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Sherman tank
The M4 General Sherman tank was the main tank designed and built by the US for use in World War II. It was named after Union General William Tecumseh Sherman. The name is often shortened to M4 Sherman or simply Sherman.
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 |
The M4 was based on the M3.
Over 49000 were produced during the war.
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. British Shermans were retro-fitted with the powerful British 17 pdr anti-tank gun.
After World War II, Israeli Shermans were fitted with the British 105 mm gun from the Centurion tank.
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.
M4A2
Production History
Variants
UK variants
Shermans with the 17pdr gun were known as Fireflies.Combat Performance
Characteristics
M4A4 VC Firefly
See also
External Links