The Sherman was the British name for the US Medium Tank, M4. Several versions were made, and were named according to the Medium Tank, M4 version they were based on and its armament and suspension.
The list below only lists the versions which were used in combat by British forces. Several other combinations were planned. In addition, some Canadian Sherman IIs were re-armed with the 17 pdr, technically making them Sherman IICs. These Canadian Shermans were only used for training purposes, however. The Sherman VI designation, like the Medium Tank, M4A5 designation, was reserved for the Canadian Cruiser Tank Ram.
| US version | UK designation |
|---|---|
| Medium Tank, M4 | Sherman I |
| Medium Tank, M4 (105 mm) | Sherman IB |
| Medium Tank, M4 (105 mm), HVSS | Sherman IBY |
| Medium Tank, M4 (Re-armed with 17 pdr) |
Sherman IC |
| Medium Tank, M4 (Cast front and welded rear) |
Sherman Hybrid I |
| Medium Tank, M4 (Cast front and welded rear, re-armed with 17 pdr) |
Sherman Hybrid IC |
| Medium Tank, M4A1 | Sherman II |
| Medium Tank, M4A1 (76 mm) | Sherman IIA |
| Medium Tank, M4A1 (76 mm), HVSS | Sherman IIAY |
| Medium Tank, M4A2 | Sherman III |
| Medium Tank, M4A2 (76 mm) | Sherman IIIA |
| Medium Tank, M4A2 (76 mm), HVSS | Sherman IIIAY |
| Medium Tank, M4A3 (76 mm) | Sherman IVA |
| Medium Tank, M4A3 (105 mm) | Sherman IVB |
| Medium Tank, M4A3 (105 mm), HVSS | Sherman IVBY |
| Medium Tank, M4A4 | Sherman V |
| Medium Tank, M4A4 (Re-armed with 17 pdr) |
Sherman VC |
| Medium Tank, M4A6 | Sherman VII |
The Sherman VC, unofficially named Firefly, is no doubt the best known Sherman variant. It had the powerful British 17 pdr (76,2 mm) tank gun, capable of going up against the armour of any German tank. A total of 2348 Sherman VCs were made, out of a total of 17 000 Sherman tanks delivered by the US to the UK under the Lend-Lease act.
During the battle of Villers-Boccage in Normandy in 1944, it was a Sherman VC which forced the infamous Tiger commander Michael Wittmann to retreat after entering the village.
| Sherman | |
|---|---|
| Crew | |
| Crew | 5 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 32.2 t |
| Length | 7.52 m |
| Width | 2.68 m |
| Height | 3.25 m |
| Armour | |
| Armour (max) | 85 mm |
| Performance | |
| Speed (max) | 47 km/h |
| Armament | |
| Primary weapon | QF 17 pdr (1) |
