Shermans in ETO

[finlander]

I would like to be clear of the when and what type of Sherman was used from Normandy landings to the end of OP.Cobra?
M4A1 was the tank in june 6th, right! After that its not very clear when was the next model used in the Normandy Campaign..? I think they used the M4A3 "JUMBO" in experimental use in july..

Help me out here!!

[Major Pain]

Oh boy... I'll try to help out on this.

The primary US Army Tank from 1942 through June 1944 were the M4 and M4A1. Both models had the Continental R975 C4 Engine; (9 cylinder, 4 cycle, radial gasoline; 400 hp). It was common that Tank Battalions had both models; parts were interchangable.

There were 3 production models (variants); all had 75mm, although the M4 was also built with 105mm in Jan 1944.

The primary difference in the variants was the M4 had a welded Hull while the M4A1 had a Cast Hull.

Early and Mid Production models had 56° Sloped Armor Front & 3-piece final drive and differential housing. Driver/Co-Driver hatches were above hoods that protruded in front of front armor.

Beginning Jan 1944, the Late production models was changed to 47° Sloped Armor Front & 1-piece final drive and differential housing. Driver/Co-Driver hatches were enlarged and inside the front armor.

These models were used by the US and UK in Africa, Sicily, Italy & France.




In July 1944, the US Army changed preference to the M4A3 with the Ford GAA Engine; (8 cylinder, 4 cycle, 60° vee gasoline; 500 hp). Early & Mid production models had 56° Sloped Armor Front & 1-piece final drive and differential housing. Late production models was changed to 47° Sloped Armor Front and Driver/Co-Driver hatches were enlarged and inside the front armor.

The M4A3 became the primary US Battle Tank, although the other variants were still in use. The M4A3 had more variants and add-ons than any other Model.

It was very uncommon to find the M4A3 in Italy before 1944, but some were used.




The M4A2 Model was only used by the US Marines in the Pacific, and Lend Lease (USSR,UK). Very few M4A2(76) were used by the Marines in the Pacific, since the 75mm was suitable against Japanese Armor. The Sherman was used in its intended role of Infantry Support rather than Tank vs Tank. There were very few instances of Tank battles in the Pacific.

Important modifications:

In Jan 1944, all M4 Turrets were modified to store Ammunition in Water or Anti-Freeze. The W was added to denote these models. Example: M4A1(75)W / M4A3(76)W.

In Dec 1944, a new track suspension system was introduced on the M4A1, and later on the other variants. These were the HVSS models designated by E8 in the description. Example: M4A1E8(76)W.

In Dec1944, the M4A1 variant was the first to receive the T23 Turret with the 76mm M1A1 Gun. By May 1945, about 50% of all Shermans in ETO were 76mm.

In Dec 1944, the M4 and M4A3 both received the 105mm M4 Howitzer in a modifed M4 Turret. It is important to note that some tank crews had already 'field upgunned' to the 105mm in 1943.

FireFly Shermans: The UK used the M4 (Sherman I-Mar 1942) and M4A4 (Sherman V-Jul 1943) variants only for the Firefly. The M4 Turret was modified by adding a radio box to the rear of the turret to allow extra room for 17pdr recoil.

According to Production Data: Some M4A3 were built into US Fireflies; none saw service.

It is important to note that some tank crews modified their M4 Turrets to install the 76mm Gun; box added to rear of turret to allow gun recoil room.


JUMBO: These were designated M4A3E2(75) & M4A3E2(76) Assault Tank; Note the E2. They arrived in France Aug 1944. Only a few were given to each Tank Battalion.

It is important to note: Patton wanted all of the M4A3E2s (Jumbos), but was denied. He had Field Engineers build "Heavies" with added armor to the front and sides. These were only the 75mm variant since there were very few 76mm M4s in the ETO. During the War, the term Jumbo was not an official name found in any document; they were simply E2s.

It is important to note that M4A3s were not issued to Tank Battalions that used the M4 or M4A1 variants. So you never saw mixed Battalions of M4A3s and M4A1s. This was due to engine & part differences.





D-DAY: You found the M4(75), M4A1(75) and M4A3(75) all in use on June 6th 1944. Firefly 17pdrs were in use by the UK on June 6 1944.

The M4A1(76) did not arrive until July, in time for the breakout.

The Jumbo arrived in late August 1944.


I hope this helps a little...

[finlander]

Did i order the Encyclopedia of the Sherman tank? NO, but i got it anyways..Thanks Doc! This was the thoroughest answer i could get.
If its not too much trouble..could you dig up the timeline of the next models that were used in Europe in ww2..I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THIS!!

[Major Pain]

finlander: Which models? M26 Pershing, Chaffee, TDs, etc...


