|
|
 Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,051 Points: -13,308
|
2017 will herald the 75th anniversary of the first Sherman tank in battle!
The first American Sherman's in combat was the M4A1 variant that landed in North Africa in Nov 1942 during Operation Torch on the 8th Nov, although the British saw combat with the Sherman a month earlier at the Second Battle of El Alamein.
On 31 Aug 1940, the United States Army Ordnance Department submitted the M4 tank design as a potential replacement for the existing M3 tanks. It was approved on 18 Apr 1941 as the prototype promised a tank that was as capable as the successful German tanks. The first model was completed on 2 Sep 1941, and the design entered full production in Feb 1942, three months after the United States entered WW2.
During the war, the M4 tanks, now nicknamed "Sherman" by the British, served with the United States with its Army and Marine Corps, and also with several Allied nations, notably Britain and Canada, and with the Soviet forces. The first American Sherman tanks in combat were of the M4A1 variant that landed in North Africa in Nov 1942 during Operation Torch, although the British had already saw combat with them a month before at the Second Battle of El Alamein in Egypt. They were extremely effective with high top speed, adequate armor to stop smaller caliber anti-tank guns, and weapons capable of penetrating German armor. Through the Desert War, they slowly replaced their predecessor, the M3 Lee tanks, as the main medium tank of the United States Army. After the invasion of Normandy in Jun 1944, it was discovered that the 75-millimeter guns found in earlier Sherman tanks were ineffective against new German tank types, namely the Panther and Tiger models, and two new variants were produced, one with the new high velocity 76-millimeter M1 guns and the other with a 90-millimeter M3 guns. Despite the upgrades, however, the armament of Sherman tanks were still far inferior to the Panther tanks' 75-millimeter gun, only effective against Panther tanks at close range, which led to the high loss rate at the start of the Normandy Campaign. In Jul 1944, the hypervelocity armor piercing (HVAP) ammunition entered mass production as M93 and became the standard armor piercing ammunition, which eased the situation slightly, but limited production meant only tank destroyer units received them. By the end of the European War, half of the US Army tanks in this theater were M4 Sherman tanks.
While Americans developed more lethal rounds to improve the M4 Sherman tanks, the British took a different approach. Royal Tank Regiment Major George Brighty led an effort to modify certain batches of M4 Sherman tanks, particularly the M4 (Sherman I) and M4A4 (Sherman V) variants, so that they would carry the larger caliber 17-pounder guns. The end result were the Sherman Firefly tanks, which effectively became the most powerfully gunned Allied tanks of World War II, capable of dueling the feared German Panther and Tiger tanks. Sherman Firefly tanks were first used by British and Commonwealth units on 6 Jun 1944 at the Normandy landings, and were used until the end of the European War.
In the Pacific War, where tank battles were few and far in-between, the M4 Sherman tanks easily out-classed their Japanese counterparts. Unlike their North African and European counterparts, the Sherman tanks deployed to the Pacific often used high explosive rounds instead of armor piercing rounds; the decision was made due to the reason that the Japanese tanks were thinly-armored, and armor piercing rounds often went through the tank without detonating the explosives. The armor piercing rounds, though, remained effective against defensive fortifications. Rather unique in the Pacific theater was the deployment of Sherman tanks that were equipped with flamethrowers, which were seen in the European War but the usage was limited. The M4 Sherman design had a escape hatch at the bottom of the hull, originally placed to provide another route of escape should the tank become disabled. This hatch gained an alternative use in the Pacific War as a method of recovering the wounded as Japanese snipers frequently targeted Americans dispatched to treat them.
Notable weaknesses of the M4 Sherman tanks include the ease for earlier variants to catch fire when struck by enemy armor piercing rounds. Most tanks at the time ran on diesel, a safer and less flammable fuel than gasoline. The Sherman’s powerplant was a gasolene engine that, combined with the ammo on board, could transform the tank into an inferno after taking a hit. All it took was a German adversary like the awe-inspiring Tiger tank with its 88-millimeter gun. One round could punch through the Sherman’s comparatively thin armor. If they were lucky, the tank’s five crew might have seconds to escape before they burned alive.
Hence, the Sherman’s grim nickname - 'Ronson' (like the cigarette lighter), because “it lights up the first time, every time".
Despite this negative characteristic, the majority of Sherman tank losses were not attributed to duels with enemy vehicles; rather, they were more often lost to mines, aircraft, and infantry anti-tank weapons. They were also known for their difficulty when traversing across soft terrain, such as snow or mud, due to the narrow width. The Sherman was renowned for its mechanical reliability, owing to its standardized parts and quality construction on the assembly line. It was roomy, easily repaired, easy to drive, it should have been the ideal tank.
