The M4 Sherman, officially the Medium
Tank, M4, was the most numerous battle tank used by the United States
and some other Western Allies in World War II. It proved to be
reliable and mobile. In spite of being outclassed by German heavy
tanks late in the war, the M4 Sherman was cheaper to produce and
available in greater numbers. Thousands were distributed to the
Allies, including the British Commonwealth and the Soviet Union,
through the lend-lease program. The M4 Sherman was the second-most
produced tank of the World War II era, after the Soviet T-34.
The Sherman was extensively supplied
through Lend-Lease to Britain, the Soviet Union and the Free French.
Britain received 17,287 Shermans of various models. The Soviet Union
received 4,035 M4A2 Shermans. The Free French was the third largest
recipient, taking 657 Shermans 1943-1944. 57 Shermans were delivered
to other nations.
After World War II, Shermans were
supplied to some NATO armies; Shermans were used by U.S. and allied
forces in the Korean War.
Shermans also went to Israel. The
Israeli up-gunned 75 mm M-50 and 105 mm armed M-51 Super Shermans are
remarkable examples of how a long obsolete design can be upgraded for
front-line use. They saw combat in the 1967 Six-Day War, fighting
Soviet World War II-era armor like the T34/85, and also in the 1973
Yom Kippur War, proving effective even against newer, heavier Soviet
tanks like the T-54 and T-55.
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