Sherman III

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[Would you like to see this in-game?]
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                                  Sherman III

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Design and service History:

The M4A2 (75mm) Sherman was a version of the legendary Sherman that used a welded hull nearly identical to that of the normal M4. The main external difference between the two variants is a pair of vented armoured grates on the rear hull deck, put in place to provide ventilation to the new power plant. The M4A2 was installed with a GM 6046 twin diesel powerplant, which provided 375 hp (280 kW) at 2,100 rpm. This diesel powerplant instantly made the tank appealing for lend-lease, as the US army made the acquisition of M4A1 and M4 Shermans a priority over the M4A2 in order to maintain fuel universality with the tank force which primarily used petrol engines from everything from motorcycles up to medium tanks.

Even so, the M4A2 received all the improvements other types got, even if its engine made it the red-headed stepchild of main-line Sherman production. The British though using Petrol engines in their tanks at the time were happy to receive the additional armour, and over the course of the war, 5,041 out of the production of the complete production of 8,053 were sent to the British through lend-lease. The tank served well with the British much like the Sherman V on all fronts, from the Far East to North Africa, Italy and Western Europe. The British were happy to continue receiving more, but unfortunately, the Soviets had also requested Shermans through lend-lease and were less accommodating of fuel variance in their armoured force. Because of this, they requested that all Shermans sent had to be powered by a diesel powerplant in line with the rest of their armoured force, such as the T34. Because of this the British instead received shipments of M4A4 shermans that would go on to serve concurrently with the Sherman III as the Sherman V. Despite the Soviets receiving 1990 M4A2’s the majority of the type would see service with the British, who operated 62% of the production run, both as designed and upgraded into a myriad of support vehicles from Kangeroos to armoured recovery vehicles on all fronts, making this the Second most prolific sherman variant in British service during second world war.

Vehicle specification:

Mass 66,800 lb (33.4 short tons, 30.3 long tons)

Length 19 ft 2 in–2(5.84 m)

Width 8 ft 7 in (2.62 m)

Height 9 ft 0 in (2.74m)

Crew 5 (commander, gunner, loader, driver, assistant driver/bow gunner)

Armor 12.7 to 177.8 mm (0.50 to 7.00 in)

Main armament 75 mm gun M3 (90–104 rounds)

Secondary armament .50 calibre Browning M2HB machine gun (300–600 rounds),
2 .30 calibre Browning M1919A4 machine guns (6,000–6,750

Engine General Motors 6046 twin inline diesel engine; 410 hp (280 kW) at 2,100 rpm

Transmission Spicer manual synchromesh transmission, 5 forward and 1 reverse gears

Suspension Vertical volute spring suspension (VVSS)

Fuel capacity 138(520 L; 115 imp gal)

Operational range

Road: 150 mi (160)

Cross-country: 100 mi (161 km)

Maximum speed 30 mph

Additional historical photos:
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Sources:

3 Likes
2

You pump out suggestions like the US pumped out Shermans lmao. Always a +1 from me for more M4s.

1 Like
3

I kind of went on a bit of a tear XD

1 Like
4

A couple things:

  • The GM 6046 twin diesel provides 410 gross horsepower and 375 net horsepower. WarThunder uses gross horsepower, so 410 would be the correct value. Sources tend to say that this engine produces 410 HP at 2900 RPM and 375 HP at 2100 RPM. The reason for this is because there’s a transfer case that directs the power from the two inline engines to a single shaft, and this transfer case has a 0.73:1 gear ratio, turning 2100 RPM that is outputted by the engines into roughly 2900 RPM.

  • Top speed according to US TMs is 30 MPH (48 km/h) instead of 33 MPH (53 km/h).

3 Likes
5

I used the speeds in game, and appear to have had it set to arcade XD my bad, should be fixed now

2 Likes
6

+1, more Shermans are always welcome!

7

I’d love to see this and the Sherman V added to the British tech tree. The British were one of the most prolific users of the Sherman, so it’s kinda surprising they’re not more variants.

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+1 long overdue for a lend-lease 75-mm Sherman.

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There is one in the British tree already. This would be an additional one. :P

Considering this has to be an early or mid production M4A2 (75) then I’d probably prefer it being a premium/BP vehicle. From memory the British never received any large hatch M4A2’s. As my preference is dropping the Sherman II to 3.3 and removing the APCR ammo, just like the other M4A1’s. Then adding the Sherman V to 3.7, just like the other M4A4’s.

10

gib