The Shermans maintained their place as the primary US Battle Tank until the end of WW2, and many were used in Korea.

The M26 arrived too late to be a real factor. It was labled a Heavy Tank, then moved to Medium Class after the War. 310 M26s arrived in the ETO beginning Jan 1945 but only 20 were used in combat.

34 M24 Chaffees arrived Nov 1944 and were used during the Battle of the Bulge. It replaced the M3 & M5 Stuarts a the US Light Infantry Tank.

M22 Locust was used very little in the role of a Airborne Tank; usually with the UK.


M45 Support Tank (M26 with a 105mm) never made it to the ETO, or the Pacific.

M10 Wolverine TD began service in Tunisia in 1943.

M18 Hellcat TD began service in Normandy in July 1944.

M36 Jackson Tank Destroyer began service in the ETO in Sept 1944.

Halftracks by late 1944 were based on the M3A2.

M7 Priest began service in May 1943.


M12 155 mm Gun Motor Carriage began production in 1943, but were not used until D-Day. Only 74 M12s & M30 Cargo Carrier served in ETO.

M40 155 mm Gun Motor Carriage: Only one served in the ETO in 1945. 311 were built but not used until Korea.

That's about it for the US.

[finlander]

Sorry for your trouble, but i was referring to the Shermans..and to the following models to the M4A1..As they were upgunned sometime in 44 but what month&what model..?

[Major Pain]

The M4A1(76)W arrived on the Battlefield in early July 1944... and were used during Operation Goodwood, Operation Atlantic, and Operation Spring.

The M4A3(76)W arrived in ETO in late July but too late to participate in the Cobra (Breakout). They were deployed in August 1944.

Note: The T23 Turret that housed the M1A1 76mm Gun came from the T23 prototype that later became the the T26/M26 Pershing.

The Jumbo arrived in the ETO August, also using a modified T23 Turret. All Jumbos were built with the 75mm Gun, but some crews upgunned to the 76mm gun; (the gun mount was designed for the 76mm).

The Rhino Cutter or hedgerow Cutter was added to 60% of ETO tanks in late June 1944 as tank crews needed something to cut through the dense foilage (hedgerows). This included the M4, M4A1, M4A3, M3 & M5 Stuart, M10 Wolverine.

Dozer Tanks were deployed in Africa and used throughout the war in all theaters. The first Sherman to get the Dozer Blade was the M4(75)b Mid Production.

The M4(75)b also was fitted with the Direct Drive amphibian system, as it was also fitted with the Deep Fording Equipment (intakes and exhaust stacks). Both systems were used at D-Day and later, but the Deep Fording was only used in the Pacific.

The M4 (late production-W) was the first to receive the 105mm and deployed in June 1944, followed by the M4A3(105) during Battle of the Bulge.


The use of the M4 Sherman in Normandy showed a versital cross-section of variants:

June 6, 1944: D-Day

M4(75)
M4(75) DD - Direct Drive
M4(75) DF - Deep Fording Equip
M4(105)

M4A1(75)
M4A1(75)W

M4A3(75) *Newly Formed Tank Battalions


July 18, 1944: Operation Goodwood

Same as above
M4A1(76)W - Added
M4A4(75) Added


July 25, 1944: Cobra

Same as above - no changes
M4A3(76)W began to arrive at Caen


August 4, 1944

M4A3(76)W deployed


August 14, 1944: Before Falaise Pocket

M4A3E2(75) Assault Tank deployed (Jumbo)

Note: Patton's Assault Tanks (Heavies) appear earlier as he is denied E2s. These Heavies or "Expediant E2s" were field up-armored using gutted disabled Tanks (Allied & German) and included:

M4(75) became M4(75)V
M4A3(75) & M4A3(75)W became M4A3(75)V
M4A3(76)W became M4A3(76)V
M4A4(75) became M4A4(75)V




December 1944: Battle of the Bulge

** HVSS appears in ETO

M4E8(105)

M4A1E8(75)W
M4A1E8(76)W

M4A3E8(75)W
M4A3E8(76)W
M4A3E9(105)


All variants used until the end

[finlander]

Case closed..Thank you for your help and hard work!!!

[Major Pain]

I need to add...

You would perhaps find all 3 hull variants of the M4, M4A1 and M4A3 in ETO. The M4A4 only had 2 productions, early & late; Late just had armor plates welded in front of the driver hoods. Most M4A4s were sent to the UK, many converted to Fireflies.


