In the book 'Barbara' by Wayne Robinson we follow a Sherman tank, in 'Duplex-Drive' (DD) disguise, and her crew. The story around the M4 Barbara is fiction, but the events did happen for real. She landed during the first wave on Omaha Beach. I have in my possession only the Dutch translation (from 1965) and this has some flaws in it. One of these ‘flaws’ (as I thought) handles on the ‘ventilation shaft’ on the heck of the tank.

I translate the next sentence from the Dutch text back to English.

'In her battalion she was tank no.7, second platoon, B squadron. That number was high on top of her new ventilation shaft , atop of her screws. The white stood clear and bright against the dull army green paint she was covert with’.

New ventilation shaft; that was a peculiar sentence. From the words Robinson used it was obvious that he was talking about the DD version, he mentions the screws and the canvas skirt. All the pictures I have (and drawings), not one shows a ventilation shaft. One may think that it was a writers ‘hick-up’, but read the next sentence;

'Grant hoisted his body on top of the tank that would lead the way, Battle Lady, and stood on top of the engine compartment, between the exhaust chimney and the turret, to talk to Cavalry Captain Ross.’

I always thought that Robinson used his imagination and was mistaken the DD version on this ‘shaft-business’ with the version of M4’s with the wading trunks. These Shermans could maneuver through shallow water and took air, and blew of exhaust through two huge chimneys. But, that someone who served with the 743th Battalion (the first who dropped there DD-tanks for Omaha on the right sector) was able to make such a mistake?

Enter Robert Capa, the photographer that went with the first wave that landed on Omaha Beach. It is commonly known that the work he shot that day was ruined for a great deal in a laboratory in England. Only a few survived, and despite there damaged look, or because of that, they became world famous and are regarded as the pictures that captured the onslaught of Omaha Beach at there best. Finally I was able to find one of these pictures in a rather good state, and what attract my attention,…?

The picture above shows some interesting features. This picture is taken during the first wave. Five minutes before H-Hour, and the first wave, the DD-tanks came ashore. At H-Hour, around 06.30, the LCT's went in with the Shermans that could wade to shore (a minute before the infantry would land). Already can be seen, on the left, a Sherman with wading trunks, with a large number ‘10’ on the back chimney. Somewhat to the right of the middle is another wading ashore. But, if we enlarge the picture, two other vehicles can be noticed. These are two DD-tanks with the canvas skirt still up at the back, but lowered on the front. Even the two little screws are visible at the lower back of the left DD.

The picture is taken between EASY-Red and FOX-Green, in front of Widerstadnest Wn 62. The men in the water are from the 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, probably from Easy-Compagnie, the unit Capa was with. If we blow up the picture even more, the dark colored rectangle shape can be seen that is protruding out of the canvas skirt on both of the DD-tanks. Are these the chimneys Robinson is mentioning?

These are the only pictures, as far as I know, of DD-tanks (probably from the 741st Battalion) where chimneys can be seen. Was this a adaptation only for some tanks that had Omaha Beach as there destination?