A preserved World War II Sherman Crab, an M4 Sherman tank fitted with a flail. A mine flail is a vehicle-mounted device that makes a safe path through a minefield by deliberately detonating land mines in front of the vehicle that carries it. They …

M4 Sherman Crocodile – M4 tank modified with the flamethrower and fuel trailer from a Churchill Crocodile. Four built and issued to 739th Tank Battalion, which was attached to the 29th Division for Operation Grenade in February 1945, where they cleared the Old Citadel in the town of Jülich.

Crab: A modified Sherman tank equipped with a mine flail, a rotating cylinder of weighted chains that exploded mines in the path of the tank. DD tank (from "Duplex Drive"): An amphibious version of the Sherman created by fitting M4A1 and M4A4 with a large watertight canvas housing.

May 31, 2019 · The Sherman-based Crab became the most widely-used mine flail tank of the entire war. The tank's original drivetrain was proved capable for the Crab/Sherman mating and the tank was further allowed to retain its useful turret - thus …

Jan 4, 2025 · The M4 Sherman Crab mine clearing platform was the most successful Mine clearing tanks platform of World War 2 having a success rate of ninety percent. The ten percent fail rate came from operations where the ground was uneven witch left pits where the flail could not reach the mine.

The Duplex Drive (DD) 'swimming' Sherman was an amphibious tank used on all five beaches on D-Day. The duplex drive engine powered propellers in water and tracks on land. The canvas flotation screen gave the tank enough buoyancy to support its weight without having to sacrifice armour or firepower.

Jul 23, 2023 · Another tank from the Hobart’s Funnies series is the Sherman mine flail tank named Crab. A Sherman M4A4 with a 75 mm gun was equipped with a rotating cylinder in front of the tank, it had about 25 chains attached with weighted ends.

Thus, the “Crab” version of the Sherman tank (which is presented here) is born. It is a model of de-mining tank equipped with flails: two metal arms located at the front of the tank and connected by a cylinder. Around this cylinder, long chains are hung and touch the ground.

The Sherman-based Crab became the most widely used mine tank throughout the war. The tank's original powertrain proved to be suitable for a Crab/Sherman pairing, and the tank was allowed to retain its useful turret - leaving its offensive capabilities largely unchanged.

A Sherman tank was relatively easy to adapt for special purposes. Among other things, a mine clearer was made, the Sherman Crab. This so-called flail tank is characterized by a rotating drum with chains and round balls hitting the ground with a force of more than 150 kilograms.