- Yes
- No
Note: I am not the author of this suggestion. I’m submitting this on behalf of someone who wishes to remain anonymous.
Hello, I’d like to suggest the final model of the Sherman produced by the US, namely the M4A6. Why? I just think it’s neat.
History:
In 1942, an engine development program for a new M4 variant would start, which ended up having a Caterpillar Tractor Company-made air-cooled radial multi-fuel engine being picked. With an engine picked, the Ordnance Committee would order an experimental medium tank for the engine, designated M4E1. The prototype, which was Chrysler-built, would be based on the M4A4 with its elongated hull and chassis for its large engine. However, the M4E1 would receive some extra changes itself, namely rectangular bulges on the rear deck and floor due to its even larger engine. The engine used would be an air-cooled version of the Curtiss-Wright R-1820 Cyclone 9, which was an engine that was widely used on aircraft at the time, including the B-17 Flying Fortress. Caterpillar Tractor Company would modify the engine to be a fuel-injected diesel, with related changes to the pistons, cylinder heads and lubricant systems, with everything else staying the same. This modified engine would be known as D200A. Despite the changes, the engine was still a multi-fuel possible engine, able to take a range of fuels. It would be fitted with a new transfer case that was capable of increasing the shaft speed to 1.5 times the speed of the crankshaft, with the new engine producing 450 Horsepower at 2000 rpm. The Ordinance Committee would change the D200A’s production designation to RD-1820 after having satisfactory testing and performance trials.
The first M4E1 would begin testing at the Caterpillar Proving Ground in December of 1942. By the time of May in 1943 to more M4E1s would be shipped to Fort Knox, with a fourth shipped to General Motors Proving Grounds. The testing at Fort Knox would identify problems with the gear train, clutch, and scoring between piston and cylinder walls. This discovery would let these problems be addressed, and with them addressed, the Ordnance Committee would order 1000 of the engines and would direct 775 of them to be directly installed on the production version of the M4E1, the M4A6, with the rest of the engines being installed on M4A4s for more testing.
Chrysler would begin production of the M4A6 at Detroit Arsenal, with each tank costing $ 64,455. The first M4A6 would be shipped on the 28th of 1943. The M4A6 would have several differences from the M4E1 it’s based on, with the biggest of which being its cast front. Said front would be married to the M4A4s rear due to the need to accommodate such a large engine. The M4A6’s cast front would feature a sharp nose that improves ballistic protection compared to the more rounded cast of the late M4s. Although despite the M4A6s having better performance and fuel economy than the previous Sherman variants, the production would be discontinued in February of 1944, with only 75 tanks being made and, in turn, being declared Limited Standard. This was because the US army decided to concentrate on gasoline-powered tanks like the M4A3. This left the M4A6s to be used only in training. The British had a name for them under their nomenclature system, “Sherman VII”.
More photos
Specs:
Dimensions: 6.05 m x 2.61 m x 2.74 m (238.5 in x 103 in x 108 in)
Total weight, battle ready: 35 tons/70,000 lbs
Crew: 5 (commander, driver, co-driver, gunner, and loader)
Propulsion: Ordnance Engine RD-1820 9 cylinder air cooled radial, 450 hp at 2,000rpm
Speed (road): 25 mph/40 km/h (sustained), 30 mph/48 km/h (short periods)
Range: 120 mi.193km
Armament: 75 mm M3 Gun, 97 rounds
.50 caliber MG HB M2 flexible AA mount on turret
.30 caliber MG M1919A4 coaxial w/75mm gun in turret
.30 caliber MG M1919A4 in bow mount
2 in mortar M3 (smoke) fixed in turret
Armor: 0.5 – 4.25 in/12.7 mm – 107.95mm