| Year | July 1942 |
| Vehicle Type | [@type] |
| Origin & Designer | [@designer] |
| Numbers Produced | 6.748 |
| Crew | 5 (Commander, Gunner, Loader, Driver & Assistant Driver) |
| Main Armament | 1 x 75mm L/40 M3 Gun |
| Main Armament | [@sponson_traverse] |
| Elevation | -10° to +25° |
| Turret Traverse | 360° (Powered 15/Sec) |
| Gun Traverse | [@gun_traverse] |
| Gun Mount | [@gun_mounts] |
| Maximum Range | [@maximum_range] |
| Armour Penetration | [@armour_penetration] |
| Gun Sight | [@gun_sight] |
| Secondary Armament | 1 x .50 cal M2HB Heavy Machine Gun (AA Mount). 1 x .30 cal M1919A4 Machine Gun (Coaxial). 1 x .30 cal M1919A4 Machine Gun (Bow). |
| Smoke Discharger | [@smoke_discharger] |
| Ammunition Carried | 90 x 75mm & 4.750 x .30 cal + 300 x .50 cal |
| Height | 2.74m |
| Width | 2.62m |
| Length | 5.89m |
| Combat Weight | 30.300 kg |
| Ground Clearance | 0.43m |
| Fording Depth | 1.0m |
| Trench Crossing | 2.30m |
| Obstacle Clearance | 0.61m |
| Climbing Ability | 30° |
| Radio | SCR 508/528/538 |
| Armour | Upper Hull Front: 51mm. Lower Hull Front: 51mm. Upper Hull Sides: 38mm. Lower Hull Sides: 38mm. Hull Rear: 38mm. Hull Top: 13mm. Hull Bottom: 13mm. Gun Mantlet: 89mm. Turret Front: 76mm. Turret Sides: 51mm. Turret Rear: 51mm. Turret Top: 25mm. |
| Engine | Continental R974 C4 (Petrol) |
| Transmission | 5 Forward & 1 Reverse |
| Maximum Road Range | 124 miles (200 km) |
| Maximum Cross Country Range | 86 miles (140 km) |
| Maximum Water Range | [@maximum_water_range] |
| Maximum Road Speed | 24 mph (39 kph) |
| Maximum Cross Country Speed | 15 mph (24 kph) |
| Maximum Water Speed | [@maximum_water_speed] |
| Variants | Year: February 1944. Numbers Produced: 6.281. Main Gun: 75mm. Notes: Cast upper hull. Year: April 1942. Numbers Produced: 8.053. Main Gun: 75mm. Notes: Welded hull. Year: June 1942. Numbers Produced: 1.690. Main Gun: 75mm. Notes: New heavy duty suspension Year: July 1942. Numbers Produced: 6.748. Main Gun: 75mm. Notes: Cast hull front / welded sides and rear. Year: July 1942. Numbers Produced: 7.499. Main Gun: 75mm. Notes: Longer hull. Year: February 1944. Numbers Produced: 3.071. Main Gun: 75mm. Notes: Wet storage.. Year: February 1944. Numbers Produced: 800. Main Gun: 105mm L/22 M4 Howitzer. Notes: No gyrostabilizer / manual turret traverse. Quantity: 841. Year: September 1944. Main Gun: 105mm L/22 M4 Howitzer and New Suspension. Year: May 1944. Numbers Produced: 500. Main Gun: 105mm L/22 M4 Howitzer. Notes: Powered turret. Year: September 1944. Numbers Produced: 2.539. Main Gun: 105mm L/22 M4 Howitzer. Notes: New suspension and powered turret. Year: January 1944. Numbers Produced: 3.246. Main Gun: 76mm L/55 M1A1. Notes: High velocity 76mm gun and wet storage. Year: May 1944. Numbers Produced: 2.915. Main Gun: 76mm L/55 M1A1 Gun. Notes: Wet storage and new exhaust. Year: August 1944. Numbers Produced: 3.142. Main Gun: 76mm L/55 M1A1 Gun. Notes: New suspension, turret hatches and crew seating. |
| Notes | The M4 Sherman was the work horse of the U.S. tank arm. The idea of mounting a 75mm gun in a fully revolving turret had been top of the list for the US army’s requirements for a new battle tank. The M4 was not only a reliable tank but was easy to manufacture and easy to maintain in the field. The M4 was outclassed by the heavier German Panther and Tiger and later models were up-gunned with a 76mm gun to give more punch. It went through many up-grades and different models. The M4 also provided the British with an AFV capable of taking on the German Mk IIIs and IVs on equal terms with the first being available in time to see action at the battle of El Alamein. Russia too received many M4s via lend lease. The M4 was still in use during the Korean War and served alongside the new and heavier Pershing’s and Patton’s and also formed the basis for so many conversions. |