M4 Sherman Dimensions

In terms of length, the size of the M4 Sherman tank is 19 ft 2 in (5.84 m). It is 8 ft 7 in wide (2.62 m). Below are the other technical specifications of this World War II tank.

M4 Sherman Tank Specifications

The tank weighs 66,800 lbs (or about 30.3 tonnes). It is 8 ft tall (2.74 m). The crew numbered five. There was the driver, the gunner, the co driver the loader and the commander. The armor was 63 mm and the primary weapon was a 75 mm M3 L/40 gun equipped with 90 rounds.

The secondary weapon was the .50 cal Browning M2HB machine gun. It came with 300 rounds. The size of the M4 Sherman tank allowed it to use the 2 × .30-06 Browning M1919A4 machine guns (with 4,750 rounds).

Power / Weight and Transmission

Its engine was the Continental R975 C1 gasoline (400 hp -298 kW- gross at 2,400 rpm, 350 hp -253 kW- net at 2,400 rpm). In terms of power / weight it was 15.8 hp/tonne. The transmission of the Sherman tank was manual and came with 5 forward and 1 reverse. The suspension was the Vertical Volute Spring Suspension (VVSS).

Operating Range

The range was 120 miles (175 US gallons 190 km at 660 1; 80 octane). The speed was 25 mph (almost 40 km/h).

Other Models

The sizes of the M4 Sherman tank models varied a bit. However the basic design was kept throughout. Among the other variations that came out were the following. The M4 (105) had a welded hull and whose gasoline was the Continental R975 radial. The M4 Composite used a 75 mm and possessed cast front welded sides.

The M4A1 (76)W had a welded cast as well. The M4A2 employed a 75 mm for its armament; it was welded and used diesel GM 6046 2×6 for its engine.

The M4A3W had a 75 mm and used the Ford GAA V8 (gasoline). The M4A3E2 "Jumbo" utilized a 75 or 76 mm armament and also used the Ford GAA V8. The M4A3E8 (76) W "Easy Eight" had a 76 mm.

The M4A4 used a 75 mm (welded lengthened) and used the Chrysler A57 5xL6 for gasoline. The makeup and size of the M4 Sherman tank models that were later released were similar to these ones.

Armor

The armor was good enough against a lot of the tank guns used during the early phase of World War II. The gun mantlet was 78 mm thick. For the turret front it was 64 mm. For the hull front, it was 51 mm.

The Sherman armament was especially designed to withstand hits from the 5 cm Kwk 38 L/42. This was the weapon used by the Panzer III in the North African battles during 1942.

However the early designs proved unsuccessful against the German 7.5 cm KwK 40 L/48. This weapon was used by the German Panzer IV tanks around 1943. The armor would be thickened to address these deficiencies.

The size of the M4 Sherman tank made it one of the most fearsome tanks during World War II. It played a very significant role in the Allies’ campaigns throughout the war in Europe and the Pacific.