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United States' M4A1 medium tank, Sherman:

M4A1 Medium Tanks being manufactured at the Lima Locomotive Works in early 1942.
United States' M4A1 Medium Tanks being manufactured
M4A1 Medium Tank:
United States' M4A1 Medium Tank
M4A1 Medium Tank:
United States' M4A1 Medium Tank
M4A1 Medium Tank in Normandy in 1944 with the Cullin Hedgerow Device.
United States' M4A1 Medium Tank
M4A1 Medium Tank on Leyte Island in the Philippines in November 1944.
United States' M4A1 Medium Tank
M4A1 Medium Tank:
M4A1 Medium Tank:
United States' M4A1 Medium Tank
M4A1 Medium Tank at Fort Hood, Texas.
United States' M4A1 Medium Tank
M4A1 Medium Tank on June 9, 1942, one of the early pilot vehicles.
United States' M4A1 Medium Tank
M4A1 Medium Tank:
United States' M4A1 Medium Tank
M4A1 Medium Tank at a parade in Louisville, Kentucky, on Army Day on April 6, 1942. Note 2 fixed MGs in the bow. These were in some early production vehicles.
United States' M4A1 Medium Tank
M4A1 Medium Tank:
United States' M4A1 Medium Tank
M4A1 76 mm Medium Tank:
United States' M4A1 Medium Tank
M4A1 76 mm Medium Tank with extra armor added on.
United States' M4A1 Medium Tank
  M4A1E8 Medium Tank:
United States' M4A1E8 Medium Tank
T34E1 Rocket Launcher Medium Tank:
United States' T34E1 Medium Tank Rocket launcher
Aberdeen Tank Museum
     
M4A1 1/72 Diecast Armor
Dragon:
60257:
Dragon Diecast 1/72 Armor, 60257 United States M4A1 Medium Tank
60258:
Dragon Diecast 1/72 Armor, 60258 United States M4A1 Medium Tank
60292:
Dragon Diecast 1/72 Armor, 60292 M4A1 76mm VVSS Medium Tank
60293:
Dragon Diecast 1/72 Armor, 60293 M4A1 76mm Medium Tank

Cast hull.7 Early models had M3 bogie units, M2 75 mm gun with counter weights and twin fixed MGs in hull. Soon hull MGs eliminated and M3 75 mm gun used. M34A1 mount and sand shields were added. Had the Continental R-975 motor.

Production

Standardized in December 1941. Built by Lima Locomotive Works, Inc., Pacific Car and Foundry Co., and Pressed Steel Car Co.

Variants

  M4A1 (Sherman II11) M4A1 (76 mm) (Sherman IIA) M4A1 with T34E1
Crew 54 Commander, gunner, loader, driver, co-driver/hull gunner.3
53,4
59
Physical Characteristics      
Weight 66,500 lb3,4 70,000 lb4 33.5 tons9
Length w/gun 19' 2"4 20' 4"4, 24' 3"3 20.3'9
Length w/o gun   20' 4"3  
Height 9'3,4 9' 9"3,4 10'9
Width 8' 7"3,4 8' 9.5"4 8.7'9
Width over tracks      
Ground clearance 17 1/8"   17"9
Ground contact length 12' 3"   147"9
Ground pressure 13.7 psi 14.4 psi 13.5 psi9
Turret ring diameter      
Armament      
Main 75 mm4
75 mm M33,6
76 mm3,4
76 mm M16
75 mm M3, L/409
Secondary     60 tube 4.5" rocket launcher9
MG 3: MG4
2: .30 cal MG3
.50 cal MG, AA3
3: MG4 2: .30 cal M1919A4 MG, bow, coaxial9
Side arms      
Quantity      
Main 90, 973,6 713,6 899
Secondary      
MG .30: 4,7503 .30: 6,2503 .30: 7,7509
Side arms      
Armor Thickness (mm) 123
1" - 2"4
123, 623
1.5" - 2.5"4
Front: 2.5"@46°9
Side: 1.5"9
Hull Front, Upper 503    
Hull Front, Lower      
Hull Sides, Upper      
Hull Sides, Lower      
Hull Rear      
Hull Top      
Hull Bottom      
Turret Front 753   3.2"9
Mantlet: 1.75"9
Turret Sides      
Turret Rear      
Turret Top      
Engine (Make / Model) Continental R-975-C14
Continental R-9756
Caterpillar5
Continental7
Continental R-975-C14 Wright9
Bore / stroke      
Cooling Air4 Air4 Air9
Cylinders 94,5 94 R-99
Capacity      
Net HP 353, 4004
Caterpillar: 4505
4004 350@2,400 rpm9
Power to weight ratio      
Compression ratio     5.7:19
Transmission (Type)    

Synchromesh9

5 forward, 1 reverse9

Steering     Controlled differential9
Steering ratio      
Starter     Electric9
Electrical system      
Ignition     Magneto9
Fuel (Type) Gasoline6
Caterpillar: Diesel5
  Gasoline9
Octane 80    
Quantity 175 gallons   175 gallons9
Road consumption     0.6 mpg9
Cross country consumption      
Performance      
Traverse 360°3 360°3 Manual and hydraulic9
Max speed 24 mph1,4
39 kph1
24 mph4 22 mph9
Cross country speed      
Road radius 120 miles 85 miles  
Cross country radius     100 miles9
Turning radius      
Elevation limits -10° to +25°3 -10° to +25°3  
Fording depth 3'3 3'3 40"9
Trench crossing 7' 5"3 7' 6"3 7.5'9
Vertical obstacle 2'3 2'3 24"9
Climbing ability     31° (60%) slope9
Suspension (Type) Vertical volute.3   Vertical volute spring, 2 wheels on each of 3 bogies9
Wheels each side     39
Return rollers each side      
Tracks (Type)     Dry pin, double pin per shoe, rubber cleat9
Length      
Width 16.5"3   16.5"9
Diameter      
Number of links     799
Pitch     6"9
Tire tread      
Track centers/tread 6' 11"3 6' 11"3  
Production      

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. British and American Tanks of World War Two, The Complete Illustrated History of British, American, and Commonwealth Tanks 1933-1945, Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis, 1969
  4. Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
  5. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
  6. Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
  7. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
  8. Battle Winning Tanks, Aircraft & Warships of World War II, David Miller, 2000
  9. Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
  10. Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969
  11. Airfix Magazine Guide #26 American Tanks of World War 2, Terry Gander and Peter Chamberlain, 1977
Home page graphic for wwiivehicles.com, pictures of Sherman, T-34/85, Tiger, and Churchill