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.

Early Shermans mounted a 75mm medium-velocity general-purpose gun. Later M4A1, M4A2, and M4A3 models received the larger T23 turret with a high-velocity 76mm gun M1, which traded reduced HE and smoke performance for improved anti-tank performance. The British offered the QF 17 pounder (76.2 mm) anti-tank gun with its significant armour penetration but a significant initial (later rectified) HE shortcoming to the Americans but the US Ordnance Department was working on a 90mm tank gun and declined. Later M4 and M4A3 were factory-produced with a 105mm howitzer and a new distinctive mantlet in the original turret. The first standard-production 76mm-gun Sherman was an M4A1 accepted in January 1944 and the first standard-production 105mm-howitzer Sherman was an M4 accepted in February 1944.

This is the third release in Dragon's popular 1:72 range of Sherman tanks. It is properly weathered and portrays a M4A1 Sherman from the 7th Armored Division then deployed to France in 1944. Sold Out!

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

Release Date: September 2006

Historical Account: "Let Thine Eyes Guide You" - The 7th Armored Division was activated on March 1st, 1942, and arrived in the United Kingdom in January 1944. It landed on Omaha and Utah Beaches between August 13th-14th, 1944, and immediately drove through Nogent-le-Rotrou to assault Chartres, which fell on August 18th. From Chartres, the Division advanced to capture Dreux, Melun, and Chateau-Thierry, crossed the Seine River on August 24th, and pushed on to take Verdun on the 31st. The 7th halted briefly for refueling and then drove on toward the Moselle near Dornot. The Division was repulsed in its attacks across the Seille River.

The unit was then shifted to the Netherlands, where on October 8th it joined in defensive operations protecting the British-Canadian drive to clear the northern and western approaches to Antwerp. After resting during November, the Division returned to the front near Linnich, Germany, on the banks of the Roer. It was preparing to drive into Germany when the Ardennes offensive began on December 16th, 1944. The Division was ordered to St. Vith where it absorbed much of the weight of the German drive and was forced to withdraw west of the Salm River on the 23rd. It shifted to Manhay, Belgium, and by the end of December had cleared the town of the enemy.

After a brief rest in January 1945, the Division returned to positions near St. Vith, where it attacked and captured the town. February and part of March were spent in rest and rehabilitation. Later in March, the Division held defensive positions along the west bank of the Rhine, south of Bonn to Unkelbach. The 7th returned to the offensive on the 26th, breaking out of the Remagen bridgehead, and taking part in the reduction of the Ruhr Pocket. On April 16th, the LIII Panzer Corps surrendered to the Division and the eastern sector of the pocket collapsed. The Division then cut across the Elbe and swept north into Mecklenburg, effecting a junction with the Russians as the war in Europe ended.

The unit was deactivated on October 9th, 1945, thus ending its short but illustrious career.