M4A3 Medium Tank, Sherman:

Imperial War Museum

Imperial War Museum

Aberdeen Tank Museum

Standardized in January 1942.⁷ Built by Ford Motor Co.⁷

Welded hull.⁷ Used mainly by US Army. Late models had improved cupola, a loaders hatch, and wet stowage for ammunition. Had the GAA-III V-WC motor.

Called the Sherman IV by the British.¹ Supplied to the Russians.

M4A3E2 Assault Tank, "Jumbo":

Imperial War Museum

Armor added hull 100 mm, turret 150 mm. 84,000 lb, 42 tons^1,7, 42,672 kg¹. Grousers added to track to improve ride. 22 mph. Originally 75 mm gun but some replaced by 76 mm once in Europe. 254 were produced at Grand Blanc from May to June 1944.¹ Nicknamed "Jumbo."¹ Had the Chrysler 5-line WC motor.

Had additional armor welded to the front. The turret had a total of 6" and the hull 4".⁷

M4A3E8:

Patton Museum in Ft Knox, Kentucky

Chris Bobo

Patton Museum in Ft Knox, Kentucky

Chris Bobo

Imperial War Museum

Imperial War Museum

Aberdeen Tank Museum

Had HVSS (horizontal volume spring suspension) and was nicknamed the "Easy Eight."¹

M4A3 1/72 Diecast Armor
Dragon Armor		Easy Models
60163: 60164: 60282: 60283:	60297: 60298: 60315: 60316:	36256: 36258: 36262:

The 76 mm gun could fire a 15.4 lb AP shell at a muzzle velocity of 2,600'/sec.⁹

M4A3 (76mm):

Welded hull. Ford GAA-III petrol. Detroit Arsenal (2-7/44): 1,400, Grand Blanc (9-12/44): 525.

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.

M4A3 (105 mm):

Based on the M4A3 using a Ford GAA engine. Detroit Arsenal (4-8/44): 500.

105 mm howitzer installed in place of 75 mm in turret. A pintle for towing a trailer was installed.

M4A3 (105mm) HVSS:

New suspension. Detroit Arsenal (8/44 - 5/45): 2,539.

Tank Recovery Vehicle M32B3:

Based on M4A3. Later vehicles had HVSS.

Demolition Tank T31:

M4A3 HVSS with 105 mm howitzer and 2 7.2" rockets mounted in turret. Never used.

	M4A3 (Sherman IV)	M4A3E2
Crew	54,5	54
Physical Characteristics
Weight	68,500 lb3,4 28.4 tons6, 32.284 tons5	84,000 lb4 42 tons7
Length w/gun	19' 4.5"4, 19' 5.5", 19'9"7, 24' 8"5 5.89 m6, 7.52 m5	20' 7"4
Length w/o gun	20' 7"5 6.27 m5
Height	9'3,4, 9' 3"7 11' 2.875"5 2.74 m6, 3.43 m5	11' 2 7/8"4
Width	8' 7"3,4, 8' 9"7, 8' 9.5"5 2.62 m6, 2.68 m5	9' 3.5"4
Width over tracks
Ground clearance	17 1/8"
Ground contact length	12' 3"
Ground pressure	14.1 psi
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	75 mm4 75 mm M33,6	75 mm4
Secondary
MG	3: MG4 2: .30 cal MG3 .50 cal MG, AA3	3: MG4
Side arms
Quantity
Main	973,6
Secondary
MG	.30: 4,7503
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	123 1" - 2"4 15 - 1005 Front: 756 Side: 376	4.5"4 - 5.5"4 Hull 4"7 Turret: 6"
Hull Front, Upper	503
Hull Front, Lower
Hull Sides, Upper
Hull Sides, Lower
Hull Rear
Hull Top
Hull Bottom
Turret Front	753
Turret Sides
Turret Rear
Turret Top
Engine (Make / Model)	GAA-III V-WC Ford GAA-III4,5 Ford GAA6,7	Ford GAA-III4
Bore / stroke
Cooling	Water4	Water4
Cylinders	V-85,7, 84	84
Capacity
Net HP	4505,6, 5004,5	5004
Power to weight ratio
Compression ratio
Transmission (Type)
Steering
Steering ratio
Starter
Electrical system
Ignition
Fuel (Type)
Octane
Quantity	148 gallons
Road consumption
Cross country consumption
Performance
Traverse	360°3
Max speed	25 mph4, 29 mph5, 30 mph7 43 kph6, 47 kph5	22 mph4
Cross country speed
Road radius	100 miles5, 130 miles7 161 km5
Cross country radius
Turning radius
Elevation limits	-10° to +25°3
Fording depth	3'3,5 0.91 m5
Trench crossing	7' 5"3,5 2.26 m5
Vertical obstacle	2'3,5 0.61 m5
Climbing ability
Suspension (Type)	Vertical volute.3 Horizontal.5
Wheels each side
Return rollers each side
Tracks (Type)
Length
Width	16.5"3
Diameter
Number of links
Pitch
Tire tread
Track centers/tread	6' 11"3
Production

