Difference between revisions of "M4A3E2 (France)"

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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
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<!--''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.''-->
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<!-- ''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.'' -->
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The '''{{specs|name}}''' is a Rank {{specs|rank}} French heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.75 "La Résistance"]]. This is a Jumbo provided to the Free French Forces by Americans.
+
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' was mainly issued to US Army Forces due to low production numbers. France operated a large number of M4A3E2 tanks in the early post-war period, since at this time the US wanted to get rid of all of its surplus military vehicles. However, a single M4A3E2 is known to have been issued to the French 1st Armoured Division, serving as the headquarters for the 2nd Squadron of the 2nd African Chasseur Regiment.
  
−
The M4A3E2 looks like a standard Sherman medium tank, but it is still a weighty tank and is used as a breakthrough tank to attack fortified enemy positions. It is certainly not a medium tank like normal Shermans. It is a great tank when fighting Tigers as the 88mm cannons cannot penetrate the armour of the M4A3E2 from its sides when angled efficiently. As such, it allows players to get close to Tigers and attack them from the sides, or force them to retreat. When fighting Panthers, the M4A3E2 is less effective as the 75mm cannon on the Panther can penetrate the armour of the Jumbo Sherman from the front even when angled more than 30 degrees at 500 meters. Only at close range can high-velocity guns, such as Soviet 85mm or German 88mm guns, penetrate the frontal glacis. However, larger calibers, such as the Soviet 122mm gun, will slice right through the armor.
+
It was introduced in [[Update 1.75 "La Résistance"]]. This is a Jumbo provided to the Free French Forces by Americans. The M4A3E2 is a regular Sherman medium tank but with much-improved armour. Originally intended to be used as a breakthrough tank to attack enemy positions, in War Thunder it features frontal armour to fight Tiger tanks and their 88mm cannons. When efficiently angled, it can also hold against the 75mm cannon of the Panther. The tank however suffers from a poor firepower for units BR, using the same M3 Gun of the Sherman, although this means that it also has a vertical stabilizer. Overall, is a very good heavy tank when used properly, since its gun is not the best, it's more capable at close quarters combat.
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It takes on the general look of an [[M4A2]] but is much more armoured (and uses a Ford gasoline engine). The M4A3E2 features the double-layered front armour giving the vehicle its distinctive 101.6 mm total front armour. It provides its boast of being better armoured than the [[Tiger H1|Tiger I]]. The transmission housing is considerably beefier, too, from the addition of armour at the area as well. The front of the T23-style turret is distinctive with the very blocky gun mantlet and circular barrel shroud around the rather underwhelming 75 mm gun barrel.
 
−
 
 
−
The sides and suspension look like the usual game with the M4 Sherman series, but with minor differences. The flat side armour of the hull, instead of 38.1 mm thick, is now 76.2 mm thick for much more reliable side protection. However, the lower side hull around the bogie suspension area is still only 38.1 mm thick, vulnerable to most conventional anti-tank weapons. Another minor difference is the tracks. The T48 rubber chevron tracks are equipped with extended end connectors to improve ground pressure performance for the additional weight of the armour.
 
−
 
 
−
However, the rear does not have any extra armour and is much thinner. The roof of the tank is thinly armoured as well, only having 19.5 mm on the hull and 25.4 mm on the turret, so beware as artillery barrages tend to set engine compartment modules on fire.
 
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
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'''Armour type:'''
 
'''Armour type:'''
 +
 
* Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret roof, cupola roof)
 
* Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret roof, cupola roof)
 
* Cast homogeneous armour (turret, cupola, gun mantlet, transmission housing, MG port)
 
