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Britain's Sherman Medium Tank

Sherman in North Africa in November 1942 with the 8th Army:	Sherman:	Sherman Firefly:	Sherman Firefly:
Sherman Firefly:	Sherman Firefly in France in 1944:	Sherman DD:	Sherman DD: Royal Armored Corps Tank Museum
Sherman ARV: Royal Armored Corps Tank Museum	Sherman Flail with the 79th Armored Division:

Design

Nicknamed Sherman and name stuck. Major deliveries were of the M4A4.

Prototype

 

Production

• Sherman VC: Modified by British⁴
  • Production: 1944 -⁴
  • Manufacturer: Chrysler⁴

Variants

• Sherman I: M4.³
• Sherman Hybrid I: Late production M4 with a combination cast and rolled hull.³
• Sherman IB: M4 105 mm.³
• Sherman IBY: M4 105 mm HVSS, delivered late 1945.
• Sherman IC
  Sherman II: M4A1.³
• Sherman IC Firefly:
  

  Sherman Mk IC Firefly:

• Sherman IIA: M4A1 76mm.³
• Sherman IIC Firefly: With 17 pdr gun. Was in Normandy landings and only allied tank that could take on Tiger and Panther tanks. Initially issued 1 per troop due to shortage of 17 pdr.
  In June 1944 there was one assigned to each troop of 4 tanks.
• Sherman Scorpion IV: Scorpion equipment mounted on Sherman II in North Africa in May 1943.
• Sherman II (M32B1), ARV Mk III: M32 B1 TRV.
• Sherman III: M4A2.³

  Dragon Armor 1/72 Diecast Models of Sherman Mk III:
  60309:	60310:

  Sherman Mk III: Royal Armored Corps Tank Museum

• Sherman IIIA: M4A2 with 76 mm.³
• Sherman IIIAY: With 76 mm, wet stowage and HVSS. Delivered late 1944.
• Sherman III, ARV Mk I: With turret removed and fitted with winch and a-frame.
• Sherman Kangaroo: 8th Army converted 75 Sherman IIIs in Italy. Room for 10 infantry men.
• Sherman III and V DD: Original conversions adding a screen erected by rubber tubing filled with air. Two propellers drove vehicle at 4 knots.
• Sherman III and V DD Mk I: Strengthened top rail.
• Sherman III DD Mk II: Mk I with small improvements.
• Sherman III and IIIAY DD Mk III: American conversions for British. Had HVSS and 76 mm gun. In service late 1945.
• Sherman IV: M4A3.³
• Sherman IVA: M4A3 w ith 76 mm⁷, wet stowage.¹
• Sherman IVB: M4A3 with a 105 mm.^1,3
• Sherman IVC Firefly: With 17 pdr.¹ Had crew of 4.¹ The gun was placed on its side and the turret extended.¹
• Sherman V: M4A4.³
  

  Sherman M4A4:

• Sherman VC Firefly: With 17 pdr. Hull MG and gunner deleted to increase ammo storage. Had crew of 4.¹
  The 17 pdr's AP shell was 17 lbs and could go 2,980'/sec.⁴ It could penetrate 6"@30° at 100 yards.⁴

  Dragon Armor 1/72 Diecast Models of Sherman Firefly:
  60250:	60251:	60259:	60260:

  Sherman Mk VC Firefly:

• Sherman V (Rocket): Filed modification by Coldstream Guards, Guards Armored Division. Provided twin launchers for 60 lb aircraft rockets on side of Sherman V turret. Modifications not adopted elsewhere.

  Dragon Armor 1/72 Diecast Models of Sherman Mk V Rocket:
  60307:	60308:

  Sherman Mk V Rocket:

• Sherman V, ARV Mk I: With turret removed and fitted with winch and a-frame.
• Sherman V, ARV Mk II: With dummy turret and dummy gun.
• Sherman VII: M4A6.³ Few if any delivered to Britain.
• Sherman VIIC Firefly: With 17 pdr. Had crew of 4.¹
  

  Sherman Mk VIIC Firefly:

