Difference between revisions of "M4 748 (a) (Germany)"

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{{Specs-Card|code=us_m4a2_1944_germ}}
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{{About
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| about = gift medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
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| other
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| usage-1 = other M4 Shermans
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| link-1 = M4 Sherman (Family)
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| usage-2 = other uses
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| link-2 = M4 (Disambiguation)
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}}
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{{Specs-Card
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|code=us_m4a2_1944_germ
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|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
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}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
−
''In the description, the first part needs to be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert the screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, they will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''
+
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
 +
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} German medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was available only for [[wt:en/news/356/current/|pre-order]] during the Closed Beta Test of Ground Forces during the period before [[Update 1.41]]. 500 units were also for sale during the [[wt:en/news/5079-special-hurry-up-and-get-rare-packs-en|5th Anniversary event]]. Another 2,020 units went on sale in commemoration of the [[wt:en/news/6885-special-german-unity-day-en|30th anniversary of German Unity]]. And another 2,000 units went on sale during the [[wt:en/news/7945-special-happy-anniversary-war-thunder-en|10th Anniversary event]], all of which were sold out within a few hours.
 +
 
 +
The M4 748 (a) represents a captured [[M4A2|M4A2 Sherman]] in Wehrmacht service and was the first Sherman to be implemented in the game. Unfortunately, it is currently impossible for a new War Thunder player to acquire this rare tank. It is played like any other M4 Sherman as a mobile tank with adequate armour and gun. While its frontal armour and gun may not be up for the tasks against its contemporaries at its battle rating, the M4's mobility allows the M4 to get around the front line to capture the objective or hit the enemy in the sides. Though, if the heavy manoeuvring is not preferable, the M4 can also perform well as a supporting tank by backing up a more powerful tank to overwhelm a small enemy group.
 +
 
 +
Visually, the M4 748 (a) is identical to the [[M4A2|M4A2 Sherman]]. The only big distinctive feature of the M4 748 (a) is the paint coat on the tank, which is a combination of the yellow ''dunkelgelb'', red-brown ''rotbraun'', and green ''olivgrün'', in a manner similar to the default scheme of the [[Panther G|Panther G]].
 +
 
 +
Features on the M4 748 (a) are shared with its counterpart with a 47° front armour plate with a one-piece transmission housing. The turret features the M34A1 gun mount with the 75 mm M3 gun, the mount specified for a telescopic and periscopic scope. Unlike the [[M4|M4 Sherman model]] that has the same gun mount, the right turret side does not have a welded piece of applique armour, allowing for a more sloped contour on the 76 mm turret armour. The turret top features a spotlight on the front loader's position with his oval hatch while the commander has a usual split hatch with an M2 Browning machine gun for him to use.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
−
''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpfull for survival in combat?''
+
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
 +
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
 +
'''Armour type:'''
 +
 
 +
*Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret roof)
 +
*Cast homogeneous armour (Turret, Transmission area)
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 +
|-
 +
| Hull || 63.5 mm (47°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 51-108 mm (12-56°) ''Transmission housing'' || 38.1 mm || 38.1 mm (7-10°) || 19.5 mm
 +
|-
 +
| Turret || 76 mm (3-65°) ''Turret front'' <br> 89 + 51 mm (2-62°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 51 mm (2-64°) || 51 mm (2-60°) || 19.5 mm
 +
|-
 +
| Cupola || 51 mm || 51 mm || 51 mm || 19.5 mm
 +
|-
 +
|}
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'''Notes:'''
  
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''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''
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* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, the bogies are 10 mm, and the tracks are 20 mm thick.
 +
* Small applique armour are placed on the side hull armour over ammunition that gives an extra 25.4 mm.
 +
* Belly armour is 19.5 mm thick, though the tip near the transmission is 38.1 mm thick.
 +
* Hull underside over tracks is 9.5 mm thick.
 +
* A 9.5 mm RHA plate separates the engine compartment from the crew compartment.
 +
* A small patch on the turret front right side is thinner (50.8 mm) than the rest (76.2 mm).
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
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''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and maneuverability as well as the maximum speed forward and backward.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
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<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
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 +
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=635|rbMinHp=363|AoAweight=0.9}}
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 +
=== Modifications and economy ===
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{{Specs-Economy}}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
 