* Cast homogeneous armour (turret, cupola, gun mantlet, transmission housing, MG port)
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! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Hull || 63.5 + 38.1 mm (47°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 25.4 + 34 mm ''MG port'' <br> 114.3-139.7 mm (cylindrical) ''Transmission housing'' || 76.2 mm ''Top'' <br> 38.1 mm ''Bottom'' || 38.1 mm (10°) ''Upper plate'' <br> 38.1 mm (7°) ''Lower plate'' <br> 38.1 mm (24°) ''Lower glacis'' || 63.5 + 38.1 mm (42°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 19.5 mm ''Centre'' <br> 19.5 mm (8°) ''Rear - Centre'' <br> 19.5 mm (24°) ''Rear - Sides''
+
| Hull || 63.5 + 38.1 mm (47°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 25.4 + 34 mm ''MG port'' <br> 114.3-139.7 mm (cylindrical) ''Transmission housing'' || 76.2 mm ''Top'' <br> 38.1 mm ''Bottom'' || 38.1 mm (10°) ''Upper plate'' <br> 38.1 mm (7°) ''Lower plate'' <br> 38.1 mm (24°) ''Lower glacis'' || 63.5 + 38.1 mm (42°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 19.5 mm ''Centre'' <br> 19.5 mm (8°) ''Rear - Centre'' <br> 19.5 mm (24°) ''Rear - Sides''
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Turret || 152.4 mm (0-52°) ''Turret front'' <br> 177.8 mm (4-60°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 152.4 mm (4-42°) || 152.4 mm (0-79°) || 63.5 mm (28°) ''Front'' <br> 25.4 mm ''Centre''
 
| Turret || 152.4 mm (0-52°) ''Turret front'' <br> 177.8 mm (4-60°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 152.4 mm (4-42°) || 152.4 mm (0-79°) || 63.5 mm (28°) ''Front'' <br> 25.4 mm ''Centre''
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The M4A3E2 Jumbo presents very little frontal weak spots in an engagement. It is best to try and force the Jumbo to try and angle his vehicle towards the player or his allies. An angle more than 30 degrees can expose the much weaker lower side hull armour in the suspension that is only 38.1 mm thick. With a powerful enough gun, a round can penetrate this area and damage the crew, or even set off the ammunition all cluttered up on the bottom of the tank.
 
The M4A3E2 Jumbo presents very little frontal weak spots in an engagement. It is best to try and force the Jumbo to try and angle his vehicle towards the player or his allies. An angle more than 30 degrees can expose the much weaker lower side hull armour in the suspension that is only 38.1 mm thick. With a powerful enough gun, a round can penetrate this area and damage the crew, or even set off the ammunition all cluttered up on the bottom of the tank.
  
−
If a frontal engagement is unavoidable and are unfortunately armed with guns unable to penetrate through the front glacis, there are only two areas that are viable. First is the machine gun port, which is one of the areas that is not layered with the extra 38.1 mm added on top of the base armour. Guns like the Panzer IV 75 mm KwK 40 guns that are unable to cleave through the front glacis can push their luck in this area, with small "sweet spots" that the round can pass through. Another way to attack the M4A3E2 in this scenario is exploiting a shot-trap in the gun mantlet. The small corner flaps on the bottom corners of the gun mantlet have a tendency to deflect rounds downwards onto the 19.5 mm hull roof armour. While this will be left to the ricochet chances, it is still possible and can be used if no other scenarios are favorable.
+
If a frontal engagement is unavoidable and are unfortunately armed with guns unable to penetrate through the front glacis, there are only two areas that are viable. First is the machine gun port, which is one of the areas that is not layered with the extra 38.1 mm added on top of the base armour. Guns like the Panzer IV 75 mm KwK40 guns that are unable to cleave through the front glacis can push their luck in this area, with small "sweet spots" that the round can pass through. Another way to attack the M4A3E2 in this scenario is exploiting a shot-trap in the gun mantlet. The small corner flaps on the bottom corners of the gun mantlet have a tendency to deflect rounds downwards onto the 19.5 mm hull roof armour. While this will be left to the ricochet chances, it is still possible and can be used if no other scenarios are favourable.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== 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.'' -->
 
<!-- ''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= 646|rbMinHp= 442}}
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{{tankMobility|abMinHp=646|rbMinHp=442}}
  
 
=== Modifications and economy ===
 
=== Modifications and economy ===
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|-
 
|-
 
! ''Arcade''
 
! ''Arcade''
−
| rowspan="2" | 104 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+25° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Vertical || 19.4 || 26.9 || 32.6 || 36.1 || 38.4 || rowspan="2" | 6.50 || rowspan="2" | 5.75 || rowspan="2" | 5.30 || rowspan="2" | 5.00
+
| rowspan="2" | 104 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+25° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Vertical|up to 24 km/h}} || 19.4 || 26.9 || 32.6 || 36.1 || 38.4 || rowspan="2" | 6.50 || rowspan="2" | 5.75 || rowspan="2" | 5.30 || rowspan="2" | 5.00
 
|-
 
|-
 
! ''Realistic''
 
! ''Realistic''
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==== Ammunition ====
 
==== Ammunition ====
 +
 
* M72 shot - {{Annotation|AP|Armour-Piercing}} - Solid shot, stock shell. An armour-piercing shell with acceptable penetration but poor post-penetration damage.
 
