Not seen these before on the Collections search | Imperial War Museums: Object description Sherman tanks (right) and Stuarts (left) at No. 1 Advanced Base Workshops, 18 April 1944. Object description Repair work being carried out on a Sherman tank at No. 1 Advanced Base Workshops, 18 April 1944. Object description Repair work being carried out on Sherman tanks at No. 1 Advanced Base Workshops, 18 April 1944.
Robert, There was also a shortage on France of grouser attachments for Shermans, which widened the tracks and help lessen the pressure, also helping prevent bogging down in wet fields. The pieces were cast locally in any workshops available as the castings were quite simple according to what I have read. As you can appreciate a very large quantity was required. Also the photographs show many different models of both Sherman and Stuart. Regards Tom
Rob - yeah it seems they were keen on using local labour. I read about the workshops employing civilians, but I didn't imagine the workshop to look like this. They were aiming to clear 6-8 tanks per day. They were based in Naples. I have looked through the 1944 War Diary (WO 170/2951) and these few pages for March 1944 might be of interest:
Great stuff! I have been trying to locate pictures of REME workshops in Italy but have so far drawn a blank. Interesting that they have difficulty in locating good local labour. The Major in charge of the 619 AFV Servicing Company based in Bisceglie noted that most of the employees were of " an agricultural or piscatorial background" Many thanks for posting
Pleased that you find the pics interesting. There are a few comments in another base workshop diary (can't remember which one currently) complaining that the unskilled labour numbers are over the saturation levels. Perhaps the locals were more keen to do one type of work over another!
They are nice photos, i understood the IWM were going to introduce further batches of photos but i have not noticed anything new since they started only the upgrade on exsisting images anyoone know anything different