=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
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''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibilty of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
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<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
 +
{{main|M3 (75 mm)}}
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 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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|-
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! colspan="5" | [[M3 (75 mm)|75 mm M3]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
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|-
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! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
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! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
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! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
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|-
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! ''Arcade''
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| rowspan="2" | 97 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+25° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Vertical || 22.8 || 31.6 || 38.4 || 42.5 || 45.2 || rowspan="2" | 6.50 || rowspan="2" | 5.75 || rowspan="2" | 5.30 || rowspan="2" | 5.00
 +
|-
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! ''Realistic''
 +
| 14.3 || 16.8 || 20.4 || 22.6 || 24.0
 +
|-
 +
|}
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 +
==== Ammunition ====
 +
{{:M3 (75 mm)/Ammunition|M72 shot, M48 shell, M61 shot, T45 shot, M89}}
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 +
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
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<!-- '''Last updated:''' -->
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
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|-
 +
! Full<br>ammo
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! 1st<br>rack empty
 +
! 2nd<br>rack empty
 +
! 3rd<br>rack empty
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! 4th<br>rack empty
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! 5th<br>rack empty
 +
! 6th<br>rack empty
 +
! 7th<br>rack empty
 +
! 8th<br>rack empty
 +
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 +
|-
 +
| '''97''' || 91&nbsp;''(+6)'' || 88&nbsp;''(+9)'' || 86&nbsp;''(+11)'' || 78&nbsp;''(+19)'' || 63&nbsp;''(+34)'' || 46&nbsp;''(+51)'' || 31&nbsp;''(+66)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+96)'' || style="text-align:center" | No
 +
|-
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|}
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[[File:Ammoracks_M4.png|right|thumbnail|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the M4 Sherman.]]
 +
'''Notes''':
  
−
=== Additional armament ===
+
* To go into battle with the turret basket empty of ammo, pack 78&nbsp;''(+19)'' shells (racks 1 to 4 emptied).
−
''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.''
+
* To go into battle with the turret basket and the flanks empty of ammo, pack 31&nbsp;''(+66)'' shells (Racks 1 to 7 empty).
 +
* The 8th rack is large and located at a weak spot: the bottom section of the armour. In case of penetration, there is a high risk of ammo rack detonation. Make sure not to expose your flanks unnecessarily.
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
−
''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft, but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.''
+
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}
 +
<!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' -->
 +
{{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)|M1919A4 (7.62 mm)}}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="5" | [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
 +
|-
 +
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 +
|-
 +
| Pintle || 400 (200) || 577 || -10°/+25° || ±60°
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="5" | [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]
 +
|-
 +
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 +
|-
 +
| Coaxial || 3,000 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
== Usage in battles ==
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<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
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The M4 748 (a) is a very versatile weapons platform that can be used in multiple roles and tactics. It can use its decent armour and gun to support friendlies against enemies, use its mobility to outmanoeuvre and exploit undefended location to reach an unsuspecting area, and a combination of the traits to deal with its contemporary medium tanks with the 75 mm gun with its APCBC and APCR ammunition.
 +
 
 +
While most tanks in the BR range of the M4 748 (a) are quite capable of destroying the tank through the front, the most worrisome tanks are those that are quite immune to the 75 mm gun on the M4. APCR ammunition is given to the 75 mm gun, but its poor slope characteristics still make it situational ammunition than a universal tank annihilator. As such, exploiting side armour and general weak points of opposing tanks are still a must.
 +
 
 +
'''Exploitation'''
 +
 
 +
The M4 748 (a) tank's mobility can be used to travel the distance on the battlefield in a satisfactory fashion. As the M4 748 (a) cannot stand against the more heavily armoured and armed enemies at the higher BR range, a manoeuvre around the enemy force or in a location prime for an ambush location can allow the M4 Sherman to damage or destroy enemy tanks. The engine power allows the M4 to travel across rough terrain to get to its destination. The only drawback in this action would be an unexpected encounter with another enemy trying the same manoeuvre, which would be an enemy tank class of equal to the M4 or lower so a good engagement against them could let the M4 continue its merry way.
  
−
== Usage in the battles ==
+
'''Supporting'''
−
''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
+
 
 +
There are many instances on a War Thunder battlefield where two opposing tanks face off against each other on a corner of cover, waiting for the other to pop out so it can deal a crippling blow with its gun or waiting for the other to prematurely fire so it can advance unhindered to a prime firing location. The M4 748 (a) can alleviate this problem by giving the friendly tank additional support. In this scenario, go around the enemy through another angle while the teammate keeps the enemy busy. This way, the M4 can go around and prepare itself for a firing solution on the enemy tank. This will either end with 1) a successful out-manoeuvre and the M4 landing a shot on the enemy's side and weak point while it was preoccupied with the ally, or 2) the tank is forced to turn its attention to the M4, leaving allies able to advance and do the same to get on the enemy's side.
 +
 
 +
On a larger battle scale with multiple allies and enemies, work in cohesion with the others behind the front lines as the allies absorb most of the enemy shots, allowing the M4 to line a perfect shot on a spent enemy to land a penetrating shot into the hull and knocking out the crew. Always aim for a crippling or defeating blow so that the enemy tank will not be an immediate threat to the rest of the team while it repairs or replenishes.
 +
 
