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.

Reproduced in 1:72 scale, this replica represents a Sherman of the 20th Armored Infantry Battalion, which was a unit of the 10th Armored Division. Also known as the "Tiger Division", this armored division served under General George S. Patton. It fought in the Allied offensive that swept into Germany, with the division ending the war in Innsbruck after driving into the famed "Redoubt".

This fully built-up model from Dragon is beautifully produced - detail such as the HVSS system is complete and accurate. The turret features a 105mm howitzer that was used for close support missions. All tactical and national markings of the original tank are fully replicated. Wearing the typical olive drab paint scheme of the day, the finish has been enhanced by some clever drybrushing. This splendid model of a tank fighting in Germany in the closing months of the war makes an ideal addition to modelers' collections. Sold Out!

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

Release Date: August 2007

Historical Account: "The American Tiger" - The 10th Armored Division, which served under General George S. Patton, was activated on July 15th, 1942, at Fort Benning, Georgia. The Division entered France through the port of Cherbourg on September 23rd, 1944, and put in a month of training at Teurtheville, France, before entering combat. Leaving Teurtheville on October 25th, the Division moved to Mars-la-Tour, where it entered combat on November 1st in support of the XX Corps, containing enemy troops in the area. In mid-November it went on the offensive, crossed the Moselle at Mailing, and drove to the Saar River, north of Metz. The Division was making preparations for the Third Army drive to the Rhine when it was ordered north to stop the German winter offensive on December 17th. The 10th held defensive positions against heavy opposition near Bastogne, Noville, and Bras.

Resting briefly in early January, the 10th moved out again to defensive positions east of the Saar, south of the Maginot Line. On February 20th, 1945, the Division returned to the attack, and took part in the clearing of the Saar-Moselle triangle. The Division then attacked north and captured Trier on March 15th. Driving through Kaiserlautern, it advanced to the Rhine, crossed the river at Mannheim on March 28th, turned south, captured Oehringen and Heilbronn, crossed the Rems and Fils Rivers, and reached Kirchheim, meeting waning resistance. The Division crossed the Danube between April 23rd-25th, and took Oberammergau. On April 27th, the 10th Armored Division, along with the 103rd Infantry Division, liberated the Landsberg-Dachau concentration subcamp. In May, the 10th drove into the famed "Redoubt," and had reached Innsbruck when the war in Europe ended.

The division was inactivated on October 13th, 1945, at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia.