M4 Battle Sherman

The United States key strength was its ability to mass produce adaptable tanks in great numbers that got the job done on the battlefield. Production of the M4 Tank “Sherman” began in 1941 and was first deployed in 1942 at the battle of El Alamein, Egypt. The Americans began to make 1,000 tanks a month after that (Ryan). America was able to use its ingenuity to adapt the Sherman as the war progressed. Major General Hobart crafted an amphibious Sherman tank. It had a flotation screen around the outside of the tank and two propellers attached to the back. As it got onto the beach the flotation screen would fall down (Saunders). Marine Corps tanks had attached flamethrower (Neiman). Along with these, America needed a way to break through the hedgerows in France. The US official campaign historian states that by the time Operation Cobra, an American offensive after D-Day, was launched, “three out of every five tanks in the First Army mounted the hedgecutter” (Blumenson). The Americans were able to mass produce the Sherman in far greater numbers than Germany, with production estimates putting the tanks produced between 40,000 to 55,000. Even at 40,000 it outnumbered German tanks 14 times (Ryan). “‘One of ours is better than 10 of yours, but you always have 11!’ German tankmen joked.” (Laurier) This …show more content…
The front had a pair of fixed machine guns and the standard hole. Periscopes and gunners periscopes were soon added (Bradford, George R. Allied). The American M4 had superior navigation systems, had significantly more room inside, but it was 4 tons heavier, had a narrower track base, had a higher center of gravity, and had inferior mobility compared to the Soviet T-34 (Loza). Americas final version of the Sherman, the M4A3E8, was referred to as the “Easy 8”. It mounted the 76 mm gun and was the most powerful Sherman of the war (Bradford, George R.