 +
'''Capturing the Objective'''
 +
 
 +
While not as fast as some of the lighter tanks at the BR, the M4 748 (a)'s upgraded mobility makes it usable as a vehicle to run towards the objective and capture the zone. It has the decent firepower and armour to handle enemy light tanks that are expected to also rush towards points, and so it could last for some time capturing and defending the zones. However, once heavier tanks and contemporary medium tanks start arriving in droves, it is recommended to start withdrawing from the position or else the M4 will be overwhelmed and destroyed at the first priority due to being an easy target, even if allies are present to support the M4 on the position.
 +
 
 +
'''Enemies worth noting:'''
 +
 
 +
* [[M4A2]] / [[M4A4 (1st PTG)|A4]] - These Sherman tanks are widely used by over three nations that spread across both the Allied and the Axis side, so no matter which nation is being played they can be quite tough to destroy in the hands of a skilled tanker. Given the rather weak penetration of the short 75 mm M3 gun, their hull can be almost impossible to penetrate when angled, hull down or 300 m away. For a M4A4, there are 2 apparent bulges on the upper front plate, a penetration through there is a guaranteed knock-out most of the times. But in case the opponent covers them up or when it's an M4A2, aim for the middle parts of the gun mantlet or the turret armour unprotected by the mantlet to try and disable their gun or penetrate and take out the turret crew. Note that their guns are equally weak against another Sherman, so wiggle around to disrupt their aim while reloading to allow a good chance of bouncing some shells.
 +
* [[Churchill Mk I]], [[Churchill Mk III]] - The Churchills, with their complex hulls and sturdy turrets, can be quite hard to penetrate at range. Manoeuvre as close to them as possible, the ideal distance being no more than 200 m. If they are angling their hull but facing their turret towards the M4 748 (a), only go for the turret. For the Churchill Mk I s, aim at the near-vertical part of their rounded cheeks to ensure successful penetrations. For the Mk III, also aim for their flat turret which is at most 89 mm thick. The shell should go in easily and knock out most, if not all of the crew. Only when the Churchill's hull is facing towards the player without any angling should there be an attempt to shoot the hull, otherwise shoot the turret only, as their big tracks can easily get in front of the frontal hull and spoil a shot. The side hull have multiple layers of armour, some of which are weirdly angled and can absorb plenty of shells.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
−
''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''
+
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
−
*
+
 
 +
* Excellent gun depression of -10° plus the angled frontal turret allows it to utilise hills very well
 +
* Great penetration and post-penetration damage when using M61 shells; can frontally penetrate and knock out most opponents with a single shot
 +
* Vertical stabiliser allows it to fire on the move, or, in a sudden encounter, fire before the enemy which is critical
 +
* Well angled frontal armour; when angling the hull it can deflect some low calibre / low-penetrating shells like the Stuarts' 37 mm, 75 mm M1, 76 mm F-34 / Zis-5 and others
 +
* Adequate top speed allows it to get to positions in time, or to do tactical manoeuvres like flanking
 +
* Rather fast reload speed for follow up shots
 +
* Plenty of reserve ammunition for prolonged fighting without replenishing at captured points
 +
* Due to it being a part of the German tech tree, will not have to face the long barrel 75 mm (RB/SB) which increases its survivability quite a bit
 +
* Inexperienced players might mistake it for an allied Sherman, especially in RB and SB
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
−
*
+
 
 +
* Large profile and weak side armour; flankers like the M24 Chaffee can easily see and penetrate it
 +
* Frontal armour is still inadequate, will get frontally penetrated and knocked out by tanks like Achilles, [[M10 (Family)|M10]] and T-34-57
 +
* The best M61 shell struggles to penetrate heavy targets like [[KV-1 (ZiS-5)]], Churchill Mk.III or even the T-34 and M10 when angled
 +
* Trajectory is curved and velocity is low due to its short barrel, thus distant/moving targets are hard to shoot at
 +
* Hull traverse is quite slow, making it sluggish in a turn
 +
* Roof armour of 19.5 mm thick is vulnerable to airstrikes with AP cannons. For example the widely used [[M2 Browning (12.7 mm)|M2 Browning]]
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
−
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/historical reference" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''
+
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 +
 
 +
===Captured equipment===
 +
In the midst of the battlefield in World War II, wreckage and broken down equipment are often left behind by the army on the field due to either the inability to recover them or they are no longer operable. This equipment, if salvageable, are often taken by the occupiers and used for their own purposes. The Allies mostly captured German vehicles for use in gun tests and target practice, with the Soviets going as far as fielding captured tanks in their own ranks such as the [[Pz.III J|Panzer III]] as the [[T-III (USSR)|T-III]]. The German forces also captured Allied tanks as well, mostly fielding them in the Panzer forces to supplement the growing attrition of their armoured forces. The [[M4A2|M4 Sherman]], one of the most common tanks in the Allied forces, was often captured and fielded by the German forces. The fielded Shermans in the German army was given the designation '''M4-748(a)'''.
 +
 
