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M4A3 with
75mm gun
Ford GAA V-8 (liquid cooled) engine in welded plate hull. 75mm gun
in M34 mount, later in M34A1 mount. 60-degree hull front w/protruding
drivers' hoods. Later or remanufactured hulls had exterior appliqué
armor over ammo bins. Horizontal-arm VVSS was standardized. After
1944 the Ford-engined M4A3 was the preferred model by the U.S. Army,
but the "dry stowage" 75mm tanks mostly stayed in U.S.
for training, only reaching ETO and PTO in 1945.
M4A3 with
75mm gun and "wet" stowage
Later welded hull (47-degree hull front) with larger drivers' hatches.
Almost all had the later 75mm turret with thickened right "cheek"
and loader's escape hatch. A few vehicles show in photos with earlier
turrets, including some with the appliqué reinforcement on
the right front. Upswept-arm VVSS used on these vehicles. First
went to ETO in fall, 1944 and became a common replacement vehicle
thereafter. Appeared in MTO and PTO later. The external appliqué
armor is NOT appropriate for this version (except for the few turrets
mentioned above).
M4A3 with
76mm gun
Later welded hull (47-degree hull front) with larger drivers' hatches.
New turret (designed for T23 tank project) carrying a 76mm gun.
First turrets had large "gun ring" hatch over loader's
station, late turrets had oval escape hatch. Started getting to
ETO in fall of 1944, becoming more common as earlier tanks were
replaced. Also used in MTO, but not PTO. Most would have had upswept
arm VVSS, later production M4A3, 76W had HVSS, which started appearing
about the time of the Ardennes campaign and became more common in
1945. The M4A3 with 76mm and HVSS (M4A3E8) was the primary Sherman
used by the U.S. Army in the Korean Conflict.
M4A3 with
105mm howitzer
Ford GAA engine in later welded hull with simplified 47-degree glacis
and larger drivers' hatches. 105mm howitzer in M52 mount, in 75mm
style turret (w/extra ventilator on rear top and thickened right
"cheek"). First issued in Europe in fall, 1944, other
areas received them afterwards. Later vehicles had HVSS and reached
some units in ETO in 1945. As explained in the M4 105mm howitzer
entry, these went to the Assault Gun Platoons of tank battalions.
Some M4A3s with the 105mm howitzer had flame guns added beside howitzer
tube by U.S.M.C. and were used in Korea.
M4A3E2
Special assault version of the M4A3 intended to be available for
use in attacking the Siegfried Line (Westwall). These appeared in
the late fall of 1944. An M4A3 75W with extra armor added to the
hull, a thickened transmission housing and a special heavy turret
(similar in general profile to the 76mm turret) with 75mm gun in
thick squared off shield. Upswept-arm VVSS was standard and most
left the factory with the older five-spoke open wheels (these were
felt to be stronger). 254 vehicles produced, 250 went to ETO (1
ended up with Free French). With so few M4A3E2 available they were
only issued at a few per battalion. They were often used to lead
columns. In 1945, some M4A3E2 received upgrade to 76mm guns. Sometimes
referred to as "Jumbo" or other nicknames, there is question
whether or not these actually had a nickname by the troops.
M4A4
Chrysler Multibank 30-cyl engine (liquid cooled) engine in welded
plate hull. 75mm gun in M34 mount, later in M34A1 mount. 60-degree
hull front w/protruding drivers' hoods, the hull was lengthened
slightly due to longer engine. Later or remanufactured hulls had
exterior appliqué armor over ammo bins. Horizontal-arm VVSS
was standardized. The M4A4 was produced for Lend-Lease use and was
commonly used by British Commonwealth forces (a few were used for
training in U.S.A). M4A4 usually had the earlier three-piece transmission
housing. M4A4 did not receive the production upgrades seen on the
"preferred" Sherman models-only 75mm gun versions built,
not later hulls, no HVSS, etc. British forces upgraded a number
of M4A4 with 17-pounder anti-tank guns, creating the formidable
"Firefly."
M4A5
"Paper" designation for the Canadian Ram tanks
M4A6
75mm version with Caterpillar diesel engines. Only two battalions
were equipped with this and both stayed stateside.
British Designations:
M4 = Sherman
I
M4 "Firefly" conversion = Sherman 1C
M4 Composite Hull = Sherman I Hybrid
M4, 105mm howitzer = Sherman IB
M4, 105mm Howitzer, HVSS = Sherman IBY
M4A1 = Sherman II
M4A1 Duplex Drive conversion = Sherman IIDD
M4A1, 76mm = Sherman IIA
M4A2 = Sherman III
M4A2 "Firefly" conversion = Sherman IIIC
M4A2 Duplex Drive Conversion = Sherman IIIDD
M4A3 = Sherman IV (few M4A3 supplied to UK during WWII)
M4A4 = Sherman V
M4A4 "Firefly" conversion = Sherman VC
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