	M4A3 (76 mm) (Sherman IVA)	M4A3E8 (76 mm)	M4A3 (105 mm) (Sherman IVB)
Crew	Commander, gunner, loader, driver, co-driver/hull gunner.3 52,3,4	59	54
Physical Characteristics
Weight	71,100 lb4 33.7 tons2	37.1 tons9	68,500 lb4,10
Length w/gun	20' 7.5"4, 24' 3"3, 24' 7" 7.54 m2	19.3'9	19' 4.5"4,10
Length w/o gun	20' 4"3, 20' 7.5"
Height	9' 9"3,4 2.97 m2	9.9'9	9' 2 11/16"4
Width	8' 9.5"4 3 m2	9.8'9	8' 7"4
Width over tracks
Ground clearance	0.43 m2	17.1"9
Ground contact length		147"9
Ground pressure	14.6 psi 0.77 (kg/cm2)2	10.6 psi9	14.1 psi
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	76 mm2,3,4 76 mm M16	76 mm M1A2, L/539	105 mm howitzer4,6
Secondary
MG	3: MG2,4	1: .50 cal M2 MG, AA9 1: .30 cal M1919A4 MG, bow9	3: MG4
Side arms
Quantity
Main	712,3,6	719	666
Secondary
MG	.30: 6,2503 6,8502	.50: 6009 .30: 6,2509
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	123, 623 1.5" - 2"4	Front: 2"@46°9 Side: 1.5"9	1.5" - 2"4
Hull Front, Upper	50.8-1082
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	63.5-88.92	3"9 Mantlet: 3.5"9
Turret Sides	63.52	2"9
Turret Rear	63.52
Turret Top	25.42
Engine (Make / Model)	GAA-III V-WC Ford2 Ford GAA-III4	Ford GAA9	Ford GAA-III4, water cooled4
Bore / stroke		4 cycles9
Cooling	Water2,4	Water9
Cylinders	82,4	V-89	84
Capacity
Net HP	5002,4 @ 2,600 rpm2	500@2,600 rpm9
Power to weight ratio			5004
Compression ratio
Transmission (Type)	5 forward, 1 reverse2	Synchromesh9 5 forward, 1 reverse9
Steering		Controlled differential9
Steering ratio
Starter		Electric9
Electrical system		24-volt9
Ignition		Magneto9
Fuel (Type)	Gasoline2	Gasoline9
Octane
Quantity	636 liters2	168 gallons9
Road consumption
Cross country consumption		0.6 mpg9
Performance
Traverse	360°3	Power9	360°
Max speed	26 mph4 41.8 kph2	26 mph9	26 mph4
Cross country
Road radius	100 miles 161 km2	155 miles9	130 miles
Cross country radius		100 miles9
Turning radius	19 m2
Elevation limits	-10° to +25°3
Fording depth	3'3 0.91 m2	36"9
Trench crossing	7' 6"3	7.5'9
Vertical obstacle	2'3	24"9
Climbing ability		31° (60%) slope9
Suspension (Type)	HVSS2	Horizontal suspension, 3 bogies wheels of 2 wheels each9
Wheels each side	62	3x29
Return rollers each side		59
Tracks (Type)		Dry pin, double pin per shoe, steel shoes with rubber backing9
Length
Width	23"3 584 mm2	23.9"9
Diameter
Number of links		799
Pitch		6"9
Tire tread	Rubber2
Track centers/tread	6' 11"3	7.4'9
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

Want to learn about a new vehicle? Select the random picture to learn about the vehicle.

Other M4A3 Links:
M4A3 Photos
Other M4 Series Links
M4 Main Page , Photos M4A1 History & Specs, Photos M4A2 History & Specs, Photos M4A4 History & Specs, Photos M4A6 History & Specs M4 Series Misc. Photos M4 Series Production Photos of Shermans in Britain's Use

| | |

---

Web WWIIVehicles