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Facts about the M4 Sherman Tank in WW2

The M4 Sherman, also known as the “Medium Tank,” was the primary tank utilized by the Allies during World War 2. Manufactured by the United States, the Sherman tank was sold to a variety of Allied nations such as Britain and France. Sherman tanks were even sold to the Soviet Union, although in small numbers.

The Sherman was highly mobile, powerfully equipped with a 75mm gun mounted on a fully traversing turret which allowed the gun to be swiveled 360 degrees. Equipped with a gyrostablizer, the turret was able to remain stable while the tank or turret was in motion, providing increased accuracy when aiming. Due to constant innovations in firing power and armoring, the M4 was equipped with a variety of different weapons during the war. While the 75mm gun was sufficient during the M4’s original release, the increase in armoring on German tanks eventually necessitates advancements in armament, such as the 76mm gun and the British “17-pounder.”

The M4 was notable for being easy to produce. Originally produced for to be sold to the United Kingdom, the M4 would become a staple of the Allied war effort and prominently associated with its home country, the U.S. During its production from 1941-1945, over forty nine thousand M4 tanks were produced.

Specifically designed for high mobility, the M4 proved to be a quick-moving and easily transportable piece of armor. The specifications for the M4 were intentionally restricted in size and weight in order to allow for easily crossing bridges, roads, and allowing the M4 to easily be transported on landing craft and by railroad without special modifications to tank or transport.

While sometimes chided for mechanical problems and occasionally associated with catastrophic failures, the M4 was actually quite well regarded for its mechanical reliability and ease of maintenance and modification.

During the war, many variations on the M4 were realized by a variety of countries. Popular variants included “tank destroyers” – an M4 chassis mounted with a slightly less armored turret equipped with a more powerful gun designed to penetrate enemy armor. The M4 was also produced with a variety of armor options, gasoline or diesel motors, several types of guns and other variants offered from the factory.

Reliable, quick-moving and easily produced, the M4 was an essential part of the Allies toolkit and proved indispensable during the war. The M4 was preferred by the commander of armored ground forces, leading to it being the primary tank used in the war. Although some more advanced tanks were developed during the war, the M4 largely remained the primary workhorse on the battle field, with newer, heavier tanks only being deployed towards the end of the war and failing to make nearly as much impact as the M4.

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