The M4 Sherman
The M4
Shermans were equipped with a Continental R-975 air-cooled radial
engine; they have a
welded hull. Only the 75mm and 105mm versions were built in the
USA, but the M4 was also sparingly used as a basis for 17pdr Firefly
tank by the British Army. The
users were : US, Britain, Poland, France (few vehicles). Some
very late M4s had composite cast/welded hulls (cast hull front
identical to M4A1 tanks) (Source : Wikipedia).
M4(75) Sherman
This variant was manufactured by Baldwin LW, Pressed Steel Car, ALCO and Pullman Standard (6748 units produced).
M4(75). This tank has a
75mm gun, small hatches (protruding hoods), a 57° glacis and dry ammunition
stowage bins.
M4(75) main recognition features
The 57° glacis shows
small hatches and protruding drivers' hoods.
The rear "inverted
U" back plate, which has a shallow horseshoe shape.
The plate was vertical on some tanks, and sloped on others.
The engine deck plate is
the same than on M4A1(75) tanks.
There are two engine
access doors.
M4(75) composite Sherman
This variant was only manufactured by Chrysler (1676 units produced).
M4(75) composite, a.k.a.
M4(75) hybrid. This tank has a cast hull front identical to the M4A1(75), but
the rear is welded, identical to the M4(75).
This particular example has large hatches and no hull antenna bracket (photo
courtesy of "Nevada
Tumbleweed"). Some earlier examples of the composite/hybrid variant have small hatches and a cast hull antenna bracket.
The M4 composite was
developed, because casting process was faster & more cost effective, since
it eliminated the need for a lot welding. At one point early on, converting all
the factories to the manufacture of cast hulls Shermans was contemplated, but
there was simply not enough foundry capacity. The cast front end was dreamed up
by Chrysler, & was thought to be a partial solution, since the front is
where a good deal of the welding man-hours were spent. The front casting was
not as enormous as the entire cast hull, so, it could be produced by a smaller
capacity foundry.
M4(105) Sherman
This variant was only manufactured by Chrysler (800 units produced).
M4(105). This tank has a
105mm gun, large hatches and a 47° glacis. The M4(105) didn't have wet stowage
bins. It also has a "high bustle" turret with
extra ventilator on rear top and the M52 gun mount for 105mm.
M4(105) main recognition features
The 47° glacis shows
large hatches.
The rear hull plate is
sloped, it no longer has a shallow horseshoe shape.
The engine deck plate is
the same than on M4A1 tanks with large hatches. Note that an additional
petrol/oil cap was added, compared to earlier M4 engine deck plates.
There are still two
engine access doors.
M4(105) Sherman (HVSS)
This variant was only manufactured by Chrysler (841 units produced).
M4(105) HVSS. This tank has a 47° glacis, large hatches and a dry ammunition stowage, it is equipped with the Horizontal Volute Spring Suspension.
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