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.

The Army had seven main sub-designations for M4 variants during production: M4, M4A1, M4A2, M4A3, M4A4, M4A5, and M4A6. These designations did not necessarily indicate linear improvement; in that "M4A4" did not indicate it was better than "M4A3". These sub-types indicated standardized production variations, which were often manufactured concurrently at different locations. The sub-types differed mainly in engines, although the M4A1 differed from the other variants by its fully cast upper hull, with a distinctive rounded appearance. The M4A4 had a longer engine that required a longer hull and more track blocks, and thus the most distinguishing feature of the M4A4 was the wider longitudinal spacing between the bogies. "M4A5" was an administrative placeholder designation for Canadian Ram tank. The M4A6 had a radial diesel engine as well as the elongated chassis of the M4A4, but only 75 of these were ever produced.

This particular 1:50 scale tank was used during by the British as an observation post tank during their advance into Germany in 1945. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 4-1/2-inches
Width: 2-inches

Release Date: December 2004

Historical Account: "AGRA" - The Army Group Royal Artillery (AGRA) was a late war innovation intended to group artillery regiments under the overall control of army commanders. Typically an AGRA would comprise one field artillery regiment, four medium regiments and one heavy regiment. The Observation Post Sherman was provided for the Troop Commander, probably in a self-propelled field artillery regiment. Outwardly conventional, it was fitted with a wooden gun barrel leaving the turret clear for map boards and other fixtures. The Essex Yeomanry was attached to the 8th Armoured Brigade and carried the Fox's Head formation sign on the front of the tank.