Sherman tank

Sherman tanks in Normandy, 1944

The Sherman tank or M4 Sherman was an American-built tank used extensively by the Allies during World War II.

It was easy to mass produce, allowing large numbers to be fielded. It was also highly mobile.

Compared to late-war German tanks, the Sherman had weak armor and less firepower. It was rumored to be more vulnerable to combustion.

In its favor, good fuel economy and reliability often made it more available than German tanks. The mass-produced Shermans were highly customizable, and many specialized variants were produced. Sherman crews had good visibility. The turret rotation system was faster and more reliable than Panthers, and Shermans had better fire control systems. With the original 75 mm cannon, there was room for the loader to work and other crew could help, and storage space for extra rounds to be available.

In concert with infantry, artillery, and air support, the Sherman helped give the Allies a decisive advantage over the Germans. It was used on almost every front including North Africa, Italy, Western Europe, and Eastern Europe.

Late in the war, improved T45 HVAP (75mm) and M93 HVAP (76mm) armor-penetrating ammunition became available, putting even the regular M4 Sherman on par with the Panther in terms of anti-tank firepower. This contributed to their surprising victory at the Battle of Arracourt

It was named after Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman.

Large numbers were given to the Soviet Union for use on the Eastern Front.

Standard armament was a 75 mm m3 general purpose cannon, two 30 cal machine guns, and a .50 caliber machine gun on the turret.

Variants

• Firefly - British 17 lb. high velocity gun. It was a useful anti-tank gun but slower to reload and aim. The breech was very large and made for crowded and uncomfortable conditions in the turret.
• 105 mm M4 Howitzer. Better for infantry support.
• Rhino (USA) / Prongs (British) - fitted with steel teeth in front to punch through hedgerows instead of going through them. aka Culin hedge cutter.
• Easy Eight. 76 mm upgraded gun, easy to use and better against tanks than the previous 75 mm gun. Upgraded suspension with wider tracks. Upgraded armor. Most advanced Sherman of WWII, appearing late in the war. Not quite as good anti-tank function as the Firefly, but much better at infantry support and other roles.
• Hobarts funnies.
  • Crocodile - flamethrower
  • Crab - minesweeper with flailing chains
  • Fascine carrier - carried a bundle of saplings to fill ditches
  • Bullshorn plow - cleared mines and obstacles
  • Duplex Drive / DD / Donald Duck. Amphibious - flotation and propellers

Historiography

Death Traps by Belton Y. Cooper. Signed first page

Belton Cooper, a World War II veteran who handled destroyed Sherman tanks with the 3rd Army, published a book in 1998 called Death Traps. His premise was that by 1944-45, the Sherman was outclassed by German tanks and should have been retired in favor of the Pershing heavy tank. He argued that the gasoline engine made the tanks combustible, that their armor was weak, and that the gun was underpowered, among other things.

Historians since then have pointed out possible selection bias due to Cooper's position behind the lines, always seeing the worst case scenarios. Most Shermans did not catastrophically fail in the field, and crew survival rates were very favorable compared to other services, with about 15% casualties overall. Shermans had large crew compartments with good escape hatches.

Most tanks of the era used gasoline engines, with the diesel T-34 being an exception. Gasoline-powered tanks included the Panzer IV, Tiger, Panther, and even the early Centurion tanks. At any rate, diesel fuel was also combustible when hit with an artillery round. The book's characterization of the Sherman as a "Ronson" similar to the cigarette lighter was probably not made during the war. The problem with early Shermans igniting was due to ammunition storage. Even one penetrating round could hit the ammunition and start a chain reaction. This was mitigated by moving the ammunition storage to a lower, safer spot, and immersing the rounds in liquid called Ammudamp, a mixture of water and glycol. With this improvement, Shermans became as fire-resistant as any other tank on the battlefield.

The 75 mm gun was a choice that reflected the need for infantry support as well as anti-tank functions. The Battle of Arracourt showed what the Sherman could do against the Panther.

The reputation of the Sherman also suffered due to them usually being on the attack. Typically, this requires a 3 to 1 advantage, because defenders have preselected fields of fire, concealment, and can dig into the ground.

Shermans were very mechanically sound compared to Panthers, which had weak transmissions.

Cooper's book touched off thousands of internet debates, and is a good example of the problems that can arise from relying on a first person memoir written fifty years after the war, rather than a more balanced approach that includes professional historians reviewing primary documents.