* M72 shot - {{Annotation|AP|Armour-Piercing}} - Solid shot, stock shell. An armour-piercing shell with acceptable penetration but poor post-penetration damage.
 
* M48 shell - {{Annotation|HE|High-Explosive fragmentation shell}} - A low-velocity shell useful against soft targets, in particular when hitting an open-topped vehicle. Harmless against any enclosed vehicle with more than 10 mm of armour.
 
* M48 shell - {{Annotation|HE|High-Explosive fragmentation shell}} - A low-velocity shell useful against soft targets, in particular when hitting an open-topped vehicle. Harmless against any enclosed vehicle with more than 10 mm of armour.
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* M89 - Smoke shell - A very low-velocity shell deploying a smoke screen on impact, useful to blind enemy vehicles that are too remote for you to disable so that you can progress towards objectives.
 
* M89 - Smoke shell - A very low-velocity shell deploying a smoke screen on impact, useful to blind enemy vehicles that are too remote for you to disable so that you can progress towards objectives.
  
−
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
+
{{:M3 (75 mm)/Ammunition|M72 shot, M48 shell, M61 shot, T45 shot, M89}}
−
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
 
−
|-
 
−
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
 
−
! colspan="6" | '''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 || 101 || 90 || 78 || 68 || 59
 
−
|-
 
−
| T45 shot || APCR || 139 || 135 || 121 || 105 || 91 || 79
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
−
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
−
! colspan="10" | Shell details
 
−
|-
 
−
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)
 
−
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
 
−
|-
 
−
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
 
−
|-
 
−
| M72 shot || AP || 619 || 6.3 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°
 
−
|-
 
−
| M48 shell || HE || 463 || 6.3 || 0.0 || 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 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 66° || 70° || 72°
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
−
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
−
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics
 
−
|-
 
−
! Ammunition
 
−
! Velocity<br>(m/s)
 
−
! Projectile<br>Mass (kg)
 
−
! Screen radius<br>(m)
 
−
! Screen deploy time<br>(s)
 
−
! Screen hold time<br>(s)
 
−
! Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)
 
−
|-
 
−
| M89 || 259 || 3 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 50
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
  
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
−
[[File:Ammoracks_M4A3E2.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the M4A3E2 (identical).]]
+
[[File:Ammoracks_M4A3E2.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
−
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.1.0.113''' -->
+
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.27.2.40''' -->
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
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|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
−
Notes:
+
'''Notes''':
  
−
* As they are modeled by sets of 2, shells disappear from the rack only after you fire both shells in the set.
+
* As they are modelled by sets of 2, shells disappear from the rack only after you've fired both shells in the set.
−
* Turret empty: 100&nbsp;''(+4)'' shells.
+
* Floor left rack only: 50&nbsp;''(+54)'' shells.
 +
{{Clear}}
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
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== Usage in battles ==
 
== 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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<!-- ''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 M4A3E2 is best in assaulting enemy positions with allies. Its great mobility for a heavy tank, especially with its armour, makes it a vehicle able to charge into battle and take anything head-on with confidence. It can act as a bullet magnet against enemy tanks more worried about the M4A3E2, diverting fire that would've gone to more vulnerable teammates. Though the 75mm gun's AP performance is not suited to the type of enemies expected at the BR, it can still harass enemies and the gun is lethal enough that enemies will be forced to show their front armour towards the Jumbo else a 75 mm penetrates their side armour. Their focus on the Jumbo can allow allies to move around and eliminate them. During all this, take care not to overangle and show the lower side armour too much as this will allow vehicles to penetrate through down there and damage modules, even the ammunition storage if they are lucky.
+
The M4A3E2 is best in assaulting enemy positions with allies. Its great mobility for a heavy tank, especially with its armour, makes it a vehicle able to charge into battle and take anything head-on with confidence. It can act as a bullet magnet against enemy tanks more worried about the M4A3E2, diverting fire that would've gone to more vulnerable teammates. Though the 75 mm gun's AP performance is not suited to the type of enemies expected at the BR, it can still harass enemies and the gun is lethal enough that enemies will be forced to show their front armour towards the Jumbo else a 75 mm penetrates their side armour. Their focus on the Jumbo can allow allies to move around and eliminate them. During all this, take care not to overangle and show the lower side armour too much as this will allow vehicles to penetrate through down there and damage modules, even the ammunition storage if they are lucky.
  
