See also: Sherman

The Medium Tank M4 is the tank American means more produced, during the Second world war: nearly fifty thousand specimens are realized in very varied versions. Its nickname of Sherman , is allotted to him by the British, when they receive their first specimens within the framework of the law of lease-lend, continuing his tradition to name the tanks of American origin according to the name of a famous general of this country. The US Army adopts this nickname thereafter, and the Medium M4 Tank is consequently called M4 Sherman . The Canadian , on the other hand, call the their the Soviet Grizzly , and Emcha .

Design and beginning of the mass production

The M4 tank is the downward direct one of its predecessor, the m3 Lee, of which it takes again the frame mainly. Work on the tank begins the August 29th 1940, just after the decision to put in production m3. In March 1941, a turret being able to embark a gun of 75 mm is conceived, and in September the T6 prototype is completed and sent to the center of tests of Aberdeen. Those appearing satisfactory, one decides to launch a mass production of the model. The production schedule implies eleven factories, distributed on all the territory of thePlain ones. However, the power plant envisaged, a V8 Ford of 500 CV, is yet only at the end of the tests when the production of the first tanks is completed. To cure it, the American army uses what already exists. As for m3, several derivatives using of the power plants and the different techniques of production are thus developed. This policy makes it possible to diversify to the maximum the sources of supply, in particular engines, and to use the capacities of the factories without upsetting their techniques of work. This flexibility, associated with the fact that M4 divides many elements with m3, allows a very fast starting of the production, the monthly rate of exit reaching thousand specimens as of the semione.

Five versions of the tank are thus produced and evolve/move in parallel.

  • the first to start production are the M4A1, which are characterized by a case carried out with run elements, whose edges are less angular. It are motorized by an engine resulting from aviation, the Continental R-975C-1, nine cylinders out of star with air cooling, already used by m3. The first models leave in February 1942, with the factories Lima Locomotive Works , Pacific Because and Foundry and Pressed Steel Because .
  • They are followed in April by the first M4A2 which, in addition to the passage to a welded case, profit from a diesel engine General Motors of 13,7 liters cubic capacity, the GM 6-71 (makes of it a twinning of two engines of bus Greyhound). They are them produced by the Fisher Tank Division with Grand White and Pullman Standard Because .
  • first M4, with a welded case and R-975, them leave in July to the factories Lima Locomotive Works , Pacific Because and Foundry and Pressed Steel Because .
  • Meanwhile in June, Ford launched the production of the M4A3, also assembled to him by welding but motorized by its petrol engine GAA-III cooled by liquid.
  • In July appears the M4A4, produced by the Strait Tank Arsenal, emanation of the group Chrysler, propelled by a a little particular power plant already tested on certain m3, the Chrysler Multi Bank A-57, consisted of five engines of car with six cylinders on line, joined together by their transmission. The size of this group required the enlarging of the driving compartment and the Americans, not very trustful in his reliability, intend it only for the sending under the terms of the lease-lend.

Evolution

The first specimens of M4 comprise two characteristics resulting from T6, which disappear rather quickly: two fixed of case M1919A4, adjustable machine-guns of rise in -6° with +8°, actuated by the driver. They are removed as of on March 6th, 1942. A large side door on the side of the case, being useful for the rapid access of the crew, is also removed.

The first specimens are armed with a gun m2 of 75 mm, shorter than the gun m3 assembled on the tank m3, and which requires the assembly of counterweight on the level of the mouth to remain compatible with gyroscopic stabilization of the armament. The assembly of m3 eliminates then the need for these counterweights. The mounting of initial gun, M34 is supplanted soon by the M34A1 which, broader, embarks direct glasses in addition to the periscope of aiming of its predecessor. Moreover, the shield of the coaxial machine-gun M1919A4, before independent, is made interdependent of that of the gun.

As from the summer 1942, a new suspension known as Heavy-duty is assembled on M4 of all versions. The small wheel of return of the caterpillar is moved on the back of the candle, and the vertical springs see their increased diameter of 2,5 Cm. The wheels of road with rays, employed on the first M4A2, disappear rather quickly with the profit from full models.

