The M4 Sherman medium tank was regarded by many 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 Sherman was widely used by British troops in WWII, with its first combat debut being in the North African campaign. While the most common variant was the Sherman V (M4A4 in American nomenclature), the second most common was the diesel-engine Sherman III (M4A2). Dragon Armor has released another fine miniature of a Sherman III serving with A Squadron of the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry. The tank is finished in a typical Mediterranean scheme of light mud and black paint. This particular scheme was officially introduced to all Middle East Command units in April 1943.

Dragon Armor has a number of 1:72 scale Sherman models in its ranks, but this is the first from the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry. Painted in a distinctive and attractive camouflage scheme, it also bears the name 'Barford St. Martin', this nickname stemming from the regiment's practice of christening tanks with the names of public estates in their home county of Wiltshire. The model also bears other relevant markings that have been accurately painted. The features on this Sherman tank are masterfully replicated, and it constitutes an accurate model of the real tank. This appealing model in the Dragon Sherman fleet will look at home in any collection, particularly one from the fascinating but oft-neglected Mediterranean theater of operations. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 3-1/4-inches
Width: 1-1/2-inches

Release Date: October 2007

Historical Account: "Club Med" - The Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) was originally called the North African Theater of Operations (NATO) and is an American term for the conflict that took place between the Allies and Axis Powers in North Africa and Italy during World War II. US operations in the theater began with of the Allied Expeditionary Force, which landed on the beaches of northwest Africa on November 8th, 1942, in Operation Torch. They ended in the Italian Alps some 31 months later with the German surrender in May 1945.