The Sherman VVSS had at least 14 different types of track, and there was another Three types for the HVSS. Most of the track types changes were ways to minimize the amount of rubber used or attempts to produce an all steel track as good as the basic rubber T41 and steel T49 track.

The narrow VVSS tracks limited the Shermans mobility in soft mud, sand, and boggy terrain. The Tiger and Panther tanks were better off road than the VVSS Shermans. It's a good thing they were so rare, and there was a limit to how much mud they could deal with as well. The mud also accelerated the maintenance problems both these Nazi tanks faced and eventually mud got so deep in late 44 no tank could go off road much until the ground froze.

The T41 track was not well liked in Italy and wore out far faster than the motors or drive train on the M4 series. For use in the mountainous terrain of Italy they wanted a an improved steel track, the T49 tended to slip on side hill situations, what they wanted was the T54 track.

The Army came up with a field expedient solution called a "Duckbill" end connector. This was an end connector with a sheet steel foot welded to it, when bolted in place on the track it added several inches to the tracks width in soft terrain. The only drawback was they broke off fairly easy, but were easy enough to replace. This was a very popular and widespread modification, and many little local factories in France were contracted to produce them. They were also factory produced and installed on production Shermans.

Tanks with HVSS suspension started showing up in Europe in December of 1944 and by 1945 were very common as replacements. Some of the HVSS tracks could use duck bills as well, but they were wide enough there was no need. When the wider tracks were using on experimental tanks like the T29, they did use the extended end connectors.

Pictured here are a set of two (2) weathered metal T66 tracks that can be attached to the 1:32 scale M4 Sherman medium tank. Now in stock!

Release Date: June 2024