As successors
to the M31 tank recovery vehicle (TRV) built on the M3 Lee chassis,
the M32 series was based on the M4 Sherman hull. The M32B1 used the
early M4A1 with the smaller, oval-shaped drivers' hatches. The M32B2
was built on the M4A2, and the final conversion using the M4A3 Sherman
was named the M32B3. According to Steve Zaloga's informative U.S.
Armored Funnies, U.S. Specialized Armored Vehicles in the ETO in World
War II, all M32 varieties were built on existing tanks, except
for 111 brand spanking new M32B1 vehicles. Production of the versions
most significant to modelers breaks down as:
- M32
= 163
- M32B1
= 1,055
- M32B2
= 26
- M32B3
= 318
The
vehicles were introduced into France following D-Day, and some appeared later
in Italy. The
late M4A1 upper hull used in the Italeri M32 kit is erroneous. It should be replaced
with an early M4A1 hull as found in the DML early M4A1 kit, or with an M4 or M4A3
hull from Tamiya (or check out the resin hulls from Formations). The Italeri kit
also lacks a well-detailed interior, so some additional aftermarket sets and scratchbuildling
is required for a properly appointed M32 of any type.
Below
is the M32 version based on the M4A1 early small hatch hull. As evident
by the various gouges and holes in the armor, this specimen located
on the Fort Snelling military reserves grounds was a range target.
The walk-around essentially moves from the suspension to the backside
and peers into the empty engine bay, then around to various hull features
before rising to the turret and looking down into the main compartment
and the driver's area. A few things to note:
- Bolts
installed on the open side of one bogie, and broken off another bogie. Kurt Laughlin
points out the small bar in photo 1035 (row 2, photo 2) is a shear block added
to allow the use of a suspension lockout wedge on the M32. These were bolted onto
the front of the bogies to prevent the suspension from compressing when lifting
with the boom. Clearly, with the suspension locked out the vehicle's travel was
restricted. The sheared-off screws in one bogie may have resulted from using the
wedge on a bogie without the shear block—the bolts alone could not carry
the load.
- The
roller arm is secured to the top of the bogie with a separate pair of bolts, in
addition to the skid bolts; note how the bolt heads are have wires running through
them so the bolts don't get lost if they loosen
- "Handed"
idler brackets
- Shiny
weld beads made of non-rusting stainless steel filler metal amid the rusted steel
surfaces
This well
preserved Sherman TRV below can be found at the Patton Museum. It features the
HVSS suspension on an M4A1 hull. |