 
Another role the M4A3E2 is good in is as a flanker. Due to its great mobility as a heavy tank, the M4A3E2 Jumbo can manoeuvre like a medium tank around the battlefield. This is also beneficial to the 75 mm gun as it would permit the M4A3E2 a chance to attack the weaker side armours of enemy vehicles. Once flanking around and finding a prime position in a fire angle right into an enemy chokepoint, minimize exposure to anything but the front armour and the M4A3E2 can remain a formidable obstacle to all opponents. Take care not to be outflanked by enemy players aware of the M4A3E2 position.
 
Another role the M4A3E2 is good in is as a flanker. Due to its great mobility as a heavy tank, the M4A3E2 Jumbo can manoeuvre like a medium tank around the battlefield. This is also beneficial to the 75 mm gun as it would permit the M4A3E2 a chance to attack the weaker side armours of enemy vehicles. Once flanking around and finding a prime position in a fire angle right into an enemy chokepoint, minimize exposure to anything but the front armour and the M4A3E2 can remain a formidable obstacle to all opponents. Take care not to be outflanked by enemy players aware of the M4A3E2 position.
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=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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<!--''Summarize 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".''-->
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<!-- ''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:'''
  
−
*Decent 75 mm gun with APCR rounds.
+
* Decent 75 mm gun with APCR rounds
−
*High rate of fire for main gun.
+
* High rate of fire for main gun
−
*Excellent gun depression.
+
* Excellent gun depression
−
*Very strong turret armour from all sides, very good at hull down position.
+
* Very strong turret armour from all sides, very good at hull down position
−
*Very good at leading a spearhead towards a capture point where it can provide cover to weaker allied tanks with more powerful guns.
+
* Very good at leading a spearhead towards a capture point where it can provide cover to weaker allied tanks with more powerful guns
−
*Excellent frontal armour, about 101 mm thick!
+
* Excellent frontal armour, about 101 mm thick
−
*Excellent all around turret armour, average 152 mm thick!
+
* Excellent all around turret armour, average 152 mm thick
−
*Can absorb a lot of damage.
+
* Can absorb a lot of damage
−
*Better mobility than the Russian KV-1 and the British Churchill.
+
* Better mobility than the Russian KV-1 and the British Churchill
−
*Equipped with gun stabilizer, making it more accurate at moving and when preparing a shot after moving.
+
* Equipped with gun stabilizer, making it more accurate at moving and when preparing a shot after moving
−
*Good acceleration.
+
* Good acceleration
−
*Incredibly tough when angled.
+
* Incredibly tough when angled
−
*Wide tracks enable it to have a decent off road mobility, unlike other previous Sherman models.
+
* Wide tracks enable it to have a decent off road mobility, unlike other previous Sherman models
−
*Learning curve from previous Sherman variant will help a lot at mastering this tank.
+
* Learning curve from previous Sherman variant will help a lot at mastering this tank
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
−
*[[M3 (75 mm)|75 mm gun]] lacks penetration against [[:Category:Heavy tanks|heavy tanks]]
+
* [[M3 (75 mm)|75 mm gun]] lacks penetration against [[:Category:Heavy tanks|heavy tanks]]
−
*It needs allies support to be effective in battle as it cannot deal serious damage on its own.
+
* It needs allies support to be effective in battle as it cannot deal serious damage on its own
−
*Armour weak spot above the gun-mantlet (63.5 mm @ 60°).
+
* Armour weak spot above the gun mantlet (63.5 mm @ 60°)
−
*Small bottom corners on M4A3E2 gun mantlet can serve as shot traps.
+
* Small bottom corners on M4A3E2 gun mantlet can serve as shot traps
−
*Side armour better than normal, but still weak (76.2 mm), but the lower side hull armour is even worse (38.1 mm).
+
* Side armour better than normal, but still weak (76.2 mm), but the lower side hull armour is even worse (38.1 mm)
−
*Very thin rear armour.
+
* Very thin rear armour
−
*Inability to compound angle greatly due to very weak lower side hull armour that would be penetrated.
+
* Inability to compound angle greatly due to very weak lower side hull armour that would be penetrated
−
*Tall profile makes it a bigger target.
+
* Tall profile makes it a bigger target
−
*Bad off-road manoeuvrability.
+
* Bad off-road manoeuvrability
−
*Low top speed of 35kph.
+
* Low top speed of 35 km/h
−
*Reverse speed is bad.
+
* Reverse speed is bad
−
*Hull MG is a weak spot.
+
* Hull MG is a weak spot
  
