M4 Sherman - USA: books - history and models (3/4)

M4 (76mm) Sherman Medium Tank 1943-1965 (Osprey)

The M4 Sherman tank was the mainstay of the Western allies between 1942 and 1945. Fast and modern it was a big success and was transported as far afield as Russia and North Africa. The American Chief of Staff claimed in November 1943 it was 'hailed widely as the best tank on the battlefield today...'. However, by the Normandy invasion of June 1944 this was not the case: the new German heavy tanks such as the Panther and Tiger were completely outclassing the Sherman.

This title covers the M4 version armed with the 76 mm gun, examining developments such as the HVSS suspension, using much new archive material.

Contents: Introduction - Combat debut - The 17-pdr option - Into production - Initial deployment problems - The shock of war - new ammunition - Problems and solutions - Upgunning the M4 tank - The M4 (76mm) in other theaters - Lend-Lease M4 (76mm) - Post-war export - The Korean war - Color plate commentary - Index.

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Sherman Crab Flail Tank (Osprey)

The Sherman Crab Flail tank was the powerful culmination of a series of mine-clearing flail tanks developed during World War II. Here, David Fletcher recounts how the Sherman Crabs were among the first tanks ashore on D-Day and as the war progressed they were in constant demand both for formal attacks and more incidental operations. Following the development of the tank and its use in the war, he details the US Army's initial lack of interest in the flail, but how after cooperative actions with the British, they too decided to adopt the type themselves.
In addition to its special mine-clearing role the Sherman Crab was also capable of fighting in tank duels, and this book includes dramatic accounts of its use by the famous 79th Armoured Division and the US Army. The author explores the beginnings of the design in the Matilda Scorpion and Baron flails, developed for the Valentine and M3 Grant tanks, through to the Sherman, and particularly the Crab version.

Contents: Introduction - Alamein Debut - Developments in Britain - Prototypes Proliferate - The Scorpions Spread· The Crabs Move In - The American Angle - Post-War Developments - Bibliography - Colour Plate Commentary - Index.

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Sherman Firefly (Osprey)

The most powerfully gunned tank fielded by the Allies during World War II was the Sherman Firefly. An ordinary American-built Sherman modified by the British, the Firefly had the firepower that could finally match the awesome German tanks that had dominated Europe.
David Fletcher examines the controversy that dogged the Firefly and the psychological boost the tank provided to Allied forces. Exploring its successes and failures on the battlefield and providing a realistic assessment of the tank's worth, this is essential reading for anyone wanting to know the facts about a tank variant that quickly developed its own mythology.

Contents: Introduction - The 17-pounder - Developments at Lulworth - Designing the Firefly - The Conversion Programme - Ammunition - Concrete Busters - The Firefly in Action - The American Angle - Supply and Demand - What's in a Name? - Index.

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Sherman Medium Tank 1942-45 (Osprey)

The M4 Sherman tank was the mainstay of the Western allies between 1942 and 1945. Fast and modern it was better than most of the tanks Britain had to offer. The American Chief of Staff claimed in November 1943 that it had been hailed widely as ‘the best tank on the battlefield today'. However, by the time of the Normandy invasion of June 1944 this was not the case. The new heavy tanks being produced by the Germans were able to outclass the Sherman in both armour and armament.

This title describes the development and operational use of the Sherman medium tank throughout World War II and beyond.

Contents: Design and Development - Variants - Firepower - Protection - Mobility - Operational History - The Sherman in Post-war Combat.

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Swimming Shermans - Sherman DD amphibious tank of World War II (Osprey)

The Sherman DD (Duplex Drive) tank was a brilliant innovation; the design and development of a tank that could float and even 'swim' in water was controversial. Each tank was enveloped in a waterproofed canvas screen, launched at sea from landing craft and then 'swam' to shore, where the screens were deflated, allowing the tanks to operate as fighting vehicles.

This book discusses the Sherman DD's many variants, including the prototype Valentine DD tank and examines the successes and tragic failures on the beaches of Normandy and further into North-West Europe, including the challenge of crossing the River Rhine.

Contents: Introduction - Design and development - Operational History - Variants - Colour plate commentary.

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La saga du Sherman

Far beyond simple narration, the book The Sherman Saga revolves around a tank but is broken down into several facets. Didactic, informal, historical and pragmatic, it highlights the role and difficulties of the crews who served this legendary tank.

The technical pitfalls and solutions found by the designers are explained, the different combat methods developed by the allies are detailed, whether it is a landing from an LCT, a progression in the bocage, a battle in the snow or a breakdown at the bottom of a mud hole.

Building the best tank is no guarantee of victory. The crew that serves it must also be educated and trained; that is where success begins. It is then necessary to "prepare" this crew to experience combat situations, to teach them that mistakes in wartime are paid for "cash", and that the bill often reminds us of the Grim Reaper.

The book not only evokes these situations, but exhaustively lists the equipment, the engines, the models produced and the many types of Sherman. Whenever necessary, the technical explanations are clear and precise so that for the reader, the thing becomes obvious.

Complete? Better than that! This book deals with repair and maintenance, while all the logistics necessary for combat are explained.
Collector, military history enthusiast, armored vehicle enthusiast or model maker, by reading this book you will have the feeling of being part of the crew, and the best of the "Sherman" is to be consumed in these pages.

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M4 Sherman - Entwicklung, Technik, Einsatz

Named after a notorious Union general in the American Civil War, the Sherman M4 battle tank was actually inferior in many ways to its strongest German competitors towards the end of the Second World War.

But in practice, this most famous, versatile and most frequently built US tank proved its worth, so that it was still used in over 30 countries after the end of the war - in some cases well into the year 2000!

In this volume, Pat Ware not only tells the story of the development and use of the Sherman M4, but also explains all of its important features.

German edition of the Haynes book "Sherman Tank Manual".

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