"Sherman" III - US medium tank

M4 "Sherman" - an American medium tank of the Second World War. The first prototypes were produced in 1941, serial production took place between 1942 and 1945. About 49,000 examples of all versions of this tank were produced, making it one of the most massive tanks of the Second World War and the most important tank in the arsenal of the Allied armies during this war. The M4 "Sherman" was powered by a single M4A1 "Continental' R 975 C4 engine with a power of 400 h. p. Depending on the version, the combat vehicle was armed with one 75 mm M3, or 76 mm M1 cannon, or 105 mm M4 howitzer and two 7.62 mm machine guns. The M4 "Sherman" was developed as a successor to the M2 and M3 tanks. "Sherman", in particular, the role of an infantry support tank was emphasized, and not the fight against enemy tanks - this was the purpose of American tank destroyers, to which the "Sherman" was not classified. It was believed, that only encounters with enemy tanks were possible. The mass production of the new combat vehicle also played a role.The result was a tank with good armament in 1942 and early 1943, with a sloping frontal armor plate and - especially in the first versions - a very vulnerable engine compartment. However, at the same time, a tank was created, that was produced in really large quantities and had great potential for modernization. During serial production, many versions were created. Chronologically, the first was the M4A1 version, which already had cast armor. The other, the M4A2, had welded armor and a new "General Motors" 6460 engine with a power of 375-410 h. p., but much less likely to catch fire. A version of the M4A3 also appeared, armed with a 105 mm howitzer and powered by a "Ford" GAA engine with a power of 450 h. p. Based on the M4A3 version, two secondary versions were developed: the M4A3E2 "Jumbo" with reinforced armor and the M4A3E8 with HVSS and a 76 mm cannon. An interesting version was also the T34 "Calliope" with mounted missiles. The M4 "Sherman" was supplied to the British and Red Army. The first, based on it, created a version of the "Firefly" with an excellent 17-pounder anti-tank gun. During the Second World War, M4 "Sherman" tanks fought in North Africa (1942-1943), Italy (1943-1945), in the battles of Normandy, France and West Germany (1944-1945), but also in the Pacific theater of operations, the Red Army in the East front. After World War II, the M4 "Sherman" was used in many countries, including Argentina, Belgium, India, Israel, Japan, Pakistan, and Turkey. It also participated in many conflicts after 1945, including the 1965 India-Pakistan War and 1967 Six day war.

Fairly complex model for intermediate to advanced modelers due to hull and turret shapes. The tracked chassis and exterior detailing are no less complex. The engine and fighting compartment are not detailed, but this well-designed and fairly richly detailed model is a real "tough nut" for any modeler. The interesting camouflage, used to paint the "Maczuga" tank of the 3rd Squadron of the 6th "Children of Lviv" Armored Regiment, which is reproduced by this model. On May 21, 1944, the tank took part in the battle for the liberation of Piedmont, and during it, it got stuck in the gravel soil and could no longer move, but it supported its attacking infantrymen with fire until the end of the battle. The further fate of the tank is unknown. There is a fairly large supply of colors, the graphic instructions are large, clear and perfectly readable, the textual is also quite large and perfectly complements the drawings, in Polish and English.