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 M4A3 was fitted with a long-barrel M1A1 76mm gun, which replaced the shorter and less effective 75mm gun, and sported a larger, more angular turret to house the bigger gun. In addition, the slope of the M4A3's frontal armor was changed to 47-degrees to increase frontal protection and simplify the production process.

This title showcases a Sherman that fought with the 19th Tank Battalion of the 9th Armored Division ('Phantom'). This division fought in such campaigns as Ardennes-Alsace, the Rhineland, and Central Europe. Equipped with VVSS, this Sherman fought in Belgium in late 1944 as part of the ferocious effort to contain the 'Bulge' created by the German's Ardennes assault. It includes wet ammo storage, a 76mm gun and three-tone camouflage scheme (olive drab, earth and black). Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 3.25 inches
Width: 1.5 inches

Release Date: August 2006

Historical Account: "Quid Pro Quo" - Activated on July 15th, 1942, and shipped to the United Kingdom in September 1944, the 9th Armored Division ("Phantom") landed in Normandy in late September 1944. It first went into the line on October 23rd, conducting patrol duties in a quiet sector along the Luxembourg-German frontier.

When the Germans launched their winter offensive, the 9th, with no real combat experience, suddenly found itself engaged in heavy fighting. The Division saw its severest action at St. Vith, Echternach, and Bastogne, with its units fighting in widely separated areas. Its stand at Bastogne held off the Germans long enough to enable the 101st Airborne to dig in for a defense of the city.

After a rest period in January 1945, the Division made preparations for a drive across the Ruhr river. The offensive was launched on February 28th, and the 9th smashed across the Ruhr to Rheinbach, sending patrols into Remagen. The Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen was found intact, and was seized by elements of the 9th Armored just minutes before demolition charges were set to explode on March 7th, 1945. The Division exploited the bridgehead, moving south and east across the River Lahn toward Limburg an der Lahn, where thousands of Allied prisoners were liberated. The Division drove on to Frankfurt and then turned to assist in the closing of the Ruhr Pocket. In April it continued east, encircled Leipzig and secured a line along the Mulde river. The Division was shifting south to Czechoslovakia when the war in Europe ended and was inactivated on October 13th, 1945.