Sherman Jumbo (Medium Tank, M4A3E2)

History of the Sherman Jumbo (medium tank, M4A3E2)

Long before the Normandy invasion of northern France was complete, American war planners realized that the Germans were ready to wage a determined defensive battle from the coast to Berlin. They would be well-armed, well-prepared, and well-positioned to respond to any Allied attack through the clever use of tanks, highly armored vehicles, and towed artillery systems placed at strategic choke points. Therefore, the "Assault Tank" is required to force its way through the enemy's front lines, expel or destroy the prepared enemy located in the center of the defense. So the Americans knew they needed a tank with a certain advantage in armor protection and lethal weapons - beyond what was available at the time. Since the M26 Pershing was already in development, it was hoped that the new heavy tank would enter service by the end of 1944.

However, nothing went according to plan and the M26 was delayed until 1945 to arrive in Europe. Therefore, some different workarounds were considered.

The US authorities took the M4 Sherman medium tanks they already had and started upgrading the beast specifically for assault missions. The engine remains the powerplant from the Ford V8 GAA lineup, although the gearbox has been changed to compensate for the added weight of the extra armor. Of course, the extra armor also helps to slow the base Sherman design's operating speed - usually a stately 25 to 30 mph - now down to 22 mph.

The tank's front hull armor is no less than 5.5 inches thick, protecting the valuable powertrain. The upper forward fuselage retains the sloping Sherman base fairing as it provides good resistance to incoming enemy projectiles and is 4.5 inches at its thickest point. The armor plates were protected by up to 4 inches of armor, while the turret was modified for 6 inches of protection.

Up to 7 inches of armor was used around the gun mounts and 1.5 inches of rolled armor was used on the sides of the superstructure. While originally intended to carry a 76mm gun, the New Sherman's production form matched the standard 75mm gun due to its proven performance in firing high-explosive (HE) projectiles. 106 rounds of 75mm rounds can be stored around the hull and new turret, allowing the crew to maintain fire for extended periods of time. The infantry and aircraft defense system is derived from the M4 standard and mainly consists of a .50 caliber heavy machine gun on the turret, a 0.30 caliber machine gun coaxially mounted next to the 75mm main gun and a 0.30 caliber machine gun mounted on the bow on the front right of the hull The side, opposite the driver's position, is operated by the radio operator. All told, the vehicle weighs 42 tonnes, and the suspension remains the same basic vertical volute spring suspension (VVSS) system as other Shermans.

Operators are therefore warned to be cautious when using the new tank off-road, as the suspension is prone to failure under the extra weight.

In March 1944, the U.S. government signed an agreement that would give life to approximately 254 modified Shermans, which the Ordnance Board designated "M4A3E2" for the type - "E" indicates that the type was "experimental" Sexual "design". The upgraded Sherman began production at lightning speed to bring the armor to the front lines as quickly as possible. By the end of 1944, the M4A3E2 had been delivered into the eager hands of American tank crews and commanders awaiting in Europe.

New Her mount was dubbed Sherman "giant" by her staff, to denote her improved oversized stature.

Traditional combat strategy holds that U.S. armored formations advance in columns in order to respond quickly to enemy actions, thereby providing waiting enemies with fewer close targets. Once an enemy is found, the column can spread outward and summon a unified response.

With giant tanks now in inventory, heavily armored systems are required to lead such column formations and absorb the first salvos that waiting enemies have to deliver - traditionally in the same role that would annihilate base Sherman's salvos.

Once in service, the giant tank performed so admirably that both the commander and the tank crew demanded it. Even US General George S. Patton himself was on the wish list. When the need remained unmet, he quietly ordered the stripping of all unusable M4 Sherman (with welded hull) armor and upgrading the existing Sherman to the new "giant" standard. So the M4A3(76)W and M4A3(76)W HVSS systems in his stable were upgraded "on the spot" thanks to the ingenuity of army welders and local European craftsmen employed by the army.

Even the armor of discarded enemy German tanks was used in an effort to make these Shermans an eclectic collective of medium tanks without the original Sherman "face". These quick on-site conversions later became known as "Expedient Jumbos", with around 100 existing M4s converted to Sherman Jumbos in just three weeks. Ultimately, the Jumbo's 75mm gun had to give way to a more powerful 76mm caliber, completing the transformation from medium tank to legendary war victor.

Sherman Jumbo was shown to have helped lock down the 101st Paratroopers in Bastogne, Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge the 101st had questioned the idea that they needed a rescue from Patton from the start.

Adolf Hitler committed suicide in his underground bunker in Berlin in mid-April as the Allies attacked Germany in the west and the Soviet Union took Berlin in the east. While air battles raged over Germany into May and German resistance camps were still at war, the war in Europe was largely over, officially declared in early June.

This puts the world on the task of destroying the Japanese Empire in the Far East, where the Sherman jumbo and all its quick modifications are shipped back to the United States in preparation for an eventual invasion of the Japanese mainland in the Pacific Ocean. However, Japan surrendered after a protracted naval battle, with a determined Allied bombardment destroying morale, infrastructure and manufacturing capabilities, as well as the two American atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The Japanese Empire surrendered in August 1945, and World War II came to an end in September.

After the war, the production of most war materiel was reduced or stopped altogether. Most wartime equipment is used for training or stored. In 1948, about 96 Sherman Jumbos remained in U.S. inventory, for a total of about 50,000 Shermans produced.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

Armor

104 x 75mm projectile.

300x12.7mm ammo.

4,750x7.62mm ammo.

12 x M3 Smoke Grenade.

Changes