American M4 Sherman Variants

Machinery of War Discussion Historical Discussion
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I’ve been trying to make a list of all of the M4 Sherman variants that were used by the United States but have hit a bit of difficulty with the experimental models. In particular, the myriad of M4E# experimentals, which tend to be mixed up with other experimentals and seemingly don’t follow the traditional system.

All of the mainline models received M4/A# designations, often times followed by either (75), (76), or (105) depending on its gun, additionally followed by W to denote wet ammunition racks and HVSS to denote HVSS suspension, when E8 isn’t used instead.

The experimental models followed along the same system, being the M4/A# designation followed by an E# suffix. Some of the experimental models had standardized numbers across all variants, such as E8 and E9 which denoted HVSS and improved VVSS suspensions, respectively; but others were were exclusive to specific models, such as the E2 experimental of the M4A1 model that denoted the installation of an infrared driving system compared to the E2 experimental of the M4A3 model that denoted its modification as an assault tank.

The issue I’m having is figuring out the M4E# models. Some of them appear to denote experimentals of the base M4, such as the M4E5 which served as the pilot model for what would be standardized as the M4(105), while others appear to denote experimentals of other M4 models, such as the M4E1 which was a modified M4A4. It’s in this area that I’m having trouble figuring out what’s internet myth, and in other cases trying to figure out the identity of some vehicles is clogged by false results in Google; such as trying to search for the identity of the M4E2 or the M4E3 just leading to a bunch of results about the M4A3E2.

If anyone could provide clarification on the experimental history of the Sherman, that would be great. Below in the spoiler is what I think I’ve managed to find so far.

M4 Sherman Variants
  • T6 Pilot
    • Initially fitted with cupola from M3 Lee
    • Cupola later removed
    • Used as the basis for the M4A1
    • Found references to a welded T6 pilot that was used as the basis for the M4, but I haven’t been able to find a photograph of it
  • M4
    • M4(75)
      • Only produced in “small hatch” variants
    • M4(75) Composite
      • Produced in both “small hatch” and “large hatch” variants
      • M4E5; M4(75) Composite w/ 105-mm T18, pilot for M4(105) and M4A3(105) series
      • M4E6; M4(75) Composite w/ T23 turret, pilot for M4A1(76), M4A2(76), and M4A3(76) series
    • M4(105)
      • M4(105) HVSS
        • Later productions fitted with gyrostabilizers and powered turret traverse
  • M4A1
    • M4A1(75)
      • Produced in both “small hatch” and “large hatch” variants
      • M4A1E2; M4A1(75) w/ infrared driving system
      • M4A1E3; M4A1(75) w/ Spicer 95 automatic torque convertor
      • M4A1E5; M4A1(75) w/ “improved engine installation”
      • M4A1E6; M4A1(75) w/ 76-mm M1 in M34 mount
      • M4A1E9; M4A1(75) w/ E9 suspension
    • M4A1(76)W
      • Used as DD tanks
      • M4A1(76)W HVSS
  • M4A2
    • M4A2(75)
      • Produced in both “small hatch” and “large hatch” variants
      • M4A2E1; M4A2(75) w/ 600 hp engine
      • M4A2E4; M4A2(75) w/ improved suspension
      • M4A2E9; M4A2(75) w/ E9 suspension
    • M4A2(76)W
      • M4A2(76)W HVSS
  • M4A3
    • M4A3(75)
      • Only produced in “large hatch” variants
      • M4A3(75)W
        • M4A3(75)W HVSS
      • M4A3E1; M4A3(75) w/ Spicer 95 automatic torque convertor
      • M4A3E2
        • Some fitted with T23 turret
      • M4A3E3; M4A3(75) w/ GM 3030B automatic torque convertor
      • M4A3E4; M4A3(75) w/ 76-mm M1 in M34 mount
      • M4A3E9; M4A3(75) w/ E9 suspension
    • M4A3(76)W
      • M4A3(76)W HVSS
    • M4A3(105)
      • M4A3(105) HVSS
        • Later productions fitted with gyrostabilizers and powered turret traverse
  • M4A4
    • M4A4E1; M4A4(75) w/ 105-mm T18, pilot for M4E5
    • M4E3; M4A4(75) w/ 650 hp engine
  • M4A6
    • M4A6(75)
      • Only produced in “large hatch” variants
      • M4E1; pilot for M4A6 series

Mystery M4s I can’t find solid information on

  • M4E2
  • M4E4
  • M4E7
  • M4E8
  • M4E9
  • M4A1E1
  • M4A1E8; this isn’t the M4A1(76)W HVSS but was the pilot for it
  • M4A2E8; this isn’t the M4A2(76)W HVSS but was the pilot for it
  • M4A3E8; this isn’t the M4A3(75)W HVSS or the M4A3(76)W HVSS but was the pilot for it

Edit:

To expand on this, I’ve had a bit trouble with the flamethrower variants, too. I’m only interested in the ones that actually retain their main gun, since those can actually be added to the game, and am confident in all them except for these “periscope mounted” ones.

The main USMC flamethrowers were the M4A3R5s and the M4A3R8s, of which the latter retained their armaments and could come in either M4A3(75) or M4A3(105) conversions, their ammunition load reduced to 40 and 20, respectively, to make room for the interior flamethrowing equipment. They then either had an older Ronson flamethrower or a newer H1A-5A flamethrower installed coaxially within a fake barrel.

However, alongside these are mentions of H1, H1A, and H1B periscope flamethrowers installed in the assistant driver’s hatch. These were apparently not liked by the USMC and consequently not used, but I can’t find any examples of the periscopes actually in action. I would assume they were either installed on M4A2(75) or M4A3(75), since those were the ones used by the USMC. I do know that a later periscope flamethrower was used on the T33, the M4A3E2 conversion that installed both a coaxial E20-20 flamethrower and a M3-4-E6R3 periscope flamethrower atop the commander’s hatch.

The few Crocodile conversions is also a bit confusing. An M4A2 was used as a pilot model before either M4 or M4A4 were used as the production models, but I can’t figure out decisively which of the two the three production models were converted from.

Lastly, there are a few examples of E4-5 or ESR1 projectors in place of the bow machine guns, but the only photograph I’ve been able to find solidly of this is one of a converted M4A2. There is also a single photograph I’ve found of an M3 Stuart converted with a flame projector in place of its bow machine gun, as either a field modified predecessor or successor to the more famous M3 Satan that replaced the main gun with a flamethrower.

M4 Sherman Flamethrowers
  • USMC
    • M4A2 Flamethrower
      • E4-5 or ESR1 flame projector in place of bow machine gun
    • CWS-POA-H5 / M4A3R8
      • Converted from M4A3(75) and M4A3(105), with either Ronson or H1A-5A coaxial flamethrowers
  • M4 Crocodile
    • M4A2 pilot w/ flame projector for assistant driver
      • M4 or M4A4(?) w/ flame projector for assistant driver
  • Other E4-5 and ESR1 flame projector tanks(?), possible M3 Stuart
  • T33
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I know somebody that can help you

3

You want this book.

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