M4A1 (76mm) Sherman Tank Platoon (UBX05) The first tanks the US landed in Normandy were the 75mm armed models of the M4 Sherman tank. It was quickly realised that against the Panthers and Tigers something with more hitting power would be needed. The up-gunned M4A1 (76mm) Sherman was rapidly shipped to France.

These tanks arrived in time to take part in Operation Cobra with the 2nd  “Hell On Wheels” and 3rd “Spearhead” Armored Divisions in the last week of July 1944. They were issued at a rate of one platoon per Tank Company. The offensive saw the Allied armies break out of their initial beachhead in Normandy and advance further into France. The other US divisions didn’t get any 76mm Shermans until September 1944.

The 76mm gun offered improved velocity and thus armour penetration (2,600 ft/sec, range of 16,100 yards, penetrate 4 inches at 1,000 yards) over the earlier 75mm gun. The M4A1 (76mm) was also used later by British, French, Polish and South African units and was known as the Sherman IIA. These first M4A1 (76mm) Shermans had an early model 76mm turret based on that from the T23 medium tank prototype. This turret had two round hatches, a commanders and loaders.

The commander had a vision cupola mounted above the turret hatch. It had 6 prismatic vision blocks of 3" laminated bullet-resistant glass. Later models replaced the round loaders hatch with a smaller oblong hatch. It also had water protected ammo racks installed (so called wet stowage). M4A1 (76mm) Sherman Characteristics Crew: Commander, gunner, loader, driver, co-driver/hull gunner. Weight: 70,000 lb Length w/gun: 24’ 3" Height: 9’ 9" Width: 8’ 9.5"

Main Armament: M1 76mm Secondary Armament: two .30 cal MG, one .50 cal AA MG Armour Thickness (mm): 12-62 Engine (Make/Model): Continental R-975-C1, air cooled Cylinders: 12 Net HP: 400 Fuel type: Gasoline Max Speed: 24mph Road Range: 85 miles Elevation Limits: -10° to +25° In Flames Of War Like they did historically, before September 1944, you can only have the one M4A1 (76mm) armed Tank Platoon in your US Tank Company (p. 91, Festung Europa).

So put them to good use! Their key advantages over the standard Sherman are the Protected Ammo (immediate Motivation test to remount if Bailed-out) and the excellent M1 76mm gun. The 76mm gun has a Range of 32”/80cm, ROF 2, AT 12 and FP 3+. The hull also had increased armour protection due the thickening of the front armour, Front armour 7, Side armour 4, Top armour 1. Like all US Shermans it can take advantage of its Stabiliser to allow it to keep up a high rate of fire on the move. Additional armament consists of a co-ax MG and a Hull MG. For anti-aircraft protection it also has a roof-mounted .50cal AA MG.

The model also includes Cullin Headrow Cutters to fit to the fromt of your Sherman. This model comes with the Sherman plastic parts sprue. Designed by Evan Painted by Jeremy