- Yes
- No
Overview
The M4A3 was the workhorse tank of the US Army during World War II, the two in game being late production HVSS equipped models. Recently, the VVSS equipped M4A3 75 W was passed for consideration, so I am proposing its 76 mm cousin as well. This version would act as an intermediary between the M4A2 76 and M4A3 76 HVSS having the latter’s better engine but lacking APCR. These earlier models also sported a smoke mortar, having been made before the system was ordered removed in 1945.
History
In March 1944 Chrysler began manufacturing the M4A3 76 W. This was a rather straightforward process, the US Army had found an easy way to improve the firepower of their preferred Sherman was to take the turret of the T23 prototype and fit it into the new “second generation” M4A3 hull. Said hull had ironed out many of the issues of early production models, it featured the vaunted 500 horsepower Ford GAA, improving mobility. The new 47 degree glacis plate and large hatches for the driver and bow gunner improved safety, and moving the ammunition to the hull floor in wet ammo racks reduced fire chance. Additionally, the 76mm M1 cannon was noted to kick up a great deal of dust and smoke, so Oldsmobile had been ordered to fit a threaded cap for mounting a muzzle brake as soon as such a system could be implemented. That said, some early models still shipped with the older M1 sans the muzzle brake cap. Chrysler would produce 1400 of this variant between March and September over 4 production runs, when they moved to HVSS suspension. Fisher Body also manufactured 525 more of this model for a total of 1925.
Even this later variant was not perfect, the split loader’s hatch had some issues opening fully which would be fixed in the factory and later simplified to the oval shaped loader’s hatch later. The VVSS suspension also had a hard time navigating the mud in Western Europe, an issue that would be solved with the implementation of extended end connectors. However, these tanks were an improvement over their predecessors and would make their way to Europe in August of 1944, serving in Italy, France, and then Germany. Curiously, these tanks may have first seen combat in the hands of the French 2nd Armored Division, such as “Champagne” which today exists as a monument in Ville-sur-Illon. Note the split loader’s hatch, smoke mortar hole and unthreaded M1 cannon.
These tanks would be used for the rest of the war in Europe, and be upgraded over time with the listed changes above, this photo dated April 1945 in Bologna shows a large number of the M4A3 76 (W) VVSS along with several M18 TDs and M5 Stuarts, note the extended end connectors on the Shermans suspension, as well as the new muzzle brakes, loader’s hatches, and added track armor on the hull & turret. You can also note some earlier production examples with the split loader’s hatches (now fixed to open properly) & their lifting rings set further inward to the front glacis.
Specifications
General
Weight: 32.3 tonnes
Length: 6.27 m
Width: 2.67 m
Height: 2.97 m
Crew: 5
Mobility
Ford GAA, 500 GHP
5 forward gears, 1 reverse
Max speed forward 42 kph, 6 kph reverse
Hp/tonne: 15.5
Armor
UFP 63.5 mm @ 47 degrees
Transmission 63.5-107.9 mm cast
Hull sides & rear 38.1 mm
Gun mantlet 89 mm
Turret front 64 mm
Turret sides & rear 64 mm
Weapons
76mm M1 cannon, 71 rounds
M79 shot, M62 Shell, M42A1 Shell, M88 Smoke
M2HB, 600 rounds
M1919A4 x2, 6750 rounds
M2 smoke mortar, 12 rounds
Gameplay
This variant would admittedly be very similar to the other 76 mm Shermans in game, likely foldered behind the M4A2 (76) W. Its inclusion would mainly be a historical one, being that this version was used by the US Army whereas the 76mm A2s went into Soviet service as lend lease, and better represents “mid life” 76 mm Shermans in US use. The improved engine does give it much better mobility on a similar platform, but the same can be said about the HVSS. Without APCR at 5.3 it is essentially a faster M4A2 with a smoke mortar at the same BR, with APCR at 5.7 it is nearly identical to the HVSS M4A3 76. A potential advantage to this variant is its inclusion in French service, offering a medium tank around the 5.7 BR range that it currently lacks, while having APHE and a stabilized gun, though the same can be said about the M4A1 76 in game already.
Sources
the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minutia/manufacturer/m4a376w/m4a3_76w.html
https://afvdatabase.com/usa/m4sherman.html#M4A3(76)W
Photos