 +
===Combat usage===
 +
It is unknown exactly how many Shermans have been captured and used by the German forces during World War II, but the German-captured Shermans have been documented in the battlefields of Tunisia, Italy, France, Soviet Union, and in Germany itself in the last days of the war. The Shermans were reported to be used in the 14th Panzer Division, 16th Panzer Division, Fallschirmjäger Division, and Kampfgruppe Berlin. When used by the Germans, the Shermans were often painted with ''Balkenkreuz'' cross symbol of the Wehrmacht to distinguish between friend and foe.
 +
 
 +
The German captured M4 Sherman's most notable combat performance was in the Ardennes Offensive in December 1944, the Baltic Offensive against the Soviet Union in late 1944, and the Battle of Berlin. The Shermans were also reported to play a role as armour-recovery vehicles rather than tanks due to Sherman's great power-to-weight ratio and reliable design that allows for the ability to tow the heavier German vehicles reliably.
 +
 
 +
{{break}}
 +
{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}}
 +
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
 +
The American M4A2 medium tank is a variant of the M4 with a diesel engine. In April 1942, the first M4A2 prototype was tested, and the tank was put into production. The tank had a welded hull. A low-speed diesel engine gave the M4A2 good cross-country ability and a much larger maximum range than tanks with gasoline engines.
 +
 
 +
A total of 8053 of these tanks were built. About 2,000 of them were delivered to the Soviet Union under the Lend-Lease program.
 +
 
 +
This vehicle was actively used in combat operations on the Eastern Front. Sometimes, entire tank battalions were made up of this tank.
 +
 
 +
Captured serviceable tanks were used by the Wehrmacht as subdivision command vehicles and sometimes even full-fledged combat vehicles. Captured M4A2 tanks served with the self-propelled artillery regiment of the 14th Armored Division of the Wehrmacht and with the 15th Parachute Division of the Luftwaffe. Most of the tanks were marked with an Iron Cross to show they belonged to the German army. Some tanks were repainted to match the standard camouflage schemes of the German army. The armour protection of these tanks was often supplemented with spare treads.
 +
 
 +
Captured M4-748 (a) tanks were used by German troops until the end of the war. The divisions of the Wehrmacht had several such tanks which survived until Germany surrendered.
 +
{{Navigation-End}}
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
−
''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
+
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
  
−
== Read also ==
+
;Skins
−
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,''
+
 
 +
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_m4a2_1944_germ Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
 +
 
 +
;Videos
 +
{{Youtube-gallery|Y3VN38sg2-g|'''Super Rare Tank - M4 748 (a)''' (starts at 02:10) - ''ThunderKing''|nDsevMd8aAo|'''M4 748 (a): Rugged relic''' - ''Oxy''}}
 +
 
 +
== See also ==
 +
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
−
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
+
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
−
''ETC.''
 
  
−
== Sources ==
+
;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis
 +
 
 +
* [[M4]]
 +
* [[M4A2]]
 +
* [[Calliope]]
 +
 
 +
== External links ==
 +
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 +
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 +
* ''other literature.'' -->
 
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''other literature.''
 
* ''other literature.''
 +
 +
{{TankManufacturer Ordnance Department}}
 +
{{Germany medium tanks}}
 +
{{Germany premium ground vehicles}}

Latest revision as of 07:27, 10 September 2023

Rank VI USSR | Premium | Golden Eagles
Su-25K Pack
This page is about the gift medium tank M4 748 (a) (Germany). For other M4 Shermans, see M4 Sherman (Family). For other uses, see M4 (Disambiguation).
▀M4 748 (a)
us_m4a2_1944_germ.png
GarageImage M4 748 (a) (Germany).jpg
▀M4 748 (a)
Germany flag.png Germany
III Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
4.0 4.0 4.0
Class:
PREMIUM
Purchase:Bundle or Gift
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Description

The ▀Pz.Kpfw. M4 748 (a) is a premium gift rank III German medium tank with a battle rating of 4.0 (AB/RB/SB). It was available only for pre-order during the Closed Beta Test of Ground Forces during the period before Update 1.41. 500 units were also for sale during the 5th Anniversary event. Another 2,020 units went on sale in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of German Unity. And another 2,000 units went on sale during the 10th Anniversary event, all of which were sold out within a few hours.

The M4 748 (a) represents a captured M4A2 Sherman in Wehrmacht service and was the first Sherman to be implemented in the game. Unfortunately, it is currently impossible for a new War Thunder player to acquire this rare tank. It is played like any other M4 Sherman as a mobile tank with adequate armour and gun. While its frontal armour and gun may not be up for the tasks against its contemporaries at its battle rating, the M4's mobility allows the M4 to get around the front line to capture the objective or hit the enemy in the sides. Though, if the heavy manoeuvring is not preferable, the M4 can also perform well as a supporting tank by backing up a more powerful tank to overwhelm a small enemy group.