• Sherman Gun Tower: Converted in Italy for towing 17 pdr anti-tank gun.
• Sherman Badger: M4A2 HVSS fitted with Wasp equipment. Developed in Canada in 1945.
• Sherman BARV: Modified for deep wading for Normandy landing. Could work in 9' of water. 52 delivered.
• Sherman Fascine Carrier: 79th Armored Division removed turret and carried 2 or 3 fascines. Not used.
• Sherman OP/Command/Rear Link: Extra radio equipment.
• Sherman Twaby Ark: Bridging vehicle similar to Churchill Ark. Used in training.
• Sherman Octopus: Similar to Ark with longer ramps.
• Sherman Plymouth: Turret removed to carry Bailey bridge. Used in Italy.
• Sherman Pram: Flails and rollers carried on 2 rotor arms. Used experimentally only.
• Sherman Marquis: Flail assembly that could be lifted. Rotor drive engine was carried in compartment where turret was removed.  Originally called Octopus.
• Sherman Lobster: Similar to Marquis but power was taken from tank engines and turret remained.
• Sherman Crab I and II: Developed in June 1943 and brigade attached to 79th Armored Division. Had 43 flails. Organized in troops of 5 and were allocated to local commanders. Mk II had a contouring device to better cover rough ground.
  

  Sherman Crab: Royal Armored Corps Tank Museum

• Sherman with CIRD: Identical to Churchill CIRD.
• Sherman with AMRCR: Similar to Churchill AMRCR.
• Sherman with Centipede: 12 concrete rollers intended to explode German S mines. Used in limited numbers.
• Sherman V Adder: Had armored tank at rear of vehicle. Not used.
• Sherman Salamander: Wasp flame thrower equipment added. Some used inside of dummy barrel. Not used.
• Sherman Crocodile: 4 converted for American use.

Usage

Saw action with the 8th Army at the Battle of Alamein on Oct 24, 1942.¹

	Sherman VC
Crew	42,5, 54
Physical Characteristics
Weight	32.7 tons2, 34.75 tons5, 34.8 tons4
Length w/gun	19.9'4, 25' 6"5 7.77 m2
Length w/o gun
Height	9'5, 9.3'4 2.74 m2
Width	8.6'4, 8' 8"5 2.67 m2
Ground clearance	17.1"4 0.43 m2
Ground contact length	160"4
Ground pressure	13.1 psi4 0.96 (kg/cm2)2
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	76.2 mm2 17 pdr (3") Mk IV, L/604 17 pdr MK IV QF5
Secondary
MG	2: MGs2 .50 cal MG, AA4
MG - coaxial	.30 cal MG4 .30 cal Browning MG5
Side arms
Quantity
Main	772,5, 784
Secondary
MG	6,1702 .30 cal: 5,0004 .50 cal: 5004
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	3"5 Front: 2"@46°4 Side: 1.5"4
Hull Front, Upper	50.82
Hull Front, Lower
Hull Sides, Upper	38.12
Hull Sides, Lower
Hull Rear	38.12
Hull Top	192
Hull Bottom	12.7-25.42
Turret Front	3"4 Mantlet: 1"4 76.2-88.92
Turret Sides	2"4 50.82
Turret Rear	50.82
Turret Top	25.42
Engine (Make / Model)	Chrysler2 5: Chrysler A-574 Chrysler A57 multi-bank5
Cooling	Water2,4
Cylinders	302 5x64
Net HP	425@2,850 rpm2 430@2,500 rpm4
Transmission	Synchromesh4,5 5 forward, 1 reverse4
Steering	Controlled differential4,5
Starter	Electric4
Electrical System	24 volt4
Ignition	Magneto4
Fuel (Type)	Gasoline2,4
Octane
Capacity	150 gallons4, 160 gallons5 606 liters2
Fuel consumption - Road	0.6 mpg4
Fuel consumption - Cross country
Power to weight ratio
Performance
Traverse
Max speed	22.25 mph5, 25 mph4 40.2 kph2
Cross country speed
Road radius	161 km2
Cross country radius	120 miels4
Turning Radius	21 m2
Elevation Limits	-5° to + 20.5°5
Fording depth	40"4 1.07 m2
Trench crossing	8'4
Vertical Obstacle	2'4
Climbing ability	31° (60%) slope4
Suspension (Type)	Volute Springs2 Vertical volute springs4
Wheels each side	62 3 bogies of 2 wheels each4
Return rollers each side	34
Tracks (Type)	Dry pin, double pin per shoe, rubber cleat4
Length
Width	16.6"4 420 mm2
Number of links	834
Pitch	6"4
Tire tread	Rubber2
Track centers/tread	6.9'4

Sources:

1. The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
2. Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1943-1945, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
3. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
4. Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
5. Sherman Firefly, David Fletcher, 2008

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