Sherman "Comb Device"

[Greg Heilers]

Hey everyone,

Can anyone provide the definitive answer, as to what the small,
sheet metal "comb device", on the Sherman glasis was for?

Coming from the world of model builders, we jokingly suggest it
was an ammusing "prank" by some WWII jokesters:

"Hey Joe, let's weld this little metal dealie on all the Shermans.
That way, in 50 years, we can really screw with minds of model
builders!"

:o)
--
Greg Heilers
SlackWare Linux user
Registered Linux User #328317
.....

"The way I see it, I figure the YANKEES had
something to do with it."

- Maj. Gen. George Pickett, when asked
where the fault lie for the Confederacy's
loss at Gettysburg
--

[Cliff E.]

Could it have been heavy piece scrap iron called a "Hedge Chopper" Quickly
made easily bolted or welded to the front and could mash through a hedge row
in seconds Especially after the handfull of bulldozer tanks got toasted
early in the normandy invasion.

[ERHarvey]

Can anyone provide the definitive answer, as to what the small,
sheet metal "comb device", on the Sherman glasis was for?

It was a "Cullin" (sp?) hedgerow cutter device....used for cutting through
hedges (bocage) in Normandy.

Post by Greg Heilers
Coming from the world of model builders, we jokingly suggest it
"Hey Joe, let's weld this little metal dealie on all the Shermans.

That way, in 50 years, we can really screw with minds of model
builders!"

Hmm; I would have thought that model builders would have been more
knowledgeable
about such things. As far as WW2 trivia goes, that was a pretty simple one.
:-)

Here's a better question for you:

What did the three red numbers on the sides of German tanks mean?

(answer: company, platoon, vehicle, in that order).

[Greg Heilers]

Post by Greg Heilers
Can anyone provide the definitive answer, as to what the small,
sheet metal "comb device", on the Sherman glasis was for?

Okay...a little clarification. It is more accurate to say that
the comb device was actually on the transmission housing.

See details:


http://web.inter.nl.net/users/spoelstra/g104/comb.htm
--
Greg Heilers
SlackWare Linux user
Registered Linux User #328317
.....

"The way I see it, I figure the YANKEES had
something to do with it."

- Maj. Gen. George Pickett, when asked
where the fault lie for the Confederacy's
loss at Gettysburg
--

[Martin Rapier]

"Greg Heilers" <***@earthNOSPAMlink.net> wrote in message
news:bl7ejg$1rp4

Post by Greg Heilers

Post by Greg Heilers
Can anyone provide the definitive answer, as to what the small,
sheet metal "comb device", on the Sherman glasis was for?

Okay...a little clarification. It is more accurate to say that
the comb device was actually on the transmission housing.

My first thought was a Cullin hedge cutter as well, but a quick peer at some
of my own model Shermans revealed the mysterious 'comb' device.

Post by Greg Heilers
http://web.inter.nl.net/users/spoelstra/g104/comb.htm

Pure speculation but this looks a like a lashing point for
wires/cables/ropes for stowage, especially the first close up photo which
are so obviously cable lashing points.

This seems to support the 'shipping brake lock' theory!

Cheers
Martin

[Nigel Whittington]

Post by Martin Rapier
news:bl7ejg$1rp4

Post by Greg Heilers

Post by Greg Heilers
Can anyone provide the definitive answer, as to what the small,
sheet metal "comb device", on the Sherman glasis was for?

Okay...a little clarification. It is more accurate to say that
the comb device was actually on the transmission housing.

My first thought was a Cullin hedge cutter as well, but a quick peer at some
of my own model Shermans revealed the mysterious 'comb' device.

Post by Greg Heilers
http://web.inter.nl.net/users/spoelstra/g104/comb.htm

Pure speculation but this looks a like a lashing point for
wires/cables/ropes for stowage, especially the first close up photo which
are so obviously cable lashing points.
This seems to support the 'shipping brake lock' theory!

I seem to remember a detailed study of Shermans (and similar hulled
AFVs) which said this was to attach a cable which was used to lock the
brakes once the tank had been loaded onto a ship/flatbed etc.
Presumably it was passed out of the drivers hatch. If you look at the
photo of the one made out of steel rods you will see that it curves
forward, which would fit the idea that it is to attach something
pulling towards the rear of the tank, as a rope into the drivers hatch
would do.

Nill points to all those who said it was a Cullins device, hardly
"Sheet metal" as the original post stated, but "Angle Iron".

TTFN

Nigel

[Michael Emrys]

...this was to attach a cable which was used to lock the brakes once the tank
had been loaded onto a ship/flatbed etc. Presumably it was passed out of the
drivers hatch.

I have a problem with this explanation.

And that is that the driver's postion is on the left side of the tank and
the "comb" is most often found on the right in thses pictures.

What am I missing here?

Michael
--

[Martin Rapier]

"Michael Emrys" <***@olypen.com> wrote in message news:blpqnr$20oo$***@nntp6.u.washington.edu...
{snip re Sherman external cable lashing point}

Post by Michael Emrys
And that is that the driver's postion is on the left side of the tank and
the "comb" is most often found on the right in thses pictures.
What am I missing here?

This is addressed in the very illuminating article:

http://web.inter.nl.net/users/spoelstra/g104/comb_brakelock.htm

which clearly shows the brake control cables passing through the bow MG port
(!) and thence via the brake control bracket to the drivers position on the
other side of the tank.

Fascinating stuff.
Cheers
Martin

--

[Michael Emrys]

It is more accurate to say that the comb device was actually on the
transmission housing.

All of those except the first, which may be misrepresented in the drawing,
look like tie down points, most likely for canvas weather protection either
when parked or in transit on trains or other transportation. The only odd
thing would be that it is only present on one side, but perhaps that was all
that was needed.

Michael

[Jeff N]

Post by Greg Heilers
Can anyone provide the definitive answer, as to what the small,
sheet metal "comb device", on the Sherman glasis was for?

Could it just be a device for securing whatever "accoutrements" the
G.I. deemed necessary? Such as towing-cables or satchels of "stuff"?

[Colin McGARRY]

On 24 Sep 2003 16:22:14 GMT, "Greg Heilers"

Post by Greg Heilers
Hey everyone,
Can anyone provide the definitive answer, as to what the small,
sheet metal "comb device", on the Sherman glasis was for?
Coming from the world of model builders, we jokingly suggest it
"Hey Joe, let's weld this little metal dealie on all the Shermans.
That way, in 50 years, we can really screw with minds of model
builders!"

The combs were made from tcheck hedgehogs (those three dimensional Xs
made of steel joists) that Rommel had placed on the beaches in their
thousands.
The hedgerows, in the Bocage country , which had had several centuries
to consolidate themselves were on top of ridges due to the roads
having had several centuries to ware their way down into the ground.
These thick hedges on top of the ridges were more or less impenatrable
to shermans. The idea was for these combs to slice thru the hedge. i
don't know if they were effective.

www.cpmac.com/normandy.html

peterann2 (at) yahoo.fr