M4A2 Shermans

The M4A2 Shermans were equipped with a General Motors 6046 engine (2x GM 6-71 General Motors Diesel engines); they have a welded hull, there were 75mm and 76mm versions only. The users were : USSR, USMC (in the Pacific Theater of Operations), France, Britain, Poland. No US Army combat use (Source : Wikipedia).

M4A2(75) Sherman
This variant was manufactured by Fisher Body, Baldwin LW, Federal Machine and Welder, ALCO and Pullman Standard (approx. 7053 units produced).

M4A2(75). This tank has a 75mm gun, small hatches (protruding hoods), a 57° glacis and dry ammunition stowage bins.

M4A2(75) main recognition features

The 57° glacis shows small hatches and protruding drivers' hoods.

M4A2(75)

The rear hull plate is sloped.

M4A2(75)

The "small grille" engine deck plate.

M4A2(75)

The exhaust system, there are no engine access doors. Sometimes, there is an an exhausts gas deflector system.

M4A2(75) Dry Sherman
This variant was only manufactured by Fisher Body (approx. 1000 units produced).

M4A2(75) Dry. This tank is a transitional version of the M4A2, it has the 47° 1-piece glacis with large hatches, but still retains the dry ammunition stowage bins (the other 75mm and 76mm variants with the 47° glacis and large hatches have wet ammo stowage bins). It has additional armor plates added to the hull sides (which is not seen on wet stowage tanks). It is estimated that 1000 tanks of this particular transitional version were built by Fisher, starting in November 1943. One single, incomplete survivor is known and preserved in Bucharest (Romania).

M4A2(76)W Sherman (VVSS)
This variant was only manufactured by Fisher Body (approx. 1594 units produced).

M4A2(76)W. This tank has a 47° glacis, large hatches and wet ammunition stowage. It has a T23 turret and a 76mm main gun. This photo comes from the Russian archives, it was taken during trials in USSR, probably in 1944. Most if not all the M4A2(76) VVSS Shermans went to Soviet lend-lease, no surviving example of this Sherman variant is known yet.

M4A2(76)W main recognition features

The 47° glacis shows large hatches.

M4A2(76)W

The rear hull plate is sloped.

M4A2(76)W

The "small grille" engine deck plate. Note that an additional petrol/oil cap was added, compared to earlier M4A2 engine deck plates.

M4A2(76)W

The exhaust system is the same than on earlier M4A2s. These five photos are courtesy of Don Allen.

M4A2(76)W Sherman (HVSS)
This variant was manufactured by Fisher Body and Pressed Steel Car (approx. 1321 units produced).

M4A2(76)W HVSS. This tank is nearly identical to the M4A2(76)W with a 47° glacis, larges hatches and wet stowage, but it has an Horizontal Volute Spring Suspension (photo courtesy of Paul & Lorén Hannah). Note that this type of rubber tracks didn't see any service during WW2.

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