Visually, the M4 748 (a) is identical to the M4A2 Sherman. The only big distinctive feature of the M4 748 (a) is the paint coat on the tank, which is a combination of the yellow dunkelgelb, red-brown rotbraun, and green olivgrün, in a manner similar to the default scheme of the Panther G.

Features on the M4 748 (a) are shared with its counterpart with a 47° front armour plate with a one-piece transmission housing. The turret features the M34A1 gun mount with the 75 mm M3 gun, the mount specified for a telescopic and periscopic scope. Unlike the M4 Sherman model that has the same gun mount, the right turret side does not have a welded piece of applique armour, allowing for a more sloped contour on the 76 mm turret armour. The turret top features a spotlight on the front loader's position with his oval hatch while the commander has a usual split hatch with an M2 Browning machine gun for him to use.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
Armourfront / side / back
Hull38 / 38 / 38
Turret76 / 51 / 51
Crew5 people
Visibility103 %

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret roof)
  • Cast homogeneous armour (Turret, Transmission area)
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 63.5 mm (47°) Front glacis
51-108 mm (12-56°) Transmission housing 		38.1 mm 38.1 mm (7-10°) 19.5 mm
Turret 76 mm (3-65°) Turret front
89 + 51 mm (2-62°) Gun mantlet 		51 mm (2-64°) 51 mm (2-60°) 19.5 mm
Cupola 51 mm 51 mm 51 mm 19.5 mm

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, the bogies are 10 mm, and the tracks are 20 mm thick.
  • Small applique armour are placed on the side hull armour over ammunition that gives an extra 25.4 mm.
  • Belly armour is 19.5 mm thick, though the tip near the transmission is 38.1 mm thick.
  • Hull underside over tracks is 9.5 mm thick.
  • A 9.5 mm RHA plate separates the engine compartment from the crew compartment.
  • A small patch on the turret front right side is thinner (50.8 mm) than the rest (76.2 mm).

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB53 / 7 km/h
RB and SB47 / 7 km/h
Number of gears5 forward
1 back
Weight32.2 t
Engine power
AB782 hp
RB and SB410 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB24.3 hp/t
RB and SB12.7 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock AoA Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 53 7 31.3 0.9 635 782 20.29 24.29
Realistic 47 7 363 410 11.6 12.73

Modifications and economy

Repair cost
AB684 Sl icon.png
RB884 Sl icon.png
SB1 067 Sl icon.png
Crew training10 000 Sl icon.png
Experts115 000 Sl icon.png
Aces400 Ge icon.png
Research Aces640 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
Talisman.png 2 × 70 / 100 / 120 % Sl icon.png
Talisman.png 2 × 142 / 142 / 142 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Mods tank reinforcement ger.png
Crew Replenishment
Mods tank additional armor.png
Add-on Armor
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Mods tank ammo.png
75mm_usa_APCBC_ammo_pack
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Mods tank ammo.png
75mm_usa_APCR_ammo_pack
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Mods tank ammo.png
75mm_us_M89_Smoke_ammo_pack
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade

Armaments

Main armament

75 mm M3 cannon
Vertical stabilizer
Reduces the swing of the gun in one plane while moving
Ammunition97 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
6.5 → 5.0 s
Vertical guidance-10° / 25°
Main article: M3 (75 mm)
75 mm M3 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 97 -10°/+25° ±180° Vertical 22.8 31.6 38.4 42.5 45.2 6.50 5.75 5.30 5.00
Realistic 14.3 16.8 20.4 22.6 24.0

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
M72 shot AP 91 88 78 67 57 49
M48 shell HE 10 10 10 10 10 10
M61 shot APCBC 104 102 93 84 75 68
T45 shot APCR 139 135 121 105 91 79
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
M72 shot AP 619 6.3 - - - 47° 60° 65°
M48 shell HE 463 6.3 0.2 0.1 666 79° 80° 81°
M61 shot APCBC 618 6.79 1.2 14 63.7 48° 63° 71°
T45 shot APCR 868 3.81 - - - 66° 70° 72°
Smoke shell characteristics
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Screen radius
(m) 		Screen deploy
time (s) 		Screen hold
time (s) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g)
M89 259 3 9 5 20 50

Ammo racks

Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		4th
rack empty 		5th
rack empty 		6th
rack empty 		7th
rack empty 		8th
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
97 91 (+6) 88 (+9) 86 (+11) 78 (+19) 63 (+34) 46 (+51) 31 (+66) 1 (+96) No
Ammo racks of the M4 Sherman.

Notes:

  • To go into battle with the turret basket empty of ammo, pack 78 (+19) shells (racks 1 to 4 emptied).
  • To go into battle with the turret basket and the flanks empty of ammo, pack 31 (+66) shells (Racks 1 to 7 empty).
  • The 8th rack is large and located at a weak spot: the bottom section of the armour. In case of penetration, there is a high risk of ammo rack detonation. Make sure not to expose your flanks unnecessarily.

