When the Sherman tank arrived at the Museum in December 2000, its engine was completely rusted and it was painted in a color appropriate to the Korean War era rather than World War II. Because the tank was manufactured in 1943, it is almost certain that it was deployed overseas during the war, although no battle damage was discovered. No unit markings were discovered when previous coats of paint were removed from the tank. The Museum’s Sherman is an M4A3, built by Ford Motor Company in 1943. This particular tank, a rare M4A3E9 model (only a few hundred were built), carries appliqué armor for additional protection. Though frequently outgunned by their German counterparts, Shermans proved easier to maintain-often fixed on the battlefield. The Sherman tank’s primary role was infantry support, spearheading attacks as well as bolstering defensive positions.
Notorious for their flammability, Shermans were nicknamed “Ronsons” after a lighter with the slogan “lights every time.” The model proved itself somewhat effective against German Mk II and Mk IV Panzers, but it was thoroughly outclassed by the Tiger, Panther, and King Tiger tanks. Initially developed to replace the M3 "Grant/Lee" medium tank, the first Shermans were manufactured in 1942 and some early productions examples saw combat in North Africa in 1943. They were used in all combat theaters-not only by the United States, but also by Great Britain, the Free French, China, and even the Soviet Union. More than 50,000 Shermans were produced between 19. The Sherman tank was the most commonly used American tank in World War II.
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