Shrman Rhino

Hi,

I have just got Eagles and Bulldogs by Michael Reynolds from the library and there is a picture of a Sherman Rhino.

Now I have never seen this before and it's a Normandy Sherman with a long sharpened pole welded to it's front set off from centre(near the left track)

What the hell was that for?

When I googled Sherman Rhino it came up with lots of pictures of the hedge cutting shermans, including the wiki entry, but these are different things and clearly a long pole ain't going to cut no Normandy hedge.

Anyone any pictures to post of this they can post and any ideas what it is for?

FNG

 

I've only ever heard of the Rhino being the hedge-cutting version... I'll take a look in Chamberlain & Ellis when I get home.

 

How would the pole cut the hedge?

all the hedge versions I have seen are like this



or similar as these were field modificiations

FNG

 

That's what I meant - I've never heard of a 'Rhino' just being a pole... :-?

Can you scan & post the picture at all?

 

possably, will have a crack tonight!

FNG

 

I have a feeling it was to punch a single hole into a hedge or embankment which explosives could then be shoved into.

 

Blimey, you need a ram to put a hole into a hedge?

FNG

 

post

possibly a regimental fitting, possibly for 'cheese wires' set high for tank commander, we had them on jeeps etc.

 

no, it's a forward facing ram fitted a foot or two off the ground. It's not vertical to protect against wires.

Defintily one to get a picture off! Bare with me till I get home from work

FNG

 

Nothing in Chamberlain & Ellis I'm afraid... 'Rhino' is not even mentioned, as the official name is the 'Cullen device'

 

Shouldn't that be "Culin"?

I've heard of the above variety of hedgecutter before, FNG, but I can't find any references to it either. I reckon the idea is to disrupt the integrity of the hedge so that the tank itself can ram through, or something, but that is really a guess. In any case, veterans reported that none of the various Culin prongs and other hedgecutting devices worked very well.

 

Possibly.

I'd always read that they worked great, which is why they were used so much... Or at least were better than nothing

 

I'd heard that the cutters did work very well though I have to admit it was a book written glorifying the US breakout in the west so may have been baised!

I was always dubious about them as my impressions were that the hedges caused problems for tanks not because they were thick because lets be honest, it's a sad tank that can't crush a hedge.

But the problems were because the roads were sunk and the there were deep ditches and ridges along side them which prevented the tanks going over them.

That and the fact that the hedges were dense enough to prevent infantry seeing through them into the next field.

FNG

 

Remember a thick hedge is something you will have to climb over. If there is a joker on the other side with an 88 or 75 he's going to have a chance to put shots through you belly. Plus hedge will have more spring in it than barbed wire, so even after tank goes over it may well still be impassible to the infantry leaving the tank all alone.

 

I thought it was an American tactic that in combined arms operations the tanks would lead in the country but if they got to a hedge or a city/village they would let the infantry take the lead before makign their move forward.

 

here we go, forgive the terrable scanning!

This is Sherman with Hedge attachment. This is a fairly good picture as shows just how crude these were as a field modification. You can see the cut marks on the steel points.



And this a "Rhino" Sherman which I hope my description does justice to.



These are clearly different and I fail to see how the ram can affect a hedge

FNG

 

more info

It was invented by Sgt Curtis Culin of the 2nd Armoured and as someone said, apparently it was for ramming hedges to allow explosives to be placed into them, presumably torpedoes.

It also says that normally two prongs would be used, which I bet made manouver awkward given the added length to the vehicle

FNG

 

ram

the idea for the cullen device was to keep the tank from climbing up and over the hedge. i suspect the ram was an attempt to do the same thing. the one brace welded onto it is there to keep it from bending down which it would try to do when they tank tries to climb. i've seen footage of the plows working. the tank hit the hedgerow at speed and just punches out a section. instant camo since it carries the dirt, roots,and all with it.

 

culin device

Informant tells me that the 'TWO' prong device (Curtis Culin) was to punch two holes into the base of the hedge banking, reverse the tank and engineers would place 15lb of explosive packed into the fibre board cases that once held 105mm shells. not over used I don't believe but sounds feasable. Originally made of wood.

 

Those hedgerow cutters were crude. They were made mostly from German beach defenses, so they were ad hoc, made on-scene. They were supposed to be functional, not pretty.

I've seen a few video clips of them in action. The blades cut through the hedge, and the bulk of the tank just rips the mess out as it goes through.

I've never seen that pole attachment. Not a bad idea, I guess. Like Mr. Murphy's Laws state, "if it's stupid, and it works, then it ain't stupid!"