The tank’s main gun was the long barreled 76 mm (3 in) L/55 M1A2 fitted into the T23 turret, which could penetrate 143 millimetres (5.6 in) of unsloped rolled homogeneous armor at 100 meters (110 yd) and 97 millimetres (3.8 in) at 1,000 meters (1,100 yd) using the usual M79 round. By early 1945, the better HVSS suspension and wider tracks was fitted. The tanks equipped with this protection system were designated “Wet”. The ammunition storage in the new tanks was improved by surrounding the racks with water and ethylene glycol-filled jackets to reduce the probability of explosion in the event of penetration of the armor by enemy fire. The letter ‘W’ referred to the fire resistant wet stowage containers for the 76 mm (3 in) shells. The glacis was at 47 degrees, 108 mm (4.25 in) thick with large hatches.Ĭanadian M4A2(76)W Sherman tank driving along forest tracks at the Camp Petawawa Training Ground in 1963. With the GM 6046 diesel, and 673 liters (178 gal) of fuel, range was 161 km (100 mi). It was fitted with the modified T23 turret, which housed the M1 L/55 gun, which gave an overall length of 7.57 m (25 feet). The M4A2(76)W was the upgunned late variant, of which over 3230 were delivered by May 1945. The hull frontal glacis was 108 mm (4.25 in) thick. Range was 241 km (150 mi) with 641 liters (170 gal) of fuel (consumption was 279 liters/100 km or 118.6 gal/mi), total weight 31.8 tons, with a 1.01 kg/cm³ ground pressure. This model was also produced with a diesel GM 6046, 410 hp, used mostly for the British and the USMC. The rear hull plate was sloped.Ī transitional version built by Fisher, the M4A2(75)D, which had a one-piece 47 degree glacis, with large hatches, but it still used dry ammo bins and applique armor. Early versions of the M4A2(75) had small hatches and protruding drivers’ and co-drivers’ hoods, a 57 degree glacis and dry ammo stowage bins. In total 8,053 tanks were manufactured by May 1944. ![]() The first M4A2 75 mm (2.95 in) Sherman tank was produced in April 1942, with a new General Motors 6046 engine (two GM 6-71 General Motors Diesel engines), welded hull with extra applique protective armor on the hull sides and gunner position (left side of the turret). Royal Canadian Armoured Corps (RCAC) M4A2(76)W HVSS Sherman Tanks of the Essex Regiment (Tank), (Windosr Regiment) 30th (Reserve) Reconnaissance Battalion Production and Development It did give better performance on soft ground and allowed for a smoother ride. The HVSS system used four wheels per bogie instead of two, which allowed tracks that were wider to be installed: 23 inches (58.42cm) compared to the normal 16 inches (40.66cm). ![]() The ‘E8’ HVSS suspension modification was an effort to improve the ride and increase the mobility of the Sherman tanks that had progressively become heavier with increased armor and a bigger 76 mm (3 in) gun. To complicate the naming issue, some Canadian Army documents name this tank by its prototype name, the M4A2E8. Today, the 1951 International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet, commonly known as the NATO phonetic alphabet, uses the word ‘Echo’ when referring to the letter E. alphabet became known as Able Baker after the words for A and B. adopted the Joint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet during 1941 to standardize systems among all branches of its armed forces. In the American army in the 1940’s, the letter E in the phonetical alphabet was known as ‘Easy’. ![]() The only production Sherman tank that had an official E designation was the up-armoured 75mm Gun Tank M4A3E2(W) – the so called Jumbo. The experimental code E8 refers to a tank fitted with Horizontal Volute Spring Suspension (HVSS) system, with wider tracks. Not all the Sherman tanks given this experimental designation were powered by V8 engines. Many websites say it was because this tank was powered by a V8 engine. Its experimental E8 designation led to the ‘Easy Eight’ nickname for Sherman’s so equipped. The designations M4E8, M4A1E8, M4A2E8 or M4A3E8 only officially applied to prototype vehicles used to test the new HVSS (Horizontal Volute Spring System) suspension. Many people call this tank the M4A2E8 -The Easy 8. Medium Tank – 294 Purchased M4A2(76)W with HVSS Sherman tank
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