After it saw the effectiveness of the Blitzkrieg in Europe, the US army started an emergency improvement of it’s armed forces. the M4 came as a direct development of the M3 accomplished by mating a redesigned M3 hull with a fully revolving turret armed with the 75mm M3 L/40 model cannon.
The M4 used an air-cooled, gasoline fuelled, Continental R975 radial engine that produced 400hp. Armour was from 30 to 76mm thick. The M4 never had an easy time fighting German tanks but later variations with more armour and more powerful cannons helped to even things a little.
The M4 and it’s variations were supplied to the British, Soviet and other forces under the lend-lease program.Source – http://devblog.warthunder.com/2014/12/12/steel-generals-m4/?hl=en
War Thunder Steel Generals Sherman M4
The production of M4(A1) started in February 1942 after the develop of T6 proto. The assembly line was at Lima Locomotive Works and, a month later, at Pressed Steel Car Company. The M4 production incorporated modifications from T6. Side doors were eliminated, a rotor shield was added to the front of the T48. Another splash guard was added to the bottom section of front plate. Last small shield was attached to barrel of coaxial .30 caliber machine gun….
Dopo l’esperienza della Guerra Lampo in Europa, l’esercito USA iniziò un programma di emergenza per il potenziamento delle forze armate. L’M4 fu un approdo di questi sforzi. Venne sviluppato dallo scafo dell’M3, rivoluzionandolo quasi del tutto. Venne aggiunta una torretta del tutto girevole armata con 75mm M3 L/40. Si installo un motore diesel raffreddato ad aria, un Continetal R975 radiale che erogava una potenza di 400hp. La corazza vantava 75mm sulla piastra anteriore inclinata. All’inizio non ebbe molta fortuna contro i carri tedeschi, tuttavia le varianti successive con più corazza e cannoni più potenti ebbero maggior fortuna. Sotto licenza Lend Lease gli M4 vennero inviati in Gran Bretagna e Russia.
