M4 Sherman
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Its high profile and rounded top made it an easy target but it was rather fast and manoeuvrable, reliable, easy to produce and service.
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2 Variants 3 Combat Performance 4 Characteristics 5 See also 6 External links |
Production History
The M4 was based on the M3 Grant. Over 49,000 were produced during the war, for use by the armies of Britain and the United States.
Early models were fitted withn a 75 mm low-velocity gun which had limited anti-armour performance but fired a useful explosive charge.
Later American Shermans were fitted with a 76 mm gun with improved anti-tank performance. Some British Shermans were retro-fitted with the powerful British 17 pounder anti-tank gun.
After World War II, Israeli Shermans were fitted with the British 105 mm gun from the Centurion tank.
Variants
- M4
- M4(105mm)
- M4A1
- M4A2
- M4A3
- M4A3E2 Sherman Jumbo
- M4A4
- M4A5
- M4A6
UK variants
- Sherman I - M4
- Sherman II - M4A1 with a 75mm gun.
- Sherman IIA - M4A1 with a 76mm gun.
- Sherman III - M4A2 with a 75mm gun.
- Sherman IV - M4A3 with a 75mm gun.
- Sherman IVB - M4A3 with a 105mm howitzer.
- Sherman IVC - M4A3 with a 17-pdr gun.
- Sherman V - M4A4 with a 75mm gun.
- Sherman VC - M4A4 with a 17-pdr gun.
Combat Performance
The Sherman was a reliable tank which was produced in large numbers and was effective in World War II. Early models are often criticised for the 75 mm gun which had a poor anti-armour performance, meaning that the Sherman lacked effectiveness against contemporary German tanks, especially the Panther and Tiger. The 75 mm gun was, however, an effective weapon against infantry and anti-tank artillery.
Later models had guns better suited to the anti-tank role.
Characteristics
M4A2
- Length: 19' 5" (5.92m)
- Width: 8' 7" (2.62m)
- Height: 9' (2.74m)
- Weight: 30 tons
- Speed: 30 mph (48km/h)
- Range: 150 miles (240 km)
- Crew: 5
- Armament:
- Primary: 75mm Gun
- Secondary:
- One .50 caliber Browning M2 MG
- Two .30 caliber Browning M1919 MG
- Power plant: 375hp General Motors 6046 12 cylinder inline diesel
- Length: 19' 4" (5.89m)
- Width: 8' 7" (2.62m)
- Height: 9' (2.75m)
- Weight:
- Speed: 25mph (40km/h)
- Range: 120 miles (193km)
- Crew: 5
- Armament:
- Primary: 76mm (17-pound) Gun
- Secondary:
- One .50 caliber Browning M2 MG
- Two .30 caliber Browning M1919 MG
- Power plant: 400hp Continental 9-cylinder radial
See also
External links