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United States' M4A1 medium tank12, 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
U.S. Ordnance Dept.
M4A1 Medium Tank:
United States' M4A1 Medium Tank
U.S. Ordnance Dept.
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 Medium Tank:
United States' M4A1 Medium Tank
Mark Holloway
M4A1 medium tank's gun mount and guard with the seats
United States' M4A1 medium tank's gun mount and guard with the seats
U.S. Ordnance Dept.
M4A1 76 mm Medium Tank:
United States' M4A1 Medium Tank, 76 mm
 
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
T34E1 Rocket Launcher Medium Tank:
United States' T34E1 Medium Tank Rocket launcher
Aberdeen Tank Museum
M4A1E8 Medium Tank:
United States' M4A1E8 Medium Tank
M4A1 1/72 Die cast 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 medium tank12, Sherman II11 M4A1 (76 mm), Sherman IIA M4A1 with T34E1
Crew 54,12 Commander, gunner, loader, driver, co-driver/hull gunner.3
53,4
59
Radio SCR-50812    
Radio - command tank SCR-50612    
Physical Characteristics      
Weight 66,500 lb3,4,12 70,000 lb4 33.5 tons9
Length w/gun 19' 2"4,12 20' 4"4, 24' 3"3 20.3'9
Length w/o gun   20' 4"3  
Height 9'3,4,12 9' 9"3,4 10'9
Width 8' 7"3,4,12 8' 9.5"4 8.7'9
Width over tracks      
Ground clearance 17 1/8"12   17"9
Ground contact length 12' 3"12   147"9
Ground pressure 13.7 psi12 14.4 psi 13.5 psi9
Turret ring diameter      
Armament      
Main 75 mm4
75 mm M33,12
76 mm3,4 75 mm M3, L/409
Secondary     60 tube 4.5" rocket launcher9
MG 3: MG4
2: .30 cal MG3
3: MG4  
MG - coaxial 1: .30 cal Browning M1919A4 MG12   1: .30 cal M1919A4 MG9
MG - hull 1: .30 cal Browning M1919A4 MG12   1: .30 cal M1919A4 MG9
MG - antiaircraft .50 cal MG3
1: .50 cal M2 HB MG12
   
Side arms 2" M3 Mortar12
.45 cal submachine gun12
   
Quantity      
Main 9012, 973 713 899
Secondary      
MG .30: 4,7503,12
.50: 30012
.30: 6,2503 .30: 7,7509
Side arms .45: 60012
Mortar: 1212 (4: Fragmentation Mk III, 4: M8 Smoke, 2: M2 Offensive Mk III, 2: Thermite)12
   
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 2"12
503
   
Hull Front, Lower 1.5" - 2"12    
Hull Sides, Upper 1.5" - 2"12    
Hull Sides, Lower 1.5" - 2"12    
Hull Rear 1.5"12    
Hull Top 1"12    
Hull Bottom 0.5" - 1"12    
Turret Front 3"12
753
  3.2"9
Mantlet: 1.75"9
Turret Sides 2"12    
Turret Rear      
Turret Top 1"12    
Engine (Make / Model) Continental R-975-C14,12, Caterpillar5, Continental7 Continental R-975-C14 Wright9
Bore / stroke      
Cooling Air4 Air4 Air9
Cylinders 94,5 94 R-99
Capacity      
Net HP 353@2,400 rpm12, 4004
Caterpillar: 4505
4004 350@2,400 rpm9
Power to weight ratio      
Compression ratio     5.7:19
Transmission (Type) Mechanized syncromesh12  

Synchromesh9

5 forward, 1 reverse9

Steering     Controlled differential9
Steering ratio 1.515:112    
Starter     Electric9
Electrical system 24 volt12    
Ignition     Magneto9
Gear ratio - 1st gear 7.56:112    
- 2nd gear 3.11:112    
- 3rd gear 1.78:112    
- 4th gear 1.11:112    
- 5th gear 0.73:112    
- Reverse 5.65:112    
Fuel (Type) Caterpillar: Diesel5   Gasoline9
Octane 8012    
Quantity 175 gallons12   175 gallons9
Road consumption     0.6 mpg9
Cross country consumption      
Performance      
Traverse 360°3 360°3 Manual and hydraulic9
Max speed 24 mph1,4,12
39 kph1
24 mph4 22 mph9
Cross country speed      
Road radius 120 miles12 85 miles  
Cross country radius     100 miles9
Turning radius      
Elevation limits -10° to +25°3 -10° to +25°3  
Fording depth 3'3,12 3'3 40"9
Trench crossing 7' 5"3,12 7' 6"3 7.5'9
Vertical obstacle 2'3,12 2'3 24"9
Climbing ability 60%12   31° (60%) slope9
Suspension (Type) Vertical volute3, Volute spring12   Vertical volute spring, 2 wheels on each of 3 bogies9
Wheels each side     39
Wheel size 20" x 9"12    
Wheel size - idler 28 1/8" x 9"12    
Return rollers each side      
Tracks (Type) Rubber block12   Dry pin, double pin per shoe, rubber cleat9
Length      
Width 16.5"3,12   16.5"9
Number of links 7912   799
Pitch 6"12   6"9
Tire tread      
Track centers/tread 6' 11"3,12 6' 11"3  

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. -
  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
  12. The American Arsenal, 1996
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