By all accounts, the M4 Sherman medium tank was regarded as the workhorse of the US Army during World War II. In fact, virtually all of the Allied armies employed the Sherman in their armed forces, including the British, who developed an upgunned variant called the "Firefly". Eleven different US plants manufactured six basic models of the Sherman, and by June 1944 over 49,234 battle-ready vehicles had been produced. While it was no match for the German Panther or Tiger tanks, the Sherman soldiered on, using its weight in numbers to wrest control of Europe from the Wehrmacht.

This particular 1:50 scale replica of a Sherman M4A2 medium tank was attached to the British Army's 9th Armoured Brigade, Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry ('Trowbridge'), in Syria 1943. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 4.5 inches
Width: 2 inches

Release Date: November 2003

Historical Account: "Habforce" - In 1942, Germany began to take an interest in Iraq and French-held Syria. On April 3rd, a pro-German politician, Rashid Ali al-Gallani, pulled off a successful coup d'etat in Iraq. At the same time, reports reached General Wavell that there were German deployments of officers and technicians arriving in Syria in French aircraft. On April 17th, an Indian brigade was sent to protect the oil pipeline running from Iraq to Haifa. British Commonwealth forces engaged the insurgent forces in Iraq on May 2nd, and on May 31st occupied Baghdad. The pipeline was secured and Abdallah was reinstated. By June 8th, it was clear that German forces had infiltrated into Syria in some strength, and that the Vichy commander, General Fernand Dentz, was supporting them. In the next six days, British Commonwealth forces under General Wilson advanced into Syria and in a sharp campaign, defeated the Vichy forces and occupied the country. For the attack against Syria, 'Habforce' as it was known, consisted of the 4th Cavalry Brigade - The Household Cavalry Regiment, The Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, The Warwickshire Yeomanry 1st Battalion, The Essex Regiment 237th Battery, Royal Artillery (60th Field Regiment) of 25-pounders, an Australian battery of 2-pounder anti-tank guns, 169th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery and the Arab Legion Mechanized Regiment.