M4 Sherman tanks

[BlackSheep214]

With so many variants during WW2, I’m confused what type were used during the ETO. So many variants from turrent type, barrel size (standard and long), M4 types, Jumbo, Easy, Firefly, China Clipper, etc…. I’ve started reading The Panzer Killers and it talks about the Shermans at some point around D-Day. Any guidance will be appreciated.

My understanding the M4A3 Sherman was considerded the best US Army variant. Why? When was it widely used during the war. Were they used after the landings at D-Day for fire support against the Panzers in hedgerows battle in Normandy?

I’m looking in Scalehobbyist and scalemates to find a good M4 Sherman - preferably the M4A3 variant of the 3rd Armor Division. I’m sure Carlos can give me some insight on variants and history.

[keavdog]

Specifically M4A3E8 - easy eight to my knowledge. I'm sure Carlos will have helpful commentary.

And BTW

[BlackSheep214]

Even to make more confusing, some Sherman were called:

Thunderbolt
Fay
Caesar
China Clipper
Wet
Cougar
Fury

All seen in Scalehobbyist online store.

I was looking at these…

Asuka models




Asuka models




Airfix




Academy

[Stikpusher]

Ok, let’s break it down… Sherman variants were mainly broken down by automotive type, followed by armament and suspension improvements.
M4 and M4A1 were automotively identical, both being powered by a gasoline radial engine. The difference between the two types was that the M4 was a welded flat plate upper hull, while the M4A1 had a single piece cast upper hull.
The M4A2 looked close to the M4, also having welded flat plates on the hull, but was powered by twin diesel engines. This variant was intended primarily for Lend Lease to Allied countries, but was also used by the USMC.
The M4A3 looked nearly identical to the M4 and M4A2 having slight differences in the rear hull and engine deck, but was powered by a Ford GAA V-8 Gasoline engine. The US Army decided to standardize on this type, but that didn’t take actual effect until summer of 1944.
The M4A4 had a slightly longer hull than all the others due to its engine, a Chrysler “multibank” which was essentially 5 “straight six” engines arranged around a common drive shaft. This type was also reserved for Lend Lease to Allied forces.

All started with a common single hatch low bustle turret with the 75mm medium velocity gun. The mantlet on this turret was enlarged from a narrow type(M34) to a wide type (M34A1) fairly early on. Also the transmission cover went from a three bolted piece assembly to a single cast piece, first with a “soft” curve, then later with a sharp curve.
After battlefield experience feedback, changes began to be made to hulls, turrets, and armament.
First the ammo stowage was relocated from the sponsons to the hull floor with glycol jackets to reduce the chance of ammo fires. At the same time the hull had larger hatches installed and a new angle flat thicker glacis on both the cast and welded hulls. Due to the new larger hatches on the hull, a new high bustle turret was introduced that also featured a second hatch on top for the loader.this was done for the M4, M4A1, M4A2, and M4A3. The M4A4 was discontinued at this point.
The M4 large hatches went in two directions. The 105mm howitzer armed variant used the same flat plate hull as the A2 and A3 large hatches variants, while the 75mm gun tank used a new “composite hull” where the front portion used a cast piece identical to the large hatch cast hull M4A1 and the rear portion from behind the hatches used the welded flat pieces.
The 76mm gun was introduced on the production line by using the turret from the T23 experimental tank onto the M4A1, M4A2, and M4A3 large hatch hulls.
A 105mm howitzer variant was also made on the M4A3 hull.
Suspensions changed from the early Vertical Volute Spring Suspension (VVSS) identical to that used on the previous M3 Lee/Grant type, to a “trailing arm” VVSS type. To improve soft ground mobility, a wider track Horizontal Volute Spring Suspension (HVSS) type, aka the “Easy 8” was introduced, first appearing on the battlefield in late 1944 on production A1, A2, and A3 variants.
The M4A3E2 Jumbo was a limited production run uparmored M4A3, first fielded in late 1944. It essentially double the armor protection on the sides and front hull, with an uparmored T23 type turret. These tanks were capable of taking hits from the dreaded “88” without being penetrated due to the increased armor protection. They used the standard VVSS suspension, but always had the duckbill extended end connectors fitted to the tracks to reduce ground pressure.
As far as the names you mentioned go, those were just names given to individual tanks by their crews and seen in photos.

