M4 Sherman variants


The M4 Sherman tank was produced in several variants and it was also the basis for a number of related vehicles.
In addition, Shermans have been modified by several nations from modernization upgrades to complete hull conversions for another task.

Overview

The many special duties that a tank might be made to do were just being explored by armies around the world in the early 1940s. Theories of what vehicles were supposed to be engaging enemy tanks changed as vehicles like the Sherman often found themselves up against enemy armor, and consequently some of the most important initial changes centered around upgunning the basic vehicle. Improving the vehicles mobility, protection, and creating specific variants for infantry support roles soon followed. Similar modification of the main armament would be done by the British, who received a number of Shermans during the course of the war.
Many early variants of the Sherman were converted to armored personnel carriers, or armoured recovery vehicles.
More radical variants followed, first with experiments with flotation screens in preparation for the invasion of Europe by Allied forces in 1944, and later by mounting rocket launching equipment on the turret. Extensive work on creating mine clearance devices to be attached to Shermans in some fashion was also conducted up until the end of the Second World War.
After the end of the Second World War, large numbers of surplus Shermans were supplied to other nations, but primarily to South America and the Middle East. Israel became the largest post-war user of Sherman tanks, conducting extensive modifications to keep them in front line service right up into the early 1970s as tanks, mobile artillery pieces, armored ambulances and more. Many saw action in the 1973 October War. Similar modifications and purchases of Israeli-modified Shermans were done in South America where they served on as the last fighting Shermans right up until 1989.

US variants

US M4 sub-types

;M4 :Continental radial engine; welded hull. 75mm cannon. Users: US, Britain, Poland, France.
;:Continental radial engine; one-piece cast hull; 75mm cannon. Last production units of the M4A1 used a modified hull with large drivers' hatches. Users: US, Britain, South Africa, Poland, France.
;:Diesel-powered with General Motors Twin G-41 Engine; 75mm cannon. Users: USSR, Britain, France, Poland, France, US. Later production units of the M4A2 used the modified 47° glacis with large drivers' hatches.
;:Ford GAA V-8 engine; welded hull; both 75mm and 76mm cannons used. Users: US, France, Nicaragua. The M4A3 was the preferred US Army vehicle.
;:Chrysler A57 engine; welded, lengthened hull; 75-mm gun only as-built. Users: Britain, France, China, Lebanon, Nicaragua.
;:No US vehicle was built with this designation; the number was meant to signify Canadian production. Known as the Ram, it was a parallel development from the M3 medium tank chassis, with an M4-like central turret.
;: Caterpillar D200A turbocharged, air-cooled radial multi-fuel engine adapted from Wright G200; composite cast/welded hull lengthened similarly to the M4A4; 75mm gun only. Only 75 of this variant were built and none were used in combat.

US Sherman-based vehicles

Variants without the M4 designation but built on the M4 medium chassis :
Rocket-firing, flame-thrower, mine-clearing, amphibious, engineer; mostly experimental.
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The M4 Sherman series were widely distributed to allied armies under the Lend-Lease program. Variants served in all theaters, and were the basis of a number of conversions for various uses, including armored personnel carriers and specialized engineering vehicles.

Post-war variants

The M4 Sherman pattern enjoyed a lengthy post-war service all over the world. They were used well into the 1960s and 1970s by some nations, mainly in Africa and Latin America. In some cases, the vehicles were converted for use in a variety of other roles from mobile artillery to ambulances. Conversions were also made for use in civilian industry.