 
== 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 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></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== Encyclopedia Info ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''-->
+
<!-- ''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).'' -->
−
===Development===
 
−
Even before the invasion of Normandy, the Allied commanders had to figure out a method in order to breach heavily-defended fortification lines such as the Siegfried Line blocking the path from France to Germany. One of the solutions was for the implementation of "assault tanks" to enter enemy territory and root out the enemy fortifications. The initial plan was for the production of the [[M26|M26 Pershing]] tanks to fulfill this role, but setbacks in its development caused the M26 deployment to be delayed until 1945. A quick solution must be made to fill this "assault tank" role for the invasion of Europe in 1944.
 
  
−
The US ordinance then took their abundant [[M4|M4 Shermans]] in stock and fixed them up for the new role they've been assigned in. Taking a M4A3 Sherman model, the armour was upped from around 76.2 mm initial thickness to 102 mm and angled at 47 degrees from vertical. This modified M4 Sherman's armour when angled would then be 150 mm line-of-sight (LOS) thick and 180 mm effective. The side armour is also increased to 76.2 mm thick and the turret is redesigned to provide more protection. These modified Shermans were designated the '''M4A3E2''' by the Ordnance Department, whereas the nickname "Jumbo" was likely a post-war invention. At the end of the modifications, the Sherman "Jumbo" now weighed about 42 tons and moves a lower speed of 22 miles per hour. A drawback to the increased weight of the Sherman is that the Vertical Volute Suspension System (VVSS) from the Sherman was unable to take the weight easily, so extra care was taken by the crew members to not break the suspension.
+
{{main|M4A3E2#History|l1=History of the M4A3E2}}
−
 
 
−
In March of 1944, the US Army ordered for 254 of these vehicles to be delivered for use for European Operations. Intended for the assault on the Normandy Beachhead, it was deployed in Normandy after D-Day to assist the infantry push through German defenses. The M4A3E2 originally came with the 75 mm guns to support infantry with its better HE shells compared to the planned 76 mm installment, but the 76 mm was installed later in the campaign and called the [[M4A3E2 (76) W|M4A3E2 (76) W Jumbo]].
 
  
 
===French service===
 
===French service===
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;Skins
 
;Skins
−
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=france&vehicleType=tank&vehicleClass=heavy_tank&vehicle=fr_m4a3e2_sherman_jumbo Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
+
 
 +
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=fr_m4a3e2_sherman_jumbo Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
  
 
;Videos
 
;Videos
−
{{Youtube-gallery|l31USzTa5EQ|'''How to destroy the Jumbo''' - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|XDLsvMpjSF4|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}
+
{{Youtube-gallery|l31USzTa5EQ|'''How to destroy the Jumbo''' - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
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* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
  
−
;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis
+
;Other M4A3E2 vehicles in the game
−
* [[M4 Sherman (Family)]]
 
−
 
 
−
;Vehicles equipped with the same gun
 
−
* [[M8A1]]
 
−
* [[T14]]
 
  
−
;Carbon-copy vehicles
 
 
* [[M4A3E2]]
 
* [[M4A3E2]]
 
* [[Cobra King]]
 
* [[Cobra King]]
 +
* [[M4A3E2 (76) W]]
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
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* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/US/m4a3e2-jumbo-assault-tank <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Assault Tank M4A3E2 Jumbo]
 
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/US/m4a3e2-jumbo-assault-tank <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Assault Tank M4A3E2 Jumbo]
  
 +
{{TankManufacturer Ordnance Department}}
 
{{France heavy tanks}}
 
{{France heavy tanks}}

Latest revision as of 01:07, 25 February 2024

Rank VI USSR | Premium | Golden Eagles
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This page is about the heavy tank M4A3E2 (France). For other M4 Shermans, see M4 Sherman (Family). For other uses, see M4 (Disambiguation).
▄M4A3E2
fr_m4a3e2_sherman_jumbo.png
GarageImage M4A3E2 (France).jpg
▄M4A3E2
France flag.png France
III Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
5.3 5.7 5.7
Class:
Research:40 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:135 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The ▄Assault Tank M4A3E2 Jumbo was mainly issued to US Army Forces due to low production numbers. France operated a large number of M4A3E2 tanks in the early post-war period, since at this time the US wanted to get rid of all of its surplus military vehicles. However, a single M4A3E2 is known to have been issued to the French 1st Armoured Division, serving as the headquarters for the 2nd Squadron of the 2nd African Chasseur Regiment.