By my math, you could see over 24 different M4 variants used by the US in the ETO from June 1944 until June 1945. This does not include tanks with Dozer Blades , Flamethrowers, SPGs or ARVs... or other add-ons (Mine Exploders and rockets). The only variant that did not get used by the US in ETO, was the M4A2. But the UK did use it... so there is another 6 variants, along with 3 possible Fireflies. Russia also used the M4A2 in all 6 variants.

M4(75)a
M4(75)b
M4(105)
M4E8(105)

M4(75) DD
M4(75) DF

M4A1(75)a
M4A1(75)b
M4A1(75)W
M4A1E8(75)W
M4A1(76)W
M4A1E8(76)W

M4A3(75)a
M4A3(75)b
M4A3(75)W
M4A3E8(75)W
M4A3(76)W
M4A3E8(76)W
M4A3(105)
M4A3E9(105)

M4A3E2(75)
M4A3E2(76)

M4A4(75)a
M4A4(75)b

In all... there were well over 65 Sherman variants built totaling about 50,000 units from 1942 through 1945.

Like you said... "case closed".

[LouisXIV]

Thanks, that's so much detail that I'm thoroughly confused.

Which were the MAJOR variants used? Or to phrase it another way, which models are you most likely to see. Condense it down as much as possible.

[Major Pain]

Sorry... I'm not trying to confuse anyone on this. I was trying to explain in detail which Shermans would be found in the ETO.

The primary Shermans would be the M4, M4A1 together in Tank Battalions. These would be mostly Units moved from Italy for D-Day Preparation. These units would receive new M4s & M4A1s for replacements so useable tanks could stay in service. They did not add M4A3s into these battalions mostly because of the differences in parts for repair. Although, you might find a few M4A4s mixed in as battalions were consolidated.

M4A3s would be used in the ETO in newly formed Battalions only, after March 1944. Very few M4A3s had been deployed in Italy (mostly independent tank units), none in Africa.

The US Army changed their preference about the end of 1943 to the M4A3, due to the better performing 500hp Ford Engine. But because there was still a shortage of Tanks, they continued to use the M4 & M4A1. You also must understand how many factories were building the Sherman, so naturally new variants evolved as improvements were added.

The significant changes were: (in order of introduction)

Wet ammunition Storage in the M4 Turret. This reduced the liklyhood that Shermans would catch on fire and explode from a direct hit.

T23 Turret with the 76mm gun. This improved the firepower of the Sherman against German Armor.

HVSS suspension with wide tracks. This improved the stability of the M4 on sand, muddy or snow covered ground.

The addition of armor plates, changes to the front armor slope and other small upgrades might not be noticeable for the most part.

So to simplify discussion:

The M4(75), M4A1(75), M4A1(75)W, M4A1(76)W, M4A1E8(76)W would all be in the same tank ballalion by Jan 1945.

Newer Battalions would have the M4A3(75), M4A3(75)W, M4A3(76)W, M4A3E8(76)W.

M4(105), M4E8(105), M4A3(105) & M4A3E9(105), basically the Sherman Howitzers... would all be Independent Tank Units, attached to various commands as needed. They would not be used within Tank battlaions due to the ammunition requirement. They were used in support or suppressive fire roles, although they could take out a Pz IV if the need arose.

The UK had even a worse logistic nightmare when it came to the Shermans. They had at least 3 versions of the Firefly which are documented; two had the same engine, but still used different parts: Sherman I & Sherman I Hybrid (M4 & M4H). The third was the M4A4 (Sherman V) which used the Chrysler Multibank engine. They also used the M4A1 (Sherman II), M4A2 (Sherman III) and M4A3 (Sherman IV) with both the 75mm and 76mm guns. The M4A2 had a Diesel Engine adding another logistic issue. They also did not mix variants as much as possible.

The appearence of all the variants was very similiar with the main differences being on the engine deck and rear exhaust and engine access doors. Although the M4 & M4A4 never received the Wet ammo storage, HVSS or 76mm in the T23 turret. They also retained the 57 degree front armor with the plated hoods. So they were easier to identify as time went on.

The M4(105) was pretty much the same as the M4A3(105) and the M4E8(105) was the same as the M4A3E9(105) all built by Grand Blanc. Only the rear engine decks and engines were different. So no matter how you looked at it... if you were in the Supply Dept... you were scratching your head daily making sure your sent the right parts to the mechanics.

Now add the Jumbo, Patton's Heavies and the Hobart Funnies.... you have a mess.


Depending on how accurate you want your missions to be, you can use whatever you wish to use. The accuracy in most BK releases was vastly incorrect. But I suppose most players really didn't realize this, nor should they be expected to know the difference. For the most part... a Sherman is a Sherman.


And... of course, this just confuses the issue again.


For good reading... refer to the writings of Steven Zolaga, the foremost expert on the Sherman Series.