Machine guns

12.7 mm M2HB machine gun
Ammunition400 rounds
Belt capacity200 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate575 shots/min
Vertical guidance-10° / 25°
Horizontal guidance-60° / 60°
7.62 mm M1919A4 machine gun (coaxial)
Ammunition3 000 rounds
Belt capacity250 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate500 shots/min
Main articles: M2HB (12.7 mm), M1919A4 (7.62 mm)
12.7 mm M2HB
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Pintle 400 (200) 577 -10°/+25° ±60°
7.62 mm M1919A4
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 3,000 (250) 500 N/A N/A

Usage in battles

The M4 748 (a) is a very versatile weapons platform that can be used in multiple roles and tactics. It can use its decent armour and gun to support friendlies against enemies, use its mobility to outmanoeuvre and exploit undefended location to reach an unsuspecting area, and a combination of the traits to deal with its contemporary medium tanks with the 75 mm gun with its APCBC and APCR ammunition.

While most tanks in the BR range of the M4 748 (a) are quite capable of destroying the tank through the front, the most worrisome tanks are those that are quite immune to the 75 mm gun on the M4. APCR ammunition is given to the 75 mm gun, but its poor slope characteristics still make it situational ammunition than a universal tank annihilator. As such, exploiting side armour and general weak points of opposing tanks are still a must.

Exploitation

The M4 748 (a) tank's mobility can be used to travel the distance on the battlefield in a satisfactory fashion. As the M4 748 (a) cannot stand against the more heavily armoured and armed enemies at the higher BR range, a manoeuvre around the enemy force or in a location prime for an ambush location can allow the M4 Sherman to damage or destroy enemy tanks. The engine power allows the M4 to travel across rough terrain to get to its destination. The only drawback in this action would be an unexpected encounter with another enemy trying the same manoeuvre, which would be an enemy tank class of equal to the M4 or lower so a good engagement against them could let the M4 continue its merry way.

Supporting

There are many instances on a War Thunder battlefield where two opposing tanks face off against each other on a corner of cover, waiting for the other to pop out so it can deal a crippling blow with its gun or waiting for the other to prematurely fire so it can advance unhindered to a prime firing location. The M4 748 (a) can alleviate this problem by giving the friendly tank additional support. In this scenario, go around the enemy through another angle while the teammate keeps the enemy busy. This way, the M4 can go around and prepare itself for a firing solution on the enemy tank. This will either end with 1) a successful out-manoeuvre and the M4 landing a shot on the enemy's side and weak point while it was preoccupied with the ally, or 2) the tank is forced to turn its attention to the M4, leaving allies able to advance and do the same to get on the enemy's side.

On a larger battle scale with multiple allies and enemies, work in cohesion with the others behind the front lines as the allies absorb most of the enemy shots, allowing the M4 to line a perfect shot on a spent enemy to land a penetrating shot into the hull and knocking out the crew. Always aim for a crippling or defeating blow so that the enemy tank will not be an immediate threat to the rest of the team while it repairs or replenishes.

Capturing the Objective

While not as fast as some of the lighter tanks at the BR, the M4 748 (a)'s upgraded mobility makes it usable as a vehicle to run towards the objective and capture the zone. It has the decent firepower and armour to handle enemy light tanks that are expected to also rush towards points, and so it could last for some time capturing and defending the zones. However, once heavier tanks and contemporary medium tanks start arriving in droves, it is recommended to start withdrawing from the position or else the M4 will be overwhelmed and destroyed at the first priority due to being an easy target, even if allies are present to support the M4 on the position.

Enemies worth noting:

  • M4A2 / A4 - These Sherman tanks are widely used by over three nations that spread across both the Allied and the Axis side, so no matter which nation is being played they can be quite tough to destroy in the hands of a skilled tanker. Given the rather weak penetration of the short 75 mm M3 gun, their hull can be almost impossible to penetrate when angled, hull down or 300 m away. For a M4A4, there are 2 apparent bulges on the upper front plate, a penetration through there is a guaranteed knock-out most of the times. But in case the opponent covers them up or when it's an M4A2, aim for the middle parts of the gun mantlet or the turret armour unprotected by the mantlet to try and disable their gun or penetrate and take out the turret crew. Note that their guns are equally weak against another Sherman, so wiggle around to disrupt their aim while reloading to allow a good chance of bouncing some shells.
  • Churchill Mk I, Churchill Mk III - The Churchills, with their complex hulls and sturdy turrets, can be quite hard to penetrate at range. Manoeuvre as close to them as possible, the ideal distance being no more than 200 m. If they are angling their hull but facing their turret towards the M4 748 (a), only go for the turret. For the Churchill Mk I s, aim at the near-vertical part of their rounded cheeks to ensure successful penetrations. For the Mk III, also aim for their flat turret which is at most 89 mm thick. The shell should go in easily and knock out most, if not all of the crew. Only when the Churchill's hull is facing towards the player without any angling should there be an attempt to shoot the hull, otherwise shoot the turret only, as their big tracks can easily get in front of the frontal hull and spoil a shot. The side hull have multiple layers of armour, some of which are weirdly angled and can absorb plenty of shells.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Excellent gun depression of -10° plus the angled frontal turret allows it to utilise hills very well
  • Great penetration and post-penetration damage when using M61 shells; can frontally penetrate and knock out most opponents with a single shot
  • Vertical stabiliser allows it to fire on the move, or, in a sudden encounter, fire before the enemy which is critical
  • Well angled frontal armour; when angling the hull it can deflect some low calibre / low-penetrating shells like the Stuarts' 37 mm, 75 mm M1, 76 mm F-34 / Zis-5 and others
  • Adequate top speed allows it to get to positions in time, or to do tactical manoeuvres like flanking
  • Rather fast reload speed for follow up shots
  • Plenty of reserve ammunition for prolonged fighting without replenishing at captured points
  • Due to it being a part of the German tech tree, will not have to face the long barrel 75 mm (RB/SB) which increases its survivability quite a bit
  • Inexperienced players might mistake it for an allied Sherman, especially in RB and SB

