3 years ago

Production of the M4A1 tank began in February 1942 after the British
placed an order, it would have had a cast nose,
turret and a one-piece cast hull, with a 75mm cannon.
And was manufactured by Lima Locomotive Works.
These tanks were designed on British specs and was fitted
with the Continental R-975 air-cooled radial engine.
The M4A1 would be replaced on December 1943,
by the M4A1(76) W,
which received a more recent 76 mm M1 main gun,
A new turret with a new commander cupola
featuring 6 prismatic vision blocks and
a new modernized Continental R975-C1 engine.
Additional armor plate was often welded in front of the driver
and co/driver’s position at the front of the tank and
at the side to give them greater protection.
Later version would be identical to the M4A1(76)W, but
had the E8 Horizontal Volute Suspension System.

The Horizontal Volute Suspension System was developed
to reduce Ground Pressure and keep up with the
Shermans additional weight.
The HVSS system had a much wider 23 inch track, but still
remained a bolt on module.
It could replace the VVSS suspension on any version of the
Sherman or anything based on its hull.
It was very well received and used on many
late production Sherman models
and a few of the variants. It solved the flotation
problem with no drawbacks.

The M4A1(76)W Sherman HVSS was a pretty successful
vehicle and had an efficient gun.
After the war, it would be used by countries
like The Netherlands and
France.

This M4A1(76)W Sherman HVSS was used by Dutch army
and was sent to the Oldenbroek artillery shooting camp,
where the tank was used for decades as a shooting target,
after the tanks of this type were phased out
at the end of the 1950s.

The tanks would be salvaged in 2015 and was
transported to the Museum in Zeeland.
It was restored and in December 20, 2016,
the restored tank was
placed in the Liberation Park Zeeland.

■ So want to help keep me and the channel going?
Please consider buying a cup of coffee!
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/panzerpi...
supporting me on Patreon and Buymeacoffee will get you access to extra content for three channels in total.

■ Support me on my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/Panzerpicture
■ Or buy me a Coffee on https://www.buymeacoffee.com/panzerpi...
■ Store: teespring.com/stores/panzerpicture-2

■ Information obtained from several sites.
■ Wikipedia
■ tanks-encyclopedia
■ the.shadock.free.fr/Surviving_Panzers
■ preservedtanks
■ pantser.net
■ the.shadock.free.fr/Tanks_in_France

■ Some music is from the YouTube Audio Library.

■ Music used:
EpidemicSound.com

All media used in
this video is used for
the purpose of education
under the terms of
fair use.

All footage and images
used belong to their
copyright holders.

Loading comments...