The first engagements of the tank reveal that it tends to ignite rather easily after being reached by an anti-tank shell. After a study, one allots this defect to the side compartments of ammunition and, to reduce the vulnerability, one added a welded bracket of shielding covering their site. Thereafter, the protection of the case is entirely reconsidered. The compartments of storage of ammunition adopt the technology of the wet storage, in which the ten racks of ten shells are plunged in a vat of 140 liters water, added with Méthanol like antifreeze and a anticorrodant product. Moreover, the part before case is entirely redrawn, the slope of the armor-plate passing from 56° with 47° and its thickness from 51 to 64 Misters On this occasion, the slits of direct vision of the pilot yield the place to new épiscope S. This new tank, indicated M4A3 (75) W or M4A3W (W for wet Wet , in reference to its storage system of ammunition), better protected, is used as a basis for the later developments of Sherman.

The following efforts will relate to the firepower of M4, which shows its limits vis-a-vis the German tanks most modern like the Panther, or the Tigre. The first test is British, with the assembly of their gun of 17 pounds in a standard turret of Sherman. Known under the denomination " Sherman Firefly " (dragonfly), it particularly is successful, and proves determining to fight against the tanks of the Wehrmacht, during the operations in Africa and France. Such an amount of and so that even the American units adopts it, 80 specimens of M4A3 being thus transformed.

However, industry in the United States adopts another solution for its production, while mounting a new T23 turret embarking a gun of gauge 76,2. This last, M1, is of national and nonBritish manufacture. First tanks M4A1 (76) W, armed with the new gun appear shortly after the Débarquement of Normandy, they are quickly followed by M4A3 (76) W.

In same time a version of support fire appears armed with a Obusier of 105 mm, M10. Although manufactured with recent cases, with a tilted glacis with 47°, it is deprived for reasons of mass of the wet storage system.

The result of the series is version M4A3E8, equipped with the new suspension HVVS ( horizontal volute spring suspension ) where the springs act henceforth with the horizontal one. Although this suspension does not bring a profit speed to him on road, being combined with new broader caterpillars T80 or T84 it appears more at ease in any ground, gaining the nickname of Easy Eight (the eight easy one). It is very much used starting from the Bataille of the Ardennes and beyond that.

Employment

Sherman is engaged for the first time at the combat at the time of the Bataille of El-Alamein, in October 1942. The 8th army, at the time of its counter-offensive has 285 operational, mainly M4A1, but also some A2. Very quickly, it shows excellent qualities with the combat. It has in particular a very good mechanical reliability which allows him important availability ratios, contrary with much of tanks of its time. Its armament, with a gun of 75 mm out of turret, is a revolution for the British crews, because it makes it possible to draw with without exposing the case of the tank, as it is the case with the m3 Lee. Compared to the contemporary British tanks, armed with gun of 40 mm, this gun has a sufficient power in anti-personnel shooting, in particular against serving as the anti-tank guns, and appears effective against tanks like the Panzer III and Panzer IV. It thus has a determining influence in the defeat inflicted with the Afrika Korps.

However, he also suffers from serious defects, which will appear, gradually during the projection from combined in 1943. The first with being recognized is its tendency to quickly take fire following an impact, which are worth to him the not very flattering nicknames of Ronson by the British and Tommy Cooker by German. Its high silhouette, with its 2,74 meters, appears also prejudicial on the battle field, in particular in the desert. Additional plates, then wet storage and new the glacis improve the situation, but its vertical height and its sides will always make of it a tank much more vulnerable than the Soviet tank T-34, of equivalent mass. Use of the gasoline as fuel surely also takes part in the great vulnerability of the tank, but it is it should be noted that it makes it possible to use engines more compact and thus less heavy, and that it is adapted also to American oil industry. It is with the appearance of the tanks Tigre, in Tunisia, that the low capacity of perforation of the gun m3 is done day. The British find a parade with the use of their good gun of 17 pounds. Sherman special thus transformed, the Firefly , are used only at a rate of one or two per group of five. While the other tanks occupy the German armoured tanks of face, the Sherman Firefly try to slip on the sides of those, where their shells are highly likely to penetrate the shielding. Thanks to their numerical superiority and a good coordination due to the systematic use of radio, this tactic appears very effective. Just like T-34 on the face Is, Sherman constitutes a good tank which, although lower individually than the German tanks, is able to exploit its numerical superiority.