Cons:

  • Large profile and weak side armour; flankers like the M24 Chaffee can easily see and penetrate it
  • Frontal armour is still inadequate, will get frontally penetrated and knocked out by tanks like Achilles, M10 and T-34-57
  • The best M61 shell struggles to penetrate heavy targets like KV-1 (ZiS-5), Churchill Mk.III or even the T-34 and M10 when angled
  • Trajectory is curved and velocity is low due to its short barrel, thus distant/moving targets are hard to shoot at
  • Hull traverse is quite slow, making it sluggish in a turn
  • Roof armour of 19.5 mm thick is vulnerable to airstrikes with AP cannons. For example the widely used M2 Browning

History

Captured equipment

In the midst of the battlefield in World War II, wreckage and broken down equipment are often left behind by the army on the field due to either the inability to recover them or they are no longer operable. This equipment, if salvageable, are often taken by the occupiers and used for their own purposes. The Allies mostly captured German vehicles for use in gun tests and target practice, with the Soviets going as far as fielding captured tanks in their own ranks such as the Panzer III as the T-III. The German forces also captured Allied tanks as well, mostly fielding them in the Panzer forces to supplement the growing attrition of their armoured forces. The M4 Sherman, one of the most common tanks in the Allied forces, was often captured and fielded by the German forces. The fielded Shermans in the German army was given the designation M4-748(a).

Combat usage

It is unknown exactly how many Shermans have been captured and used by the German forces during World War II, but the German-captured Shermans have been documented in the battlefields of Tunisia, Italy, France, Soviet Union, and in Germany itself in the last days of the war. The Shermans were reported to be used in the 14th Panzer Division, 16th Panzer Division, Fallschirmjäger Division, and Kampfgruppe Berlin. When used by the Germans, the Shermans were often painted with Balkenkreuz cross symbol of the Wehrmacht to distinguish between friend and foe.

The German captured M4 Sherman's most notable combat performance was in the Ardennes Offensive in December 1944, the Baltic Offensive against the Soviet Union in late 1944, and the Battle of Berlin. The Shermans were also reported to play a role as armour-recovery vehicles rather than tanks due to Sherman's great power-to-weight ratio and reliable design that allows for the ability to tow the heavier German vehicles reliably.


Archive of the in-game description

The American M4A2 medium tank is a variant of the M4 with a diesel engine. In April 1942, the first M4A2 prototype was tested, and the tank was put into production. The tank had a welded hull. A low-speed diesel engine gave the M4A2 good cross-country ability and a much larger maximum range than tanks with gasoline engines.

A total of 8053 of these tanks were built. About 2,000 of them were delivered to the Soviet Union under the Lend-Lease program.

This vehicle was actively used in combat operations on the Eastern Front. Sometimes, entire tank battalions were made up of this tank.

Captured serviceable tanks were used by the Wehrmacht as subdivision command vehicles and sometimes even full-fledged combat vehicles. Captured M4A2 tanks served with the self-propelled artillery regiment of the 14th Armored Division of the Wehrmacht and with the 15th Parachute Division of the Luftwaffe. Most of the tanks were marked with an Iron Cross to show they belonged to the German army. Some tanks were repainted to match the standard camouflage schemes of the German army. The armour protection of these tanks was often supplemented with spare treads.

Captured M4-748 (a) tanks were used by German troops until the end of the war. The divisions of the Wehrmacht had several such tanks which survived until Germany surrendered.


Media

Skins
Videos
Super Rare Tank - M4 748 (a) (starts at 02:10) - ThunderKing
M4 748 (a): Rugged relic - Oxy

See also

Vehicles equipped with the same chassis

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

  • topic on the official game forum;
  • other literature.


