Difference between revisions of "M4A3 (105) (France)"

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{{About
 
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== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
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=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
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=== Modifications and economy ===
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== Armaments ==
 
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=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
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=== Machine guns ===
 
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{{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)|M1919A4 (7.62 mm)}}
 
{{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)|M1919A4 (7.62 mm)}}

Revision as of 09:33, 28 December 2020

Rank VII | Premium | Golden Eagles
Challenger DS Pack
▄M4A3 (105)
fr_m4a3_105_sherman.png
GarageImage M4A3 (105) (France).jpg
▄M4A3 (105)
AB RB SB
3.0 3.0 3.0
Class:
Research:11 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:22 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game
This page is about the medium tank M4A3 (105) (France). For other M4 Shermans, see M4 Sherman (Family). For other uses, see M4 (Disambiguation).

Description

GarageImage M4A3 (105) (France).jpg


The ▄Medium Tank M4A3 (105) HVSS Sherman is a rank II French medium tank with a battle rating of 3.0 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.97 "Viking Fury". Armed with a M4 (105 mm) instead of the standard M3 (75 mm) cannon, the howitzer grants the Sherman a much more powerful high-explosive shell to use against lightly-armoured enemies. When the HEAT round is unlocked for the cannon, its firepower against more heavily armoured vehicle increases substantially.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
Armourfront / side / back
Hull38 / 38 / 38
Turret76 / 50 / 50
Crew5 people
Visibility122 %

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret roof, cupola roof)
  • Cast homogeneous armour (turret, gun mantlet, transmission housing)
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 63.5 mm (46°) Upper glacis - Top
63.5 mm + 25.4 mm (spherical) MG port
63.5 mm (55°) Upper glacis - Bottom
107.9 mm (cylindrical) Transmission carter
63.5 mm (50°) Lower glacis
38.1 mm 38.1 mm (23°) Upper plate
38.1 mm (13°) Lower plate - Top
38.1 mm (44°) Lower plate - Bottom
63.5 mm (35-44°) Front glacis
19.5 mm Centre
19.5 mm (7°) Rear - Centre
19.5 mm (23°) Rear - Sides
Turret 76.2 mm (cylindrical) Turret front
88.9 mm (cylindrical) Gun mantlet
50.8 mm (cylindrical) 50.8 mm (3°) 25.4 mm
Cupola 63.5 mm (conical) 63.5 mm (conical) 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.
  • A 25.4 mm plate separates the crew compartment from the engine compartment.

The M4A3 (105) (France) is equipped with 12 smoke grenades that can be deployed individually. The launcher is on the turret and shoots grenades along the gun's heading.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB47 / 7 km/h
RB and SB42 / 6 km/h
Number of gears5 forward
1 back
Weight31.7 t
Engine power
AB954 hp
RB and SB500 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB30.1 hp/t
RB and SB15.8 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 47 7 31.7 775 954 24.45 30.09
Realistic 42 6 442 500 13.94 15.77

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB684 → 925 Sl icon.png
RB772 → 1 044 Sl icon.png
SB948 → 1 282 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications10 410 Rp icon.png
13 940 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost750 Ge icon.png
Crew training6 300 Sl icon.png
Experts22 000 Sl icon.png
Aces210 Ge icon.png
Research Aces220 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
50 / 60 / 70 % Sl icon.png
124 / 124 / 124 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
520 Rp icon.png
Cost:
690 Sl icon.png
85 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
580 Rp icon.png
Cost:
770 Sl icon.png
95 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
580 Rp icon.png
Cost:
770 Sl icon.png
95 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
870 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 200 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
680 Rp icon.png
Cost:
900 Sl icon.png
110 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
680 Rp icon.png
Cost:
900 Sl icon.png
110 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
520 Rp icon.png
Cost:
690 Sl icon.png
85 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
580 Rp icon.png
Cost:
770 Sl icon.png
95 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement fr.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
870 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 200 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
520 Rp icon.png
Cost:
690 Sl icon.png
85 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
105mm_usa_HEAT_ammo_pack
Research:
520 Rp icon.png
Cost:
690 Sl icon.png
85 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
580 Rp icon.png
Cost:
770 Sl icon.png
95 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
870 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 200 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
680 Rp icon.png
Cost:
900 Sl icon.png
110 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
105mm_us_M84_Smoke_ammo_pack
Research:
680 Rp icon.png
Cost:
900 Sl icon.png
110 Ge icon.png
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade
Research:
680 Rp icon.png
Cost:
900 Sl icon.png
110 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Main armament

Ammunition66 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
13.0 → 10.0 s
Vertical guidance-10° / 35°
Main article: M4 (105 mm)
105 mm M4 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 66 -10°/+35° ±180° N/A 5.7 7.9 9.6 10.6 11.3 13.00 11.50 10.60 10.00
Realistic 3.6 4.2 5.1 5.6 6.0

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
M1 shell HE 27 27 27 27 27 27
M67 shot HEAT 130 130 130 130 130 130
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%
M1 shell HE 472 14.85 0.1 0.1 2,180 79° 80° 81°
M67 shot HEAT 381 13.14 0.0 0.1 1,610 62° 69° 73°
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)
M84 457 14.9 20 5 25 50

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the M4A3 (105) (identical).
Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
3rd
rack empty
4th
rack empty
5th
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
66 54 (+12) 34 (+32) 22 (+44) 13 (+53) (+65) No

Notes:

  • Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.
  • To go into battle with the turret empty of ammo, pack 22 (+44) shells (racks 1 to 3 emptied).

