M4A1 (Late) DD

The British invented the Duplex Drive or DD system for tanks being used in amphibious operations and gave their detailed drawings to their American counterparts in early 1944. The US tank of choice for conversion was the M4A1 of which 100 were of the later "Big Hatch" type and used the famous Firestone company to produce their conversion kits. A total of 350 were so converted and differed from the British pattern by having additional struts including 2 on the turret and a raised splash curtain on the rear of the apron. American planners revised their plans and decided that 350 vehicles were more than would be required for Operation Neptune and resultantly agreed to transfer 80 to the British of both M4A1 types. The American DD tank experience on D-Day was mixed in contrast to the British who managed to deploy most of their DD's successfully. In total only 55 of the 96 American DD's launched reached shore but proved invaluable with many accepting that their intervention saved the day on Omaha beach. Later 36 American M4A1 DD's were used in Operation Dragoon, the landings in Southern France with 16 swimming ashore and the balance landing directly on the beach from LCT's. Their final amphibious operation was the Rhine crossing but due to shortages of M4A1's the British supplied the Americans with some of their Mk.III (M4A2) & Mk.V (M4A4) DD's. A total of 28 of this mixed bag were used in the crossing by the Americans. The British version is available as UK107. This model is also very suitable for use with Accurate Armour's superb 1/76 scale LCT 4 also available from Milicast.  -20% Details   Ref US110 Price: £23.95 Options   Quantity 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Add to cart          Add to wish list

Detailed images

Shown on the earlier hull. Shown on the later hull. Note that both early and late types were both simply listed as M4A1's.

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