See also: Hobart' S Funnies

A version amphibian is produced by adding a skirt to the tank, like two propellers; this modification is called DD ( Duplex Drive ). Sherman amphibians take part in the unloading in Normandy. Only Sherman DD on ten succeeds in reaching the beaches of Normandy: being too high, they are reversed and run with peak, locking up their crew in the tank.

After this conflict, this armoured tank was still useful in other during the Guerre of Korea and in the wars Israelo-arabe until 1973.

Today still, much of Third World country use this armoured tank. Paraguay uses, and maintains in state three M4 Sherman.

Operators

Not-complete list:

Alternatives

  • M4 first version directly resulting from T6, case carried out by welding, Continental engine R-975C-1, 9 star cylinders cooled by air of 353 horses. 6748 specimens built of July 1942 in January 1944.
    • M4 (76) W M4 armed with gun M1A1 or M1A2
    • M4 (105) M4 armed with a Howitzer with 105 mm M4, 800 specimens.
    • M4 (105) HVVS M4 (105) equipped with a suspension HVVS, 841 specimens.
    • Tank Recovery Vehicle M32 of breakdown service, derived from M4. Winch and crane of 30 tons, turret replaced by a mortar of 81 mm drawing from the smoke shells.
    • British Sherman I designation of M4
    • Sherman Ia designation British of M4 (76) W.
    • Sherman Ib designation British of M4 (105).
    • Sherman Ic Sherman I rearmed with a gun 17pdr by the British, called Firefly .
  • M4A1 case in run elements, 6281 specimens built of February 1942 in December 1943.
    • British Sherman II designation of the M4A1.
    • M4A1 (76) W M4A1 armed with gun M1A1 or M1A2, 3.426 specimens of January 1944 in July 1945.
    • Sherman IIa designation British of the M4A1 (76) W
    • Tank Recovery Vehicle M32B1 M32 based on A1.
    • Full-Track Precedes Mover M34 M32B1 with the winch and the crane withdrawn being used as artillery tractor.
  • M4A2 M4 with diesel engine GM 6-71, 8053 specimens built of April 1942 in May 1944.
    • British Sherman III designation of the M4A2.
    • M4A2 (76) W M4A2 armed with gun M1A1 or M1A2, 1.594 specimens with Large white and 21 by Pressed Steel of May 1944 in May 1945.
    • Tank Recovery Vehicle M32B2 of breakdown service, M32 based on A2.
  • M4A3 M4 with engine Ford GAA-III with liquid cooling, 1690 specimens of June 1942 in September 1943.
    • M4A3 (75) W reinforced shielding, 3071 specimens of February 1944 in March 1945.
    • M4A3 (76) W M4A3 (75) W armed with gun M1A1 or M1A2, 525 specimens with Large white and 1400 with the Strait Tank Arsenal .
    • M4A3 (76) W HVSS or M4A3E8 suspension HVVS, called Easy Eight , 4542 specimens of March 1944 in April 1945.
    • British Sherman IV designation of the M4A3
    • M4A3 (105) M4A3 armed with a Howitzer of 105 mm M4, 500 specimens.
    • M4A3 (105) HVVS M4A3 (105) equipped with a suspension HVVS, 2539 specimens.
    • M4A3E2 Assault Tank surblindée version, turret to 150 mm and case to 100 mm, driving Chrysler Multibanks A-57, 254 specimens with Large white in May and June 1944, called Jumbo .
    • Tank Recovery Vehicle M32B3 of breakdown service, M32 based on A3.
  • M4A4 driving Chrysler Multibanks A-57 of 30 cylinders of 370 horses, driving compartment lengthened to receive it.
    • Sherman V designation British of the M4A4
    • Sherman Vc Sherman V rearmed with a gun 17pdr by the British, called Firefly .
    • Tank Recovery Vehicle M32B4 of breakdown service, M32 based on A4.
  • M4A5 designation reserved for the Canadian tank RAM.
  • driving M4A6 Caterpillar RD-1820, production cancelled following difficulties.
  • Israeli Sherman greatest longevity and evolution

External bonds

  • Memories of Soviet tank crew member having served on Sherman
  • Sherman in the Israeli forces

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