These manufacturers don't appear to have stamped the Serial Number on the exterior of the AFVs they produced. However, some Shermans that
served with the French or German armies in the 1950s have been seen
with the serial number stamped on the front glacis or differential
housing
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Pacific Car and Foundry (PCF) - Small hatch M4A1(75)
Many welded hull Shermans have the tank's serial number
stamped into one or both or the rear towing lugs. To date, we have not seen this
on a single example of the many M4A1s we have examined. All Shermans were
provided with a dataplate that was affixed to the wall next to the driver's
seat. The serial number was stamped into the upper right corner of the
dataplate. Unfortunately, in many cases, the plates on surviving units are
either rusted unreadable, or missing altogether. The Overloon M4A1 was found to have the Serial Number
stamped inside the dataplate frame as seen above left. Serial Number 3714
indicates this tank would have been built by PCF in July 1943. 3714 was
also seen stamped on the front glacis, just beside the bow machine gun.
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Lima Locomotive Works - Small hatch M4A1(75)
The tanks built by Lima LW can be seen with a logo and build number on
the right front. While some Sherman manufacturers stamped
the Serial Number on the rear towing lugs of their Shermans, Lima LW
does not appear to have stamped it anywhere
on the exterior of most of the AFVs they produced. However, the Serial
Number could be found near the Lima logo on tanks manufactured through
the end of the production run (last month of production).
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Ford - Small hatch M4A3(75)
Fords are perhaps the easiest Shermans on which to
find the tank serial number. It was stamped on "the four corners of the upper
hull." It can be found just below both of the hull lifting rings on the front,
and in the areas indicated by the red circles in the rear.
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Pressed Steel Car - Small hatch M4(75), Small and large hatch M4A1s
While Chrysler & Fisher stamped
the Serial Number on the rear towing lugs of their large hatch
Shermans, Pressed Steel Car does not appear to have stamped it anywhere
on the exterior of the AFVs they produced. However, some Shermans that
served with the French or German armies in the 1950s have been seen
with the serial number stamped on the front glacis or differential
housing, as seen in the left side photo. PSC built M4s and M4A1s (both small
and large hatch) have been seen to have a loose build sequence number
stamped on either side of the hull in the rear. In the event the serial
number cannot be found, the sequence number has some value.
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Chrysler - M4A4(75), M4 Composites, M4(105), M4A3(105), M4A3(76)W
Chrysler built
Shermans have the Tank's Ordnance Serial Number stamped into the rear
towing lugs.
Some
Chrysler built Shermans have been seen to have the Serial Number
stamped in the driver's compartment, 6 inches (15 centimeters) left
from the dataplate.
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Fisher - Large hatch M4A2(75), M4A2(76), M4A3(75)W, M4A3(76)
Fisher built Shermans have the tank's Ordnance Serial Number
stamped into the rear towing lugs (left), as well as on both edges of the
differential housing. The diff stamping is preceded by an "S" for "serial
number." Barracuda's can be seen above - S48935.
The Serial Number can also be found inside
the dataplate frame, beside the driver's position.
Fisher built Shermans have been seen to have a loose build sequence
number stamped on the left front (driver's side). These numbers have a letter
prefix. The "A" on Barracuda above indicates the tank was built as an M4A3(75)W.
Other letters noted are "E" for M4A3E2 (Jumbo), "M" for M4A3(76) and "W" for
M4A2(76). While the number stamped on Barracuda is 325, it would actually have
been the 321st M4A3(75) made by Fisher (accepted in March, 1944). Thus, our
characterization of the build sequence number as "loose." This number can be
useful in the event the tank's serial number can't be found.
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Fisher - M10 and M10A1 Tank Destroyers, M36 Tank Destroyers
Fisher built Shermans have the Tank's Ordnance Serial Number
stamped into the rear towing lugs, it can also be found inside
the dataplate frame, beside the driver's position.
From the beginning of the M10 Tank Destroyer production at Fisher, the Ordnance
Serial Number was stamped on both tow lugs of the differential housing.
Starting around July 1943 and the introduction of the E8543
"sharp nose" differential cover, Fisher Body stamped the serial number,
NOT preceded by
an "S," on both edges of the part.
Fisher built Shermans have also been seen to have a loose
build sequence number stamped on the left front (driver's side).
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M36 Tank Destroyers converted by American Locomotive (ALCO)
M10A1s converted to M36s by ALCO have the Tank's Ordnance Serial Number
stamped into the left side rear towing lug.
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M36 Tank Destroyers converted by Massey-Harris (M-H)
M10s and M10A1s converted to M36s by Massey-Harris have the serial
number stamped near the headlamps sockets. The marking consists of
Massey-Harris "conversion serial number" (for example, M H 121)
and the Ordnance Serial Number (for example, SERIAL NO 421). The
Registration Number (which always starts with 40 on Tank Destroyers)
was stamped during a 1950 era remanufacture, it is located near the
front hull lifting rings, on the front hull plate or side hull.
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M7B2 Priests
Some M7B2 Priests have been seen to have the Serial Number stamped above the differential housing bolt strip.
Some M7B1 and M7B2 Priests have been to have a loose build sequence number
stamped on either side of the hull in the rear.
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Sextons SPGs
Sextons serial numbers can be found on the front, between the hull bolt
strips and the horizontal weld, or on the rear hull plate, around the
hole.
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M74 Tank Recovery Vehicles
The M74 TRV serial number is stamped on the side hull plate, near the front lifting ring, on the driver's side.