It was introduced in Update 1.75 "La Résistance". This is a Jumbo provided to the Free French Forces by Americans. The M4A3E2 is a regular Sherman medium tank but with much-improved armour. Originally intended to be used as a breakthrough tank to attack enemy positions, in War Thunder it features frontal armour to fight Tiger tanks and their 88mm cannons. When efficiently angled, it can also hold against the 75mm cannon of the Panther. The tank however suffers from a poor firepower for units BR, using the same M3 Gun of the Sherman, although this means that it also has a vertical stabilizer. Overall, is a very good heavy tank when used properly, since its gun is not the best, it's more capable at close quarters combat.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Hull101 / 76 / 38
Turret177 / 152 / 152
Crew5 people
Visibility122 %

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret roof, cupola roof)
  • Cast homogeneous armour (turret, cupola, gun mantlet, transmission housing, MG port)
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 63.5 + 38.1 mm (47°) Front glacis
25.4 + 34 mm MG port
114.3-139.7 mm (cylindrical) Transmission housing 		76.2 mm Top
38.1 mm Bottom 		38.1 mm (10°) Upper plate
38.1 mm (7°) Lower plate
38.1 mm (24°) Lower glacis 		63.5 + 38.1 mm (42°) Front glacis
19.5 mm Centre
19.5 mm (8°) Rear - Centre
19.5 mm (24°) Rear - Sides
Turret 152.4 mm (0-52°) Turret front
177.8 mm (4-60°) Gun mantlet 		152.4 mm (4-42°) 152.4 mm (0-79°) 63.5 mm (28°) Front
25.4 mm Centre
Cupola 51 mm (conical) 51 mm Outer ring
25.4 mm Centre

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, while bogies are 10 mm thick and tracks are 20 mm thick.
  • Belly armour is 25.4 mm thick.
  • Hull underside right above the tracks are 9.5 mm thick.

The M4A3E2 Jumbo presents very little frontal weak spots in an engagement. It is best to try and force the Jumbo to try and angle his vehicle towards the player or his allies. An angle more than 30 degrees can expose the much weaker lower side hull armour in the suspension that is only 38.1 mm thick. With a powerful enough gun, a round can penetrate this area and damage the crew, or even set off the ammunition all cluttered up on the bottom of the tank.

If a frontal engagement is unavoidable and are unfortunately armed with guns unable to penetrate through the front glacis, there are only two areas that are viable. First is the machine gun port, which is one of the areas that is not layered with the extra 38.1 mm added on top of the base armour. Guns like the Panzer IV 75 mm KwK40 guns that are unable to cleave through the front glacis can push their luck in this area, with small "sweet spots" that the round can pass through. Another way to attack the M4A3E2 in this scenario is exploiting a shot-trap in the gun mantlet. The small corner flaps on the bottom corners of the gun mantlet have a tendency to deflect rounds downwards onto the 19.5 mm hull roof armour. While this will be left to the ricochet chances, it is still possible and can be used if no other scenarios are favourable.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB38 / 5 km/h
RB and SB36 / 5 km/h
Number of gears5 forward
1 back
Weight37.8 t
Engine power
AB954 hp
RB and SB500 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB25.2 hp/t
RB and SB13.2 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 38 5 37.8 646 954 17.09 25.24
Realistic 36 5 442 500 11.69 13.23

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB2 010 → 2 486 Sl icon.png
RB2 176 → 2 691 Sl icon.png
SB3 022 → 3 738 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications35 100 Rp icon.png
68 400 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost1 300 Ge icon.png
Crew training39 000 Sl icon.png
Experts135 000 Sl icon.png
Aces550 Ge icon.png
Research Aces390 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
90 / 140 / 150 % Sl icon.png
154 / 154 / 154 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
2 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 500 Sl icon.png
155 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
1 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 100 Sl icon.png
105 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
1 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 100 Sl icon.png
105 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
2 200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 300 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
3 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 400 Sl icon.png
250 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
3 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 400 Sl icon.png
250 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
2 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 500 Sl icon.png
155 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
1 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 100 Sl icon.png
105 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement fr.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
2 200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 300 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
2 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 500 Sl icon.png
155 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
1 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 100 Sl icon.png
105 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
75mm_usa_APCBC_ammo_pack
Research:
1 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 100 Sl icon.png
105 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
2 200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 300 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
75mm_usa_APCR_ammo_pack
Research:
2 200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 300 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
75mm_us_M89_Smoke_ammo_pack
Research:
3 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 400 Sl icon.png
250 Ge icon.png

