The British Army claim the first tank-like vehicle ever produced, nicknamed Little Willie, in 1915. AUSA Volunteer Family of the Year Award.Letters to Congress & the Administration.The long gun was often disguised to look like a regular Sherman. The gun proved capable of dealing with the heavier German tanks but, since the armour had not been thickened to match it was still very vulnerable. Indeed the demand for space was so great that hull machine-gunner, sitting to the right of the driver was disposed of and the weapon aperture sealed. The new ammunition was bigger so there were changes inside too. The 17 pdr was much bigger than the 75mm so the turret had to be modified, with a bulge at the back to fit the radio and an extra hatch for the loader. The new design would be known as the Sherman Firefly. An officer at Lulworth Camp came up with the idea of fitting the British 76.2mm, known as the 17 pounder. The gun, a dual purpose 75mm, was outclassed by comparable German weapons and was not powerful enough for the thick armour in later vehicles. The M4A1 featured a cast hull whereas other versions were welded.īy 1943 the Sherman was getting past its prime. The design mirrored the M3 Grant in terms of engine, transmission and suspension but the hull was quite different, being surmounted by a fully rotating turret carrying the main armament. A pilot model was ready in September 1941 and production began in February 1942. Equipment was loaned to Britain in exchange for American use of British bases.ĭesign of the M4 Medium Tank dates back to April 1941. At first the tanks had to be paid for but in March 1941 President Roosevelt’s Lend-Lease Act came into force.

It was later deemed wiser to stick to American designs.

In 1940, the British established a Tank Mission in Washington, under the leadership of Michael Dewar, to persuade the Americans to build British tanks. As an all-round, general purpose tank, the Sherman was one of the best tanks of the Second World War.

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