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 Sherman Tank - Jefferson Barracks - Lemay, MO Posted by:  YoSam.
N 38° 30.355 W 090° 16.825
15S E 737143 N 4265455
Tank and marker displayed at the main gate to Jefferson Barracks.
Waymark Code: WM1552E
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 10/18/2021
Views: 1
County of marker: St. Louis County
Location of marker: Hancock Rd., at main gate, Jefferson Barracks, Lemay
Marker Text: WWII M4A3E8 Sherman Tank
Weight: 66,800 pounds
Length: 19.2 feet
Height: 9 feet
Width: 8.7 feet
Crew: 5 personnel
Armor: 3 inch maximum
Engine: Continental R975 C1, 400 hp at 2400 rpm
Speed: 20 to 30 mph
Range: 120 miles at 175 gal
Main Armament: 75mm M3 L/40 gun (90 rounds) or 76 mm gun M1 (55 rounds)
Secondary Armament: .50 cal Browning M3HB machine gun (300 rounds), 2x .30-06 Browning M1919A4 machine guns (4750 rounds)
The M4A3E8 Sherman tank was the primary battle tank of WWII. It first saw battle in North Africa where it outperformed the German Panzer III and Panzer IV tanks. This early success convinced American planners the Sherman tank would be adequate throughout the war. Unfortunately, the heavy German tanks in the European Theater flat outmatched the Sherman's 75 mm gun and relatively thin armor. The Americans numerically superiority and the combination of artillery and air dominance ensured Allied Victory in Europe.
History of Mark:
"The M4 Sherman, officially Medium Tank, M4, was the most widely used medium tank by the United States and Western Allies in World War II. The M4 Sherman proved to be reliable, relatively cheap to produce, and available in great numbers. It was also the basis of several successful tank destroyers, such as the M10, 17pdr SP Achilles and M36B1. Tens of thousands were distributed through the Lend-Lease program to the British Commonwealth and Soviet Union. The tank was named by the British for the American Civil War general William Tecumseh Sherman.
"The M4 Sherman evolved from the M3 Medium Tank, which – for speed of development – had its main armament in a side sponson mount. The M4 retained much of the previous mechanical design, but moved the main 75 mm gun into a fully traversing central turret. One feature, a one-axis gyrostabilizer, was not precise enough to allow firing when moving but did help keep the reticle on target, so that when the tank did stop to fire, the gun would be aimed in roughly the right direction. The designers stressed mechanical reliability, ease of production and maintenance, durability, standardization of parts and ammunition in a limited number of variants, and moderate size and weight (its width and weight were designed to conform with the War Department restrictions at the time that aimed to ease shipping problems and ensure armored vehicles would be compatible with existing bridging equipment.). These factors, combined with the Sherman's then-superior armor and armament, outclassed German light and medium tanks fielded in 1939–42. The M4 went on to be produced in large numbers, being the most produced tank in American history, coming in at 49,324 produced (including variants): During World War II, the Sherman spearheaded many offensives by the Western Allies after 1942." ~ Wikipedia
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Additional point: Not Listed
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