Triumph or Tommy Cooker? The M4 Sherman

Video Description

The M4 Sherman - the right tank at the right time. The arrival of this iconic tank in the Western Desert represents a significant turning point in the war. But over the years the Sherman has attracted numerous myths and misconceptions. Was it inferior to German armour, did it often catch fire? Ultimately was the M4 Sherman any good at all? At its heart, the Sherman is basically a carriage for the 75mm M3 gun. This armament was very good for the early-to-mid war period, but as the enemy began to produce heavier tanks, its effectiveness was waning. The M4 would eventually be up-gunned to the 76mm, levelling the playing field against the German heavies such as Tiger and King Tiger. The basic Sherman platform is incredibly flexible. This allowed designers to field new types of vehicles, such as the M10 Achilles tank destroyer, based around the existing M4 chassis. This flexibility also allowed for upgrades, including improved armouring (or perhaps more sensible ammunition stowage), which significantly increased the survivability of the Sherman. Arguably, the Sherman’s greatest strength was in it numbers. The M4 Sherman was manufactured in vast numbers across the US, in different factories with different components. As there wasn’t enough type of any singular component to meet demand, Shermans were somewhat of a grab bag of different engines, armour and armaments. The M4 Sherman became a part of the Allied arsenal through the US Lend-Lease scheme and became an important symbol of trans-Atlantic co-operation. The M4 Sherman remained in US service through to the Korean War, and the last Shermans in active service were retired as recently as 2018. An incredible legacy for an incredible tank. If you're seeing this, why not let us know whether you enjoyed this deep dive into the M4 Sherman? Or, if you loved the video, give us a like! Interested in learning about tanks? Subscribe to The Tank Museum and enjoy hours of FREE tank content at your fingertips. And if you're a real Tank Nut, why not consider becoming a channel member or joining our community on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/tankmuseum Looking for some Sherman merch that will make your friends jealous? Shop our wide range of tank products at our online shop! https://tankmuseumshop.org/ 00:00 Intro 00:56 Initial History – Sherman Saviour 03:52 Sherman Michael 05:36 The Stop-Gap: M3 Lee 08:05 Tank Destroyers & Sherman Variants 10:23 Sherman Production & Armour 15:16 Sherman Firefly 17:14 US Solution 18:56 Conclusion This video features archive footage courtesy of British Pathé. In this film, Chris Copson explores the history and impact of the iconic, American M4 Sherman. An inexpensive and reliable tank, able to be produced in huge numbers, the Sherman was one of the most numerous tanks in the Allies’ arsenal – serving in all theatres and with all Allied armies during WWII. Despite being derided as under-gunned, under-armoured and generally inferior to the armour it was being sent to face, we argue that the Sherman should be recognised as one of the most important tank designs in history. Watch David Fletcher's original Tank Chat here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AetDM3fJVIE Support The Tank Museum! - Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/tankmuseum - Membership: https://www.youtube.com/@thetankmuseum/community - Friends: https://tankmuseum.org/support-us/friends-of-the-tank-museum - Online Shop: https://tankmuseumshop.org/ #tankmuseum