M4A3E8 Sherman
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| |content=The M4A3E8 "Easy Eight" Sherman is a faster, better armored version of the [[M4 Sherman]]. While it cannot load the 105mm Howitzer cannon popular on the [[M4 Sherman]], it does get an upgraded 76mm Gun M1A2, which has good penetration and an amazing rate of fire. However, despite the increased armor compared to the M4, the "Easy Eight" is still a very soft target and will be easily destroyed if it stays targeted for too long. Run and gun tactics are a must with the Easy Eight, as it has enough speed and maneuverability to circle many heavier tanks due to their inferior turret traverses. With the rapid rate of fire, the longer this tank stays on target, the more damage it does. However, the longer it stays exposed, the more likely it is to get hit by enemy fire. Finding a balance is a necessity, and is excellent practice for the following (in the research tree) American medium tanks, which all share a similar lack of armor. | |content=The M4A3E8 "Easy Eight" Sherman is a faster, better armored version of the [[M4 Sherman]]. While it cannot load the 105mm Howitzer cannon popular on the [[M4 Sherman]], it does get an upgraded 76mm Gun M1A2, which has good penetration and an amazing rate of fire. However, despite the increased armor compared to the M4, the "Easy Eight" is still a very soft target and will be easily destroyed if it stays targeted for too long. Run and gun tactics are a must with the Easy Eight, as it has enough speed and maneuverability to circle many heavier tanks due to their inferior turret traverses. With the rapid rate of fire, the longer this tank stays on target, the more damage it does. However, the longer it stays exposed, the more likely it is to get hit by enemy fire. Finding a balance is a necessity, and is excellent practice for the following (in the research tree) American medium tanks, which all share a similar lack of armor. | |||
| ? | :Research leads to the [[T20]] | + | :Research leads to the [[T20]] medium tank and [[M36]] Slugger. | |
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| {{Modules | {{Modules | |||
Revision as of 21:35, 16 July 2011
M4A3E8 Sherman
| USA | Medium Tank | Tier VI |
| Cost | 710,500  |
|---|---|
| Health | 720 / 750 (new turret) |
| Weight/Load Limit | 30.04/33.00t |
| Engine Power | 380hp |
| Speed Limit | 48km/h |
| Traverse Speed | 43deg/s |
| Hull Armor | 63/38/38mm |
| Turret Armor | 63/63/63mm |
| Damage | 83-138HP |
| Penetration | 69-115mm |
| Rate of Fire | 18.02r/m |
| Accuracy | 0.36-0.40m |
| Aim time | 1.8s |
| Turret Traverse | 50deg/s |
| Gun Traverse Arc | gunTraverseArc |
| Gun Vertical Limits | gunVerticalLimits |
| Ammo Capacity | ammo |
| Chance of Fire | 20% |
| View Range | 380m |
| Signal Range | 450m |
| Parent |   |
| Child |  |
The M4A3E8 "Easy Eight" Sherman is a faster, better armored version of the M4 Sherman. While it cannot load the 105mm Howitzer cannon popular on the M4 Sherman, it does get an upgraded 76mm Gun M1A2, which has good penetration and an amazing rate of fire. However, despite the increased armor compared to the M4, the "Easy Eight" is still a very soft target and will be easily destroyed if it stays targeted for too long. Run and gun tactics are a must with the Easy Eight, as it has enough speed and maneuverability to circle many heavier tanks due to their inferior turret traverses. With the rapid rate of fire, the longer this tank stays on target, the more damage it does. However, the longer it stays exposed, the more likely it is to get hit by enemy fire. Finding a balance is a necessity, and is excellent practice for the following (in the research tree) American medium tanks, which all share a similar lack of armor.
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Historical Info
The official name is the M4A3(76)W HVSS, but "Sherman Easy Eight" is the nickname this tank is widely remembered. Sherman M4A3E8 earned the nickname from it's experimental E8 designation. This new variant entered into WWII late in the war (Dec 1944), and was kept in service in various western allied nations deep into the Cold war.
Evolutionary differences from the prior Sherman variants
This tank sported the much-vaunted HVSS (horizontal volute spring suspension) wide track and suspension upgrade. HVSS suspension increased the Sherman's weight by 2950lbs with the T66 single-pin track and 4780 lbs with the T84 double-pin track. HVSS allowed the installation of wider tracks, thereby decreasing the tank's ground pressure, and eased maintenance on the running gear since the bogie no longer had to be disassembled to remove road wheels. HVSS also provided more wheel travel, which gave the tank an easier and more stable ride, it also made the tank a much more stable firing platform.
The turret was also enlarged to accommodate the more powerful 76 mm gun. Muzzle velocity of the 76 mm cannon, the vehicle's primary armament, was 780 m/sec, causing penetration of 101 mm of armor at a distance of 1,000 yards (914 m). Maximum range of the cannon in indirect fire mode was 15,000 yards (13,716 meters). From it's predecessor, the M4A3E8 inherited glacis sloped to 47 degrees, while driver and co-driver vision slots were changed to periscopes housed in the top of the hatches.
The most significant change that distinguished the "Easy Eight" from it's predecessors was the "wet storage" of ammunition to reduce fire risk in the event of penetration from an enemy AP round. The primary place of storage of ammunition was moved from the side of the tower (dry storage) into protected folders on the floor of the tank under the tower (wet storage).
Production of "Easy Eights" began in early 1944 and continued until April 1945. The "Easy Eight" became the standard tank of the American 3rd and seventh Army in Europe, and after the war, was successfully deployed in Korea and the Middle East. In the postwar years, it was included in the armament of various Western Allied armies. A total of 4,542 M4A3 tanks of both suspension types were produced.
| Light Tanks | T1 Cunningham • M2 Light Tank • T1E6 • T2 Light Tank • T7 Combat Car • M22 Locust • M3 Stuart • MTLS-1G14 • M5 Stuart • M24 Chaffee • T21 • T71 |
| Medium Tanks | T2 Medium Tank • M2 Medium Tank • M3 Lee • M4 Sherman • M4A2E4 Sherman • M7 • Ram II • M4A3E2 Sherman Jumbo • M4A3E8 Sherman • T20 • M26 Pershing • T23 • T26E4 Super Pershing • T69 • M46 Patton • T54E1 • M48A1 Patton • M60 |
| Heavy Tanks | T1 Heavy Tank • T14 • M6 • T29 • M6A2E1 • T32 • T34 • M103 • T57 Heavy Tank • T110E5 |
| Tank Destroyers | T18 • T82 • M8A1 • T40 • M10 Wolverine • T49 • M18 Hellcat • M36 Jackson • T25 AT • T25/2 • T28 • T28 Prototype • T30 • T95 • T110E3 • T110E4 |
| Self-Propelled Guns | T57 • M7 Priest • M37 • M41 • M44 • M12 • M40/M43 • M53/M55 • T92
|
