A semi-submerged Sherman tank. Garapan Beach. Saipan. 2019

[spanner570]

In June 1944 American forces invaded the Island of Saipan in the Marianas. The defenders fought to the last. 50,000 Japanese soldiers and civilians died. The Americans lost 13,000 killed or wounded.
The beaches and shallow waters were littered with abandoned or destroyed armour and L.C.'s.

Move on to the year 2019.

Ben, a good friend of mine who loves to travel, visited Saipan earlier on this year. He's a Pacific War nut and likes to find lost ordinance from this WW2 conflict.

He wrote....
"I thought you might be interested in these pictures I've just taken. Me and the missus are in a hotel overlooking the beach. I asked about the tank from a local and just had to get out to it.
Trouble was the tide was in, so I had to sit at a beach bar for a couple of hours until I was able to wade out to it.
That's why the pictures are a bit wobbly!
Best of all mate, a bloke on the beach had one of them there drones and he kindly flew over the tank and took a few shots from above for me.
I hope you like the pictures. Back in a fortnight."

Here are the pictures he sent me. I hope they will be of some interest.










































I hope you approve of 'Ben's' pictures.

Cheers all.
Ron

[Guest]

Fantastic modelling and story Ron :smiling3:.

[Jim R]

Hi Ron
Wonderful story, great model and your usual brilliant photos. I will be honest and admit you had me going for a moment.
Jim

[SimonT]

:smiling2: Nice one Ron

Sorry but you didn’t catch me this time - I was expecting it

It does look very good though

I have seen a lot of the photos on pacificwrecks.com and often thought it would be fun to do such a wreck - did actually start a 1/76 Japanese one a few years back using a rebuilt Airfix kit. Made the engine and interior but it stopped when I failed to do the complicated tracks

[JR]

You had me then 570 until I saw the sea from the top and reconised the plastic, damn you that was good.:thumb2::thumb2::thumb2:, fell for that story Hook line and sinker!
453.

[spanner570]

Thanks ever so much my good buddies.

Sorry 453..... :tongue-out3:
All good fun,eh?!

I'm chuffed you all like the man made reef! I'll mail Ben and let him know you like the pictures. If he's sober enough to read it that is!.... :upside::upside:

Thanks again.
Ron

[Gern]

I'll mail Ben and let him know you like the pictures. If he's sober enough to read it that is!.... :upside::upside:

Assuming you're sober enough to post after celebrating yet another excellent story!

[scottie3158]

Ron,
It's hard to call what is better your model making or story telling.

[spanner570]

Cheers chaps.
Glad you liked both..... :thumb2:

Dave. Just laid another batch of Home brew down - Well it is raining and I couldn't get outside!

Paul - If you listened to my wife, it's story telling by a mile. Well she calls them 'A load of old bo**ocks!'

Thank you both for your input.
Ron

[boatman]

Very good had me goin as well :thumb2::thumb2::thumb2::thumb2::thumb2:

[Neil Merryweather]

Brilliant Ron!
you had me as well for a bit :smiling4:

[spanner570]

Sorry for the gentle leg pull chaps....couldn't resist it I'm afraid.

I'm chuffed it worked, if only for a milli-second!

[Peter Gillson]

Nice one Ron :thumb2::thumb2::thumb2:

[papa 695]

Great work Ron