@ajbartucca: Recovered from 24 meters beneath the Gulf of Salerno, this rare M4A1 Sherman Duplex Drive (DD) tells a story that began in the summer of 1944. The tank was part of the 753rd Tank Battalion, training near Battipaglia for amphibious operations ahead of the invasion of southern France when it struck part of a landing craft ramp, tore its flotation screen, and sank: tragically costing the life of its driver, TEC4 Walter Kumecki. Discovered decades later by divers and successfully recovered on May 18, 2002, the tank underwent more than 6,000 hours of restoration, including reconstruction of its flotation skirt system using metal piping, rubber tubing, and original technical plans supplied by the @tank museum in Bovington. Today, it stands as one of only a handful of surviving Sherman DD tanks worldwide, displayed in context alongside equipment that demonstrates how these amphibious tanks launched from landing craft and fought their way ashore. Now she rests in good hands at Piana Delle Orme outside of Rome, Italy. 🎥 AJ Bartucca #wwii #tank #museum #History #military

AJ Bartucca

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Monday 20 April 2026 19:36:31 GMT