Just to the rear of the fighting area in Taungtha, north-west of Meiktila, Burma, 5th Indian Division Recovery Company workshop work to keep the fighting tanks in action.

General views of a Sherman tank of 255th Indian Tank Brigade being repaired. The tank - marked "Alloa 288795" - has a broken track on one side and no track at all on the other. The drive wheel is off on the left hand side. The crew use a torque wrench to take off the other drive wheel. Indian fitters work on an engine which has been lifted out of the tank; one fitter sits on top of the engine. Welding is carried out on damage caused by a 105mm high explosive shell hitting the armour. More welding. The radiator of the tank engine is removed from the engine using a block and tackle on the back of a recovery vehicle. Various nuts and bolts are removed from the radiator assembly. Close-up of armour pitted by the Japanese high explosive shell. The large radiator cooling fan is cleaned. Compressed air is used to blow out dust from parts of the engine. Soldering work is carried out. The recovery lorry is brought in to remove the tank gun. A large hook is attached to the barrel and it is lifted away. The breech is unscrewed. Maintenance of the gun is carried out. The breech is re-assembled. The recovery vehicle moves the gun into place and it is refitted into the turret. The tank track is hauled over the bogeys.

Notes

This tank is probably of 116th Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps, which had recently been in action in the Taungtha and Myingyan areas in support of 7th Indian Division. For film of these tanks in action, see related items.