In Tier I, Parts and Horizontal Drive should of course be the prioritized modules for repairs and turret traverse speed. These two will also unlock Tier II modifications and grant access to the very vital FPE and M61 shot, the former for preservation against fires and the latter to improve damage in the battlefield.

Then in Tier III, Crew Replenishment should be obtained for crew survival improvement and the APCR T45 shot for improved armour-piercing power. After that, everything else could be done at one's own priorities, but Engine should be invested for better automotive performances and M89 for the smoke capabilities.

Armaments

Main armament

75 mm M3 cannon
Vertical stabilizer
Reduces the swing of the gun in one plane while moving
Ammunition104 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 104 -10°/+25° ±180° Vertical 19.4 26.9 32.6 36.1 38.4 6.50 5.75 5.30 5.00
Realistic 14.3 16.8 20.4 22.6 24.0

Ammunition

  • M72 shot - AP - Solid shot, stock shell. An armour-piercing shell with acceptable penetration but poor post-penetration damage.
  • M48 shell - HE - A low-velocity shell useful against soft targets, in particular when hitting an open-topped vehicle. Harmless against any enclosed vehicle with more than 10 mm of armour.
  • M61 shot - APCBC - A capped armour-piercing shell with a better penetration than the M72 thanks to its ballistic cap and a good post-penetration damage thanks to its explosive filler.
  • T45 shot - APCR - Subcalibre round with high penetration but only on flat surfaces, with a high muzzle velocity but a poor post-penetration damage potential.
  • M89 - Smoke shell - A very low-velocity shell deploying a smoke screen on impact, useful to blind enemy vehicles that are too remote for you to disable so that you can progress towards objectives.

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

Ammo racks of the M4A3E2 (France)
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
104 100 (+4) 50 (+54) 0 (+104) No

Notes:

  • As they are modelled by sets of 2, shells disappear from the rack only after you've fired both shells in the set.
  • Floor left rack only: 50 (+54) shells.

Machine guns

12.7 mm M2HB machine gun
Ammunition600 rounds
Belt capacity200 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate575 shots/min
Vertical guidance-10° / 30°
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 600 (200) 577 -10°/+30° ±60°

The roof-mounted M2HB .50 cal heavy machine gun is very good at knocking out tracks, punching through lightly armoured vehicles and shooting down low-flying aircraft. Use it sparsely because of its low ammo count.

7.62 mm M1919A4
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 3,000 (250) 500 N/A N/A

The small calibre of the M1919A4 machine gun makes it largely ineffective against all armoured vehicles but the ones with an open compartment. It still can be used to ping targets as a rangefinding help or to mow down minor obstacles blocking your line of sight.

Usage in battles

The M4A3E2 is best in assaulting enemy positions with allies. Its great mobility for a heavy tank, especially with its armour, makes it a vehicle able to charge into battle and take anything head-on with confidence. It can act as a bullet magnet against enemy tanks more worried about the M4A3E2, diverting fire that would've gone to more vulnerable teammates. Though the 75 mm gun's AP performance is not suited to the type of enemies expected at the BR, it can still harass enemies and the gun is lethal enough that enemies will be forced to show their front armour towards the Jumbo else a 75 mm penetrates their side armour. Their focus on the Jumbo can allow allies to move around and eliminate them. During all this, take care not to overangle and show the lower side armour too much as this will allow vehicles to penetrate through down there and damage modules, even the ammunition storage if they are lucky.

Another role the M4A3E2 is good in is as a flanker. Due to its great mobility as a heavy tank, the M4A3E2 Jumbo can manoeuvre like a medium tank around the battlefield. This is also beneficial to the 75 mm gun as it would permit the M4A3E2 a chance to attack the weaker side armours of enemy vehicles. Once flanking around and finding a prime position in a fire angle right into an enemy chokepoint, minimize exposure to anything but the front armour and the M4A3E2 can remain a formidable obstacle to all opponents. Take care not to be outflanked by enemy players aware of the M4A3E2 position.