After the war, the US Army continued to employ Sherman tanks of the M4A3E8 variant, equipped with either 76-millimeter guns or 105-millimeter howitzers. They saw action in the Korean War despite new tank models had already entered service. During the M4 Sherman design's production life, over 50,000 units were built.
The place for all things Sherman: http://www.theshermantank.com/
As a tribute to one of the most famous tanks in history, Nemesis will be undertaking a Sherman build with full interior detail and crew.
He is also constucting the movie famous a Kelly's Heroes "Oddball" Sherman here:
http://forum.model-space...spx?g=posts&t=21856
Tomick attached the following image(s):
|
|
|
|
|
Thank you for the intro and the superb write up Tomick, just waiting for the postie to do his funky thang and I will get some pictures and info up on the kit and add ons I will be using. As a small hint the basic kit will be from Tasca, not one I have built before, but this is meant to be the Rolls of the Sherman kit world! 
|
|
|
 Rank: Super-Elite       Groups: Registered
Joined: 27/01/2014 Posts: 5,060 Points: 14,980
|
|
|
|
Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,051 Points: -13,308
|
The 1/6 has no interior or engine, so we've gone for a 1/35 "full monte" to do it justice 
|
|
|
Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,051 Points: -13,308
|
This'll be a very cool build Daran and I've heard some very glowing comments about the Tasca Shermans, just about the best there is by all accounts?
Looking forward to your build mate.  
Kev 
|
|
|
|
|
Noooo I have other plans for that one!!
|
|
|
Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,051 Points: -13,308
|
The Tasca brand is now owned by 'Asuka Model' who are still using the original Tasca kit refs and content but are using new box art, (the PE still has Tasca stamped on it  ).
Our Sherman build is the re-branded Asuka Model M4A1 mid prod Sherman kit ref 35-010. A kit review (of the Tasca boxed version) can be found here https://www.perthmilitar...s/tasca/tasca35010.html the Asuka release is identical.
Tomick attached the following image(s):
|
|
|
|
|
Well from what I have discovered from the model world is Tasca were bought out by Asuka lock stock and barrel. The kits are exactly the same as they use the original Tasca moulds, so the quality is the same. And it seems Asuka have some really nice kits in the pipeline!
|
|
|
|
|
Have a feeling this is going to be another special from you Nem, good luck with it.... Look forward to following your progress.... Regards Alan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Rank: Elite   Groups: Registered
Joined: 20/04/2012 Posts: 1,787 Points: 5,292 Location: Thurso
|
I always did like the Sherman, will be watching this one with great interest.
Graeme
|
|
|
Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,051 Points: -13,308
|
Nemesis wrote:ModelMania wrote:This'll be a very cool build Daran and I've heard some very glowing comments about the Tasca Shermans, just about the best there is by all accounts?
Looking forward to your build mate.
Kev Hello Kev, yes by all accounts this kit is the best Sherman on the market. I have read all the reviews and it comes out top everytime. And the nice thing is all the aftermarket stuff for the Tamiya kit drops in with no problem, so plenty of choices for interior and exterior. Sounds like it is going to be a fabulously detailed model when you're finished Daran. Interesting to know that the Tamiya bits just drop straight in and yes, a multitude of choices because of it!!
Looking forward to this one my friend, I'm sure you'll make a cracking job of it!!
Kev
|
|
|
|
|
We are off!! All the kit turned up today. A few pictures of all the boxes and shells. I will review each box of parts as I get to them as there is quite a few parts to show!Nemesis attached the following image(s):
|
|
|
Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,051 Points: -13,308
|
Looks a very nice collection of parts Daran and should build into a very detailed model.
Good luck with the build mate and have fun.
Kev
|
|
|
Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,051 Points: -13,308
|
Should keep you busy for a couple of days
|
|
|
|
|
Tomick wrote:Should keep you busy for a couple of days Yeah should pass a few hours!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,051 Points: -13,308
|
Great start, that engine looks awesome
|
|
|
|
|
Very nice start and that engine looks great in situ Current builds:-C57,Zero, Lamborghini Countach, Caldercraft HMS Agamemnon,Robi,R2-D2, MFH Cobra .
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks for the comments, I am impressed with the detail on the resin kits, very crisp, and really easy to remove the casting blocks. Once the engine is complete it will really look the business.
|
|
|
|
Guest
|
US