[Stuart]

I knew Carlos would know the Answer

Sherman variants seem as big a mine field as Spitfires!

Just to add to that, the 'Firefly' you mentioned was a modification specific to us Brits, who loved our Shermans - they took a standard M4 (not 100% sure which variant) and modified the turret to accept a 17lb anti-tank gun. They also deleted the bow gunners station to improve ammo storage.

What version are you after building Tom?

[BlackSheep214]

I knew Carlos would know the Answer

Sherman variants seem as big a mine field as Spitfires!

Just to add to that, the 'Firefly' you mentioned was a modification specific to us Brits, who loved our Shermans - they took a standard M4 (not 100% sure which variant) and modified the turret to accept a 17lb anti-tank gun. They also deleted the bow gunners station to improve ammo storage.

What version are you after building Tom?

Looking for an M4A3 Sherman of the 3rd Armour Division - preferably the Spearhead Division.

[Stuart]

Tamiya do a M4A3 (which I've built), as do Asuka (Asuka are supposed to make the best Shermans or so I'm told), not sure about markings though - I bet there are decals about.

[Stikpusher]

I knew Carlos would know the Answer

Sherman variants seem as big a mine field as Spitfires!

Just to add to that, the 'Firefly' you mentioned was a modification specific to us Brits, who loved our Shermans - they took a standard M4 (not 100% sure which variant) and modified the turret to accept a 17lb anti-tank gun. They also deleted the bow gunners station to improve ammo storage.

What version are you after building Tom?

I was just going over factory production variants, not modifications by receiving nations such as the Firefly, Crab, etc., or field depots such as DD’s, upgunned Jumbo’s, uparmored Easy 8’s, etc. The Commonwealth Firefly’s were primarily converted from M4s, both original hull and composite hull types (or “hybrid” in British vernacular), and the M4A4. During WWII, the Firefly was the best armed Sherman for taking on the Tiger or Panther at standard combat ranges.

[Stikpusher]

I knew Carlos would know the Answer

Sherman variants seem as big a mine field as Spitfires!

Just to add to that, the 'Firefly' you mentioned was a modification specific to us Brits, who loved our Shermans - they took a standard M4 (not 100% sure which variant) and modified the turret to accept a 17lb anti-tank gun. They also deleted the bow gunners station to improve ammo storage.

What version are you after building Tom?

Looking for an M4A3 Sherman of the 3rd Armour Division - preferably the Spearhead Division.

The 3rd Armored went ashore in Normandy with standard 75mm gun tank M4 and M4A1s. They didn’t receive the 76mm gunned M4A1s until just before the Normandy breakout Operation Cobra in July. 75mm M4A3s began to be issued as replacements for battlefield losses in late summer/early fall of 1944. The M4A3 76mm types did not begin to be fielded until mid to late autumn of ‘44.




This famous photo of 3rd armored division tanks in Cologne in early 1945 shows their typical post Normandy appearance. The M4A1 76mm in the background still wears the black camo applied for the Normandy breakout. The Jumbo in the foreground has been upgunned with a 76mm gun, replacing the factory build 75mm gunned M4A1s, and partially visible M4A3 76mm Sherman. Notice that none wear any hull or turret side white stars. Usually by this point 3rd Armored, being a very combat experienced unit by this time only had the serial numbers and perhaps a name on the hull sides, along with the unit & tank ID bumper codes on the front and rear. The only stars carried by that point would be the circled air recognition type worn on the turret top.

Here are a M4A1 76mm and M4A3E2 Jumbo from 3rd Armored in the Bulge fight. Compare the difference on the smaller medium velocity 75 mm gun on the Jumbo, to the one in Cologne a few months later.

[BlackSheep214]

Ok… this answered my question - the M4A3 Sherman in the first photo is what I want to get. I did find one for the Battle of Bulge Sherman.