Due to the M4A3E2 Jumbo having a slightly higher battle-rating than the other M4 Shermans at 4.7, it can be up-tiered against tanks such as the Panther D and Tiger H1, meaning its 75 mm cannon starts becoming less effective. For this reason, it is advisable to take the T45 APCR ammo into battle once unlocked, at least enough to take on the armoured targets the Jumbo will face.

Enemies worth noting:

The Soviet 85 mm can be a threat, so caution is advised when going up against tanks armed with the 85 mm, such as the T-34-85, SU-85, and IS-1. The Jagdpanzer 38(t) and Jagdpanzer IV can be tricky when facing off against them. Their frontal armour are too thick and sloped for the 75 mm M3 gun to have any effect on it. For these two targets, it is advised to target their tracks and transmission and then flank for a side shot, where the armour is much weaker. Also, the Dicker Max wields a 105 mm that can penetrate the front plate of the M4A3E2 Jumbo, so caution is advised against those as well. Finally, there is one common opponent from the Soviet/Chinese tree: IS-2. Its 122 mm gun can easily penetrate the Jumbo, regardless of angle and distance. To destroy it, shoot at it when it's reloading or is unaware of your presence. For the 1943 model, aim at the cupola or the curved part of its hull armour that blends into the side. It has only 4 crew so killing all the turret crew (3, which is easy) will destroy it. For the 1944 model, only aim at the turret or the cupola as its hull is very strong.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Decent 75 mm gun with APCR rounds
  • High rate of fire for main gun
  • Excellent gun depression
  • Very strong turret armour from all sides, very good at hull down position
  • Very good at leading a spearhead towards a capture point where it can provide cover to weaker allied tanks with more powerful guns
  • Excellent frontal armour, about 101 mm thick
  • Excellent all around turret armour, average 152 mm thick
  • Can absorb a lot of damage
  • Better mobility than the Russian KV-1 and the British Churchill
  • Equipped with gun stabilizer, making it more accurate at moving and when preparing a shot after moving
  • Good acceleration
  • Incredibly tough when angled
  • Wide tracks enable it to have a decent off road mobility, unlike other previous Sherman models
  • Learning curve from previous Sherman variant will help a lot at mastering this tank

Cons:

  • 75 mm gun lacks penetration against heavy tanks
  • It needs allies support to be effective in battle as it cannot deal serious damage on its own
  • Armour weak spot above the gun mantlet (63.5 mm @ 60°)
  • Small bottom corners on M4A3E2 gun mantlet can serve as shot traps
  • Side armour better than normal, but still weak (76.2 mm), but the lower side hull armour is even worse (38.1 mm)
  • Very thin rear armour
  • Inability to compound angle greatly due to very weak lower side hull armour that would be penetrated
  • Tall profile makes it a bigger target
  • Bad off-road manoeuvrability
  • Low top speed of 35 km/h
  • Reverse speed is bad
  • Hull MG is a weak spot

History

Main article: History of the M4A3E2

French service

Due to the low numbers of M4A3E2 issued to the ETO, most went towards the US Army units. However, there is one known M4A3E2 that was issued to the French 1st Armoured Division (Division Blindée (DB)), an unusual case as most of the M4A3E2 inventory was headed to the Twelfth United States Army Group, whereas the French 1st DB was with the US Sixth Army Group. Information is not well known about this sole M4A3E2, but it served in the headquarter platoon of the 2nd Squadron of the 2nd African Chasseur Regiment (2e régiment de chasseurs d'Afrique). On 16 April 1945, lieutenant Amédée de Falgayrac, commander of the 1st platoon in the 2nd Squadron, was killed by shrapnel at Ortenberg, Germany. The M4A3E2 was then renamed Lt Falgayrac a few days later in honour.

The French did obtain a number of M4A3E2 surplus for use in the post-war period.

Media

Skins
Videos
How to destroy the Jumbo - War Thunder Official Channel

See also

Other M4A3E2 vehicles in the game

External links


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.

France heavy tanks
B1  B1 bis · B1 ter
2C  2C · 2C bis
ARL-44  ARL-44 (ACL-1)
AMX-50  Somua SM · AMX-50 Surbaissé · AMX-50 Surblindé
USA  ▄M4A3E2

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