 The US considered collecting all Shermans together so as to be able to send the 2nd Armored Division under Patton to reinforce Egypt, but delivering the Shermans directly to the British was quicker and over 300 – mostly M4A1s, but also including M4A2s – had arrived there by September 1942.The Shermans were modified for desert warfare with sandshields over the tracks and other stowage.The Sherman first saw combat at the Second Battle of El Alamein in October 1942 with the British 8th Army.