U.S. Army Ordnance Department/Corps*
Light tanks  T18E2 · M24 (Designed in collaboration with Cadillac)
M3 Stuart  M3 · M3A1 Stuart · M3A1 (USMC)
M5 Stuart  M5A1
Medium tanks  M3 Lee
M4 Sherman  M4 · M4A1 · M4A2 · M4A3 (105) · Calliope
  M4A1 (76) W · M4A2 (76) W · M4A3 (76) W
M26 Pershing  T20 · T25 · M26 · M26E1 · M26 T99
Patton Series  M46 · M46 "Tiger" · M47
Prototypes  T54E1 · T95E1
Heavy tanks  M103
M4 Jumbo  M4A3E2 · Cobra King · M4A3E2 (76) W
M6 Heavy  M6A1 · M6A2E1 · T1E1
M26 Pershing  T26E1-1 · T26E5
Prototypes  T14
T29  T29 · T30 · T34
T-32  T32 · T32E1
Tank destroyers  M3 GMC · M10 GMC · M56
M8 GMC  M8 HMC · M8A1 GMC
M36 GMC  M36 GMC · M36B2
Prototypes  T28 · T95
SPAAGs 
Production  M19 MGMC · M42
Export/Captured  ␗M8 HMC · SU-57
Stuart  Stuart I · Stuart III · ␗M3A3 Stuart · ␗M3A3 (1st PTG) · ▄M3A3 · ▄M3A3 Stuart · ▃Stuart VI (5th CAD) · ␗M5A1
Lee/Grant  ▂M3 Medium · ▃Grant I · Grant I
M4 Sherman  Sherman II · ▄M4A1 · ␗M4A1 (75) W · ▀M4 748 (a) · ▂M4A2 · ▄M4A3 (105) · ▅M4A3 (76) W · ▄M4A3E2
  ␗M4A4 · ␗M4A4 (1st PTG) · ▄Sherman V · ▄M4A4 · ▄Sherman I Composito
M26 Pershing  M26 "D.C.Ariete" · M26A1
M47 Patton  mKPz M47 G · ▅M47
M10 GMC  ␗M10 GMC · ▄M10 GMC
M36 GMC  ␗M36 GMC · M36B1 · ▅M36 · ▄M36B2
M19 MGMC  ▅M19A1
M42 MGMC  ▅M42 · ␗M42
  *The Ordnance Department was renamed to the Ordnance Corps after the Army Reorganization Act of 1950.

Germany medium tanks
Pz.III  Pz.III B · Pz.III E · Pz.III F · Pz.III J · Pz.III J1 · Pz.III J1 TD · Pz.III L · Pz.III M · Pz.III N
Pz.IV  Pz.IV C · Pz.IV E · Pz.IV F1 · Pz.IV F2 · Pz.IV G · Pz.IV H · Pz.IV J · Pz.Bef.Wg.IV J
Pz.V  VK 3002 (M) · Panther A · Panther D · Panther F · Panther G · Ersatz M10 · Panther II
M48 upgrades  M48A2 G A2 · M48 Super
Leopard 1  Leopard I · Leopard A1A1 · Leopard A1A1 (L/44) · Leopard 1A5 · C2A1 · Turm III
Leopard 2  PT-16/T14 mod. · Leopard 2K · Leopard 2AV
  Leopard 2A4 · Leopard 2 (PzBtl 123) · Leopard 2A4M · Leopard 2 PL · Leopard 2A5 · Leopard 2 PSO · Leopard 2A6 · Leopard 2A7V
Trophies  ▀M4 748 (a) · ▀T 34 747 (r)
Other  Nb.Fz. · KPz-70
USA  mKPz M47 G · M48A2 C
USSR  ◊T-72M1

Germany premium ground vehicles
Light tanks  Pz.II C (DAK) · Pz.Sfl.Ic · Pz.Sp.Wg.P204(f) KwK · Sd.Kfz. 140/1 · Sd.Kfz.234/1 · Ru 251 · SPz 12-3 LGS · TAM 2IP
Medium tanks  Nb.Fz. · Pz.III N · Pz.Bef.Wg.IV J · ▀M4 748 (a) · ▀T 34 747 (r) · Ersatz M10
  mKPz M47 G · Turm III · Leopard A1A1 (L/44) · Leopard 2 (PzBtl 123) · Leopard 2A4M
Heavy tanks  ▀Pz.Kpfw. Churchill · ▀KV-IB · ▀KW I C 756 (r) · ▀KW II 754 (r)
  VK 45.01 (P) · ␠Tiger · Pz.Bef.Wg.VI P · Tiger II (H) Sla.16
Tank destroyers  Sd.Kfz.234/3 · Sd.Kfz.234/4 · Sd.Kfz.251/10 · Sd.Kfz.251/22 · 15 cm Pz.W.42
  Brummbär · Panzer IV/70(A) · VFW · Bfw. Jagdpanther G1 · Elefant · 38 cm Sturmmörser

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