Author Topic: Which Sherman?  (Read 3738 times)

Tony1955

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Which Sherman?
« on: April 25, 2019, 08:35:34 pm »
Hi Chaps,
Can anyone tell me which Sherman kit would be suitable for the Marines 43-45?

Thanks

ultravanillasmurf

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Re: Which Sherman?
« Reply #1 on: April 25, 2019, 09:10:13 pm »
Which theatre?
Starting from:

Plus: http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minutia/sherman_types/m4a2/m4a2.html

Assuming the Pacific theatre, I would go for 280055 M4A2 (and use the small hatch hull). This would appear to concur with information on the "hagiography" site - YMMV.

Other members of the forum will be better informed.

I did find this https://www.tanksontarawa.com
« Last Edit: April 25, 2019, 09:17:39 pm by ultravanillasmurf »

ripley

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Re: Which Sherman?
« Reply #2 on: April 25, 2019, 09:21:48 pm »
Early on in war  Marines got M4 and M4A1 ( probably from Army stocks ) later they got the diesel powered M4A2  . The idea was to be fuel compatible with the Navy who supplied them . IRC they also got the diesel engine M 10 as well .

Tony1955

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Re: Which Sherman?
« Reply #3 on: April 25, 2019, 09:29:02 pm »
Thanks very much for the info guys

elias.tibbs

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Re: Which Sherman?
« Reply #4 on: April 26, 2019, 02:53:41 pm »
M4A2 75mm early on and then M4A3 75mm later. I think they also got some M4A1 too.

Initially They had a choice of no Sherman’s or the Sherman with the wrong fuel, so went with the wrong fuel instead!
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Pinky

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Re: Which Sherman?
« Reply #5 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.