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General Discussions / Re: Which Sherman?
« on: May 04, 2019, 01:57:43 pm »
The most common type in Marine service up till 1945 was the M4A2. They didn't choose it because it was diesel-powered, but because it was the only variant available (they preferred the M4A3 and M4). Later, the Marines grew to like the diesel due to its higher torque. They did use some M4A1s, but only in one campaign (New Britain).
M4A2s began entering Marine service in late 1943, starting with Tarawa. Up until about August 1944 it was the small hatch type, with a low bustle turret. From then onwards the large hatch version became more common. By the time of the final Pacific War campaigns in 1945 (Iwo Jima and Okinawa), they were nearly all large hatch 75mm Shermans - only 3rd Tank Battalion had the older type. However, by 1945 the M4A3 was replacing the M4A2, and the majority of Marine tanks in the final campaigns were large hatch M4A3s.
M4A2s began entering Marine service in late 1943, starting with Tarawa. Up until about August 1944 it was the small hatch type, with a low bustle turret. From then onwards the large hatch version became more common. By the time of the final Pacific War campaigns in 1945 (Iwo Jima and Okinawa), they were nearly all large hatch 75mm Shermans - only 3rd Tank Battalion had the older type. However, by 1945 the M4A3 was replacing the M4A2, and the majority of Marine tanks in the final campaigns were large hatch M4A3s.
