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Netherlands Fortress Turrets

This page contains four photos taken by Caspar Vermeulen of the Netherlands. They depict two Firefly turrets which were used as part of fixed defences during the cold war along the Netherlands border. The tanks were stripped and buried into the ground. Italy did similar work and in the text of my book one of these Netherlands turrets is discussed. Caspar's photos show that same high bustle turret, but also a low bustle turret with the alternative style of loaders hatch fitted. These are great photos and I am in Caspar's debt for allowing me to use his photos. Thank you Caspar. Fly the cursor over the image for a brief caption and click for a bigger higher res image if you want.

Rear view of the high bustle turret near Nijmegen.It is not clear from which type of Sherman this turret came, but an M4 Hybrid is most likely, perhaps from the ex Canadian vehicles given to the Netherlands, who used them post war. The mushroom vents are likely to be a post war addition. Click for bigger image 109Kb.

A forward shot of the same turret, note the missing gun and mantlet, that affords a view of the way the Sherman mantlet fitted into the turret front. This small bump on the turret front is often missed on kits. Click for a bigger image 109Kb.

A great shot of the interior, this is the first time I have ever seen inside a high bustle Firefly turret. Note that the cut out to access the radio, in the bustle box is rather small, not the large cut out that is often depicted. I do not know if this was the same on low bustle turrets. Yes the hull is full of water. This turret is still in place. Click for bigger image 107Kb.

The low bustle turret with the other style of loaders hatch, identified by Phil Dyer and covered in my book. This hatch lacks the catch seen on the other hatch style. As this style is present on a number of preserved vehicles (including the Borden Grizzly test vehicle, - see my book for details) I have my suspicions that this may have been more common than has been hitherto thought. This turret has since been removed to a collection, so it's future is looking good. Click for bigger image 133Kb.

Three links to Caspars web site:

Caspar Vermeulen's excellent fortifications site.

Caspars Netherlands fortifications section section.

Caspars photo of the restored low bustle turret, the unrestored condition is shown above.

My homage:

By way of a tribute to Caspar, here is a photo of an Israeli M50 dug into the ground as a fortification. It's based on a photo in an old military Modelling magazine. This is an MP Models M50 turret and engine deck on a Nichimo M4A1 hull. The wavy effect at the bottom is my attemtp to indicate the cross section of the soil the tank is buried in! Click for a bigger image 63Kb.

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