4. The Sherman Tank
“If the tank succeeds, then victory follows.” Heinz Guderian.
The M4 Sherman, officially known as Medium Tank, was the most numerous battle tank used by the United States, the reason for this is due to the reliability and the fact that the tank was relatively cheap to produce. The vehicle was also distributed to the British Commonwealth and Soviet Union through the Lend-Lease program. At the outbreak of the war, there was one area in which the Germans had a significant advantage over the Allies, and that was the tank.
The tanks of the German Army were quick, efficient and contributed to the success of the Blitzkrieg. In 1940 the U.S. government submitted plans for the M4 (Sherman) tank which was hoped would be as successful as the German tanks. In February 1942, three months after the United States entered the war, the design entered full production.
At the outbreak of the war, there was one area in which the Germans had a significant advantage over the Allies, and that was the tank. The tanks of the German Army were quick, efficient and contributed to the success of the Blitzkrieg. In 1940 the U.S. government submitted plans for the M4 (Sherman) tank which was hoped would be as successful as the German tanks. In February 1942, three months after the United States entered the war, the design entered full production.
The tanks were used across all of the theatres of war, in the Desert War, they were effective due to their high top speed, improved armour, and weapons which were capable of penetrating German armour. By the end of the European War, half of the US Army tanks were M4 Sherman tanks. In the Pacific war, where there were fewer tank battles, the Shermans easily outclassed their Japanese counterparts. The Shermans were modified with high explosive rounds to help pierce the thinly-armoured Japanese tanks. Shermans in the Pacific were also equipped with flamethrowers.
The M4 Sherman design had an escape hatch underneath the hull, this was used as an alternative escape route but in the Pacific campaign, it was used to rescue wounded soldiers as Japanese snipers frequently targeted Americans dispatched to treat the wounded.