Modeling the WW-II Sherman Tank
by Gary Binder, IPMS#36122
Due to the complexity of the subject this article will address only the gun tanks. SP artillery, tank destroyers and engineering variants will be dealt with separately
Medium Tank M4 basic variations:
M4 with 75mm gun– Continental R-975 Radial (air cooled) engine in welded plate hull. 75mm gun in M34 mount, later in M34A1 mount. 60-deg hull front w/ protruding drivers’ hoods, early production had direct vision slots. Later or remanufactured hulls had exterior appliqué armor over ammo bins. Early vehicles had M3 suspension bogies, then horizontal-arm VVSS was standardized. Sparing used for 17-pounder “Firefly” conversions by British. Along with the M4A1, the M4 was the preferred type for the US Army through 1944, and still very common thereafter.
M4 “Composite” – same engine, but later production M4 had the front of the upper hull made from a one-piece casting (profile similar to M4A1), with rear 2/3rds of hull being welded plate... Only produced with 75mm gun, although the British used some for “Firefly” conversion and a few were re-armed with flamethrowers by US Army in Pacific. Can have straight arm VVSS but most vehicles had upswept arm VVSS. Note: in official US documentation the changed hull is NOT designated different, both all-welded and cast-welded hulls were classed as “Medium Tank M4”.
M4 with 105 Howitzer – Continental R975 engine in later welded hull with simplified 47-deg glacis and larger drivers’ hatches (the only use of this hull in an M4). 105mm howitzer in M52 mount, in 75mm style turret (w/ extra ventilator on rear top and thickened right “cheek”). First issued in Europe in summer, 1944, other areas received them afterwards. Used as a close support vehicle, issued to tank battalion HQ’s Assault Gun platoon, later additional issue of one per medium tank company.
M4A1 with 75mm gun - Continental R-975 Radial (air cooled) engine in cast hull. 75mm gun in M34 mount, later in M34A1 mount. 60-deg hull front w/ protruding drivers’ hoods, early production had direct vision slots. Later or remanufactured hulls had appliqué armor welded on; later the reinforcements were cast into the hull sides. Early vehicles had M3 suspension bogies, then horizontal-arm VVSS was standardized. Along with the M4, the M4A1 was the preferred type for the US Army through 1944, and still very common thereafter... A few hundred M4A1 75’s were produced in Canada as the “Grizzly”.
M4A1 with 75mm gun and “wet” stowage hull – 75mm gun turret on later “large hatch” hull (see M4A1 76mm below). Only a small batch of these were built and most if not all went to conversion as Duplex-Drive tanks.
M4A1 with 76mm gun and “wet” stowage – redesigned cast hull with larger drivers’ hatches. No appliqué armor. New turret (designed for T23 tank project) carrying a 76mm gun. First turrets had large “gun ring” hatch over loader’s station, late turrets had oval escape hatch. First issued in Europe in June/July 1944, late appeared in MTO (not used in Pacific). Early production had straight arm VVSS, later ones used upswept-arm VVSS. HVSS was used on later production M4A1 but there is no photo record of them seeing combat in WW2.
M4A2 with 75mm gun –Twin GM diesel engines (liquid cooled), Welded plate hull. 75mm gun in M34 mount, later in M34A1 mount. 60-deg hull front w/ protruding drivers’ hoods, early production had direct vision slots. Early vehicles had M3 suspension bogies, then horizontal-arm VVSS was standardized. Similar production upgrades as per M4. Not desired by US Army, used only for stateside training. Only Sherman used in combat by the USSR. Many given to British Commonwealth, sparing used for 17-pounder “Firefly” conversions by British. Standard vehicle for the Free French 2nd Armored Division in ETO and used by many USMC tank units in PTO (generally replaced by M4A3 by Okinawa).
M4A2 with 75mm gun and “wet” stowage – no use of the wet stowage feature, BUT the later pattern hull with 47-deg. glacis was used on late production M4A2. Seen in use by USSR and USMC, these are the only late hulls that are appropriate to have external appliqué armor.
