76SM005 Oxford Diecast Sherman MkIII 17th/21st Lancers

Oxford’s Sherman III is a 1:76 scale replica of the USA produced Medium Tank M4/A2 which the Americans supplied to the Allies during World War II on a lend-lease basis. Produced between 1942 and 1945 in an amazing quantity of over 8000, the majority came over to Europe to assist the British Army and European partners against the enemy. The British re-named the tanks after US Generals, hence the Sherman name for the M4, which came with a 75mm M3 L/40 gun, supplemented by a secondary armament of two Browning machine guns. Powered by a General Motors twin 6-cylinder diesel engine, the MIII had a maximum speed of 48 km per hour and a fuel capacity of 560 litres.

The 17th/21st Lancers was originally a cavalry regiment of the British Army formed in England in 1922 by amalgamating the two regiments. Their famous nickname was the Death or Glory Boys.  At the outbreak of WWII, the regiment became part of the 1st Motor Machine Gun Brigade defending the south of England which in turn became the 26th Armoured Brigade in October 1940. Shortly afterwards it became part of the 6th Armoured Division with which it served for the rest of the war.  In November 1942, the division was deployed as part of Operation Torch to Tunisia. Armed with Valentine III and Crusader III tanks, the going was tough against superior German armour and weaponry.  As a result, the Lancers were refitted with M4/A2 Sherman tanks, which culminated in the regiment achieving their goal against the Germans before the campaign ended in May 1943.

Here you are treated to a fine example of the campaign tank, decorated in dark sand/green camouflage with black tracks and black machine guns. The underside of the gun barrel is painted white. Note the regimental lancers gauntlet on a black ground above the squadron sign.  Note too, the addition of a rear turret box on this model. The yellow triangle on the tank top usually indicated an AFV (armoured fighting vehicle) equipped with a radio system for communication.