&t=43502

Gary

Well the OP has certainly stirred interest in his new book hasn't he?

If there is some secret/conspiracy about it?

NOBUT Sherman tanks were built by Westinghouse.

I hear that there were ice cube makers in the good ones.

EDIT: and the Fireflies had tea boilers. Maybe those were Lucas, Prince of Darkness.

I just came across this Sherman site. This guy really has the opposite point of view on Shermans. He loves them! And presents a good case as to why.

http://www.theshermantank.com/sherman/sherman-tank-epic-info-post-introduction/

All great points a the Sherman.  My understanding is that many factors influenced the design and like all mass produced vehicles trade offs were made. They had to transported across an ocean. They had to work on bridges. We had to build 50,000 of them.  And they were designed for infantry support not AT roles.  We adapted.  Our best weapons against Panthers and Tigers were p-47 and p-51s.  Great discussion. 

No.... Actually our best weapon against Tigers and Panthers were the Shermans and the various tank destroyers. Plus the fact that we didn't see very many of them. Plus the Tigers and Panthers were essentially their own worst enemy considering how often they broke down or were taken out of action for reasons other than combat. Allied airpower accounted for few actual tank kills in the large scheme of things. They might have been terrifying to the troops on the ground, but being terrified doesn't translate into an actual kill (but yes, they did cause damage). They definitely disrupted the infrastructure and did account for the destruction of a lot of supply trains, but there weren't too many actual tank kills caused by Allied attack aircraft. A .50 caliber round isn't going to do too much to the actual tank, even the top of it, unless the rounds manage to get into the engine area and cause damage there. They would definitely be devastating to any unarmored vehicles and foot soldiers on the group, though. The 5-in HVARs could be devastating to a tank (I don't know as I've never looked into it, but from what I've quickly read it could penetrate up to 4 feet of reinforced concrete) but it would need to aimed accurately to have a chance of hitting it. It doesn't do anything if the spread hits anywhere but the tank. Bombs can also cause devastate tanks... If they hit close to or on the tank. These are unguided weapons so the chance of getting an accurate hit isn't all that high. I'm not saying it didn't happen, just that there isn't a high probability of it happening. 

The upcoming "For Want of a Gun: The Sherman Tank Scandal of WWII" is based on 15 years of extensive research by a US Army CAV tanker veteran; @500 pages and approx. 500 new color and archival B x W images of rare tanks, tanker gear, and scale models, from museums in the US and Europe and private collections.

I'm amazed at the passion this topic has already aroused; I'm being called everything from "Belton Cooper, Jr." to "Pro-Fatherland-" and no one's even read the dang thing yet!

All good because the book takes a fresh look behind the myths.  When you have BOTH sides attacking you before your book is even out- you might be on to something!

Thank you all for the "lively" predictions, suggestions, and feedback.

Here's the sneak preview video-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99UaCetvfXw

Here's the Amazon listing-

http://www.amazon.com/For-Want-Gun-Sherman-Scandal/dp/0764352504

PS Yes, I'm the author, a Fine Scale modeler reader since the first issues (1982) and a US Army CAV tanker veteran of service in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Best, Christian M. DeJohn

I wish you the best of luck on the book. I can't see myself spending $80 on the book but I will keep an eye out once my local libraries get them in their collection to borrow. Who knows... maybe Barnes & Nobles (if they stock them) will move them to the clearance aisle if they don't sell well within 3 years time of book release.

It looks interesting to read though.

Thanks, Brother! I only researched for 15 years and wrote it, so I don't set the price, that's all the publisher- but it's a very hefty, substantial book- not the usual thin, soft cover "typical tank book" with the same old recycled black and white photos we've seen before.  It has @ 500 new high-quality images of rare tanks and tanker gear from museums in the US, Germany, Britain,France, etc., and images of 1/35 armor models...the Army was very gracious and supportive, gave us access to their massive 400-plus rare tank collection- guess it pays to be an old disabled Army CAV tanker veteran!

The book is hefty- weighs almost 2 pounds, with @ 500 pages and @ 500 new high quality images.  I'm sure Amazon will discount it as they usually do.

I also appreciate the civil response from you and other gracious supporters! I've been an FSM reader since the first issues (1982? Remember the Bob Letterman 1/35 "Winds of War" diorama?) and been reading these forums for ages, so it's wild how much heat this topic is stirring up on a forum where typically, the most controversial post is along the lines of "Hey, who makes the best M4A3E8 kit in 1/35?"

Along with being an old Army tanker Bosnia veteran, I have an Uncle buried at Arlington who served at the Nuremburg War Crimes trials- so it's wild to be attacked so personally before the book is even out, by speculators and haters- I'm being called "Pro-Fatherland" just for trying to take a fresh look and cut through the fog, the mythology on both sides!

Best, Christian M. DeJohn

The Hobbyist

I have many things for sale as well---please PM me for a full listing...