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United States' M4A2 medium tank12, Sherman:
M4A2 Medium Tank at Fort Knox, Kentucky during training. |
M4A2 medium tank at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland:  LIFE Magazine (Mark Holloway) |
M4A2 76 mm Medium Tank: |
| Diecast 1/72 Armor | |
|---|---|
| Dragon Armor | |
60331: |
60360: |
Standardized in December 1941. Built by Federal Machine and Welding Co., Fisher Tank Division, General Motors Corp., and Pullman Standard Car Manufacturing Co.
Welded hull. Some early vehicles had spoked wheels. Used only by USMC and Lend Lease. Had the GM 6-71 6046 motor. The engine was two GM truck engines, each mounted on each side of the engine compartment.7 They each were geared to a single prop shaft.7
Variants
- M4A2 (76mm): Welded hull. GM diesel 6-71.
76 mm gun replaced 75 mm in turret. It had better velocity and thus armor penetration. 2,600 ft/sec, range of 16,100 yards, penetrate 4 inches at 1,000 yards. Gun can also be used in indirect fire mode as an azimuth indicator and elevation quadrant was also available. Water protected ammo racks installed.
The commander had a vision cupola mounted above the turret hatch. It had 6 prismatic vision blocks of 3" laminated bullet-resistant glass.
The ammunition racks were water protected and there was a traveling lock for the main armament in the front to hold it while traveling in non-combat areas. - Tank Recovery Vehicle M32B2: Based on M4A2.
Usage
Sent to Russia and used by US Marine Corps.1,7 The Russians didn't like the high silhouette, thin armor, and poorly angled armor.1 Called the Sherman II by the British.1
| M4A2 medium tank12, Sherman III11 | M4A2 (76 mm), Sherman IIIA | |
|---|---|---|
| Crew | 54,12 | Commander, gunner, loader, driver, co-driver/hull gunner.3 53,4 |
| Radio | SCR-50812 | |
| Radio - command tank | SCR-50612 | |
| Physical Characteristics | ||
| Weight | 69,000 lb3,4,12 | 72,800 lb4 |
| Length w/gun | 19' 5"4,12 | 20' 8"4, 24' 3"3, 24' 7" |
| Length w/o gun | 20' 4"3, 20' 8" | |
| Height | 9'3,4,12 | 9' 9"3,4 |
| Width | 8' 7"3,4,12 | 8' 9.5"4 |
| Width over tracks | ||
| Ground clearance | 17 1/8"12 | |
| Ground contact length | 12' 3"12 | |
| Ground pressure | 14.2 psi12 | 14.9 psi |
| Turret ring diameter | ||
| Armament | ||
| Main | 75 mm4 75 mm M33 |
76 mm3,4 |
| Secondary | ||
| MG | 3: MG4 | 3: MG4 |
| MG - coaxial | 1: .30 cal Browning M1919A4 MG12 | |
| MG - hull | 1: .30 cal Browning M1919A4 MG12 | |
| MG - antiaircraft | 1: .50 cal MG3 1: .50 cal M2 HB MG12 |
|
| Side arms | 2" M3 Mortar12 .45 cal submachine gun12 |
|
| Quantity | ||
| Main | 973,12 | 713 |
| Secondary | ||
| MG | .30: 4,7503,12 .50: 30012 |
.30: 6,2503 |
| Side arms | .45: 60012 Mortar: 1212 (4: Fragmentation Mk III, 4: M8 Smoke, 2: M2 Offensive Mk III, 2: Thermite)12 |
|
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 1" - 2"4 123, 13 - 1055 |
123, 623 1.5" - 2"4 |
| 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 |
|
| Turret Sides | 2"12 | |
| Turret Rear | ||
| Turret Top | 1"12 | |
| Engine (Make / Model) | GM 6-71 6046, Twin GM 6-714,5, 2: General Motors 60467, General Motors 6-71 604612 | GM 6-71 6046, GM Twin 6-714 |
| Bore / stroke | ||
| Cooling | Water4 | Water4 |
| Cylinders | 124 | 124 |
| Capacity | ||
| Net HP | 375@2,100 rpm12, 4104, 4205 | 4104 |
| Power to weight ratio | ||
| Compression ratio | ||
| Transmission (Type) | Mechanical syncromesh12 | |
| Steering | ||
| Steering ratio | 1.515:112 | |
| Starter | ||
| Electrical system | 24 volt12 | |
| Ignition | ||
| 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) | Diesel4,5,7,12 | Diesel4 |
| Cetane | 5012 | |
| Quantity | 148 gallons12, 175 gallons | 148 gallons |
| Road consumption | ||
| Cross country consumption | ||
| Performance | ||
| Traverse | 360°3 | 360°3 |
| Max speed | 24 mph, 29 mph4,12 | 29 mph4 |
| Cross country speed | ||
| Road radius | 150 miles | 100 miles |
| Cross country radius | ||
| Turning radius | ||
| Elevation limits | -10° to +25°3 | -10° to +25°3 |
| Fording depth | 3'3, 3' 4"12 | 3'3, 3' 4" |
| Trench crossing | 7' 5"3,12 | 7' 6"3 |
| Vertical obstacle | 2'3,12 | 2'3 |
| Climbing ability | 60%12 | |
| Suspension (Type) | Vertical volute.3 | |
| Wheels each side | ||
| Wheel size | 20" x 9"12 | |
| Wheel size - idler | 28 1/8" x 9"12 | |
| Return rollers each side | ||
| Tracks (Type) | Rubber block12 | |
| Length | ||
| Width | 16.5"3,12 | |
| Number of links | 7912 | |
| Pitch | 6"12 | |
| Tire tread | ||
| Track centers/tread | 6' 11"3,12 | 6' 11"3 |
Sources:
- 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
- Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1943-1945, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
- 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
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- -
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- Battle Winning Tanks, Aircraft & Warships of World War II, David Miller, 2000
- Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
- Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969
- Airfix Magazine Guide #26 American Tanks of World War 2, Terry Gander and Peter Chamberlain, 1977
- The American Arsenal, 1996