Machine guns

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°
Ammunition3 000 rounds
Belt capacity250 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate500 shots/min
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

This tank plays best as a support tank, stay with other tanks that have better side armour while using the relatively thick front armour to soak a few shots. Use the HEAT rounds to penetrate most armour of the M4A3 (105)'s rank and above, and remember that the M4A3 (105) is no brawler, so staying in the front line too close to hostiles will most likely spell a K.O. by ammo or crew. This tank gun has a very low velocity, so make sure to compensate for a large amount of drop

Having in mind the large calibre of this tank's main weapon, one can conclude that the HE shell (M1 shell) is big enough to dispatch some tanks. However, any armour larger than 28 mm won't let the explosion result in penetration. So for firing at strong armour plates, the HEAT shell (M67 shot) is required. It should be a top priority to research it. The HE shell will, however, be the most effective option whenever this Sherman's controller can find a suitably soft spot in the enemy vehicle's armour. Against soft vehicles, like most SPAA, the choice of ammunition for the main gun is fairly irrelevant, since a single shot should be enough to dispatch one of these, and remaining crew members can be taken down with one of the tank's Browning machine guns, although HE is certainly the most effective at dishing out damage when armour is absent.

The HEAT round, unlike the HE one, has a tracer charge, which facilitates aiming. This is not critical, however, since the HE shell's sheer size allows for it to be seen without too much effort.

Combat tactics

The M4A3 (105) HVSS Sherman is a support tank, not a front-line brawler. Its adequate armour protection and a powerful gun put it on about the level of the M10 Tank Destroyer, but it has certain flaws and qualities that make it different than the usual Sherman tanks. Due to the 105 mm howitzer, knocking out the enemy crew in lightly armoured vehicles is a piece of cake. Aim for the enemy tank's lower turret to cause the most damage possible with the HE shells, as the HE shrapnel can be deflected down onto the hull roof and mess up the enemy crew. The 105 mm HE could also be aimed at the enemy tracks to blow it off, immobilizing the enemy. If none of the HE shells does damage to the target (which shouldn't happen most of the time), a well-placed HEAT shell, once unlocked, can easily set a tank aflame or blow up ammo stores. Don't get to close to enemy vehicles unless it is a limited traverse gun tank destroyer, in which case blow up its tracks with a HE that should do the trick.

A downfall of the M4A3 (105) HVSS Sherman is its average mobility, slow turret traverse, and slow reload. Therefore, it is recommended to stick to allied tanks like glue or rely on hit-and-run tactics. The low velocity makes long-range shots relatively difficult. Never stay in the sights of tanks such as the long-barrel 75 mm Panzer IV F2/G, StuG III F/G or T-34/KV-1. These tanks can penetrate the M4A3 (105) HVSS Sherman's front armour, some more easily than others. Try not to get hit in the rear area as it will set the tank on fire and immobilize it, putting it in an extremely disadvantageous situation.

Enemies worth noting

LVT(A)(4)(ZiS-2): don't assume that you are indestructible in a downtier. If you see the giant boat-like chassis of a LVT but with a long cannon on top, be very careful. This LVT is able to penetrate your armor easily within 400m, or if you are not angling the hull. To block its incoming shells, either angle your hull, be at a hull-down position or be >500m away from it. While its shells can tear through your armor with ease, you can also effortlessly destroy it with your HEAT by causing a hull break. While you reload, don't forget to wiggle around in a patternless way to mess up its aim -- its gun traverse rather slowly, making it quite hard to keep up with moving targets.

How to defeat a M4A3 (105) (France)

The M4A3 (105) has certain flaws that can be exploited quite well. First of all, the howitzer armament means that the shell travels in a low-velocity, meaning the M4A3 (105) will be unlikely to engage at a long distance. Another is the fact that the M4A3 (105)'s gun has a long reload and a slow traverse speed, meaning it is also not very good in a close-range encounter. Despite these flaws, the M4A3 (105) is a formidable foe with its armament. The HE and HEAT shell the 105 mm can dish out has a real possibility to knock out friendly crew and teammates, if not absolutely destroying light tanks. These high-explosives can also break tracks easily, causing the player tank to be immobilized and exposed not only to the M4A3 (105), but to the other enemies as well, and the M4A3 (105) will most likely not be alone.

To engage the M4A3 (105), try not to engage its frontal armour if in a tank with BR lower than 3.7. It's frontal armour, despite what most will say about the Sherman's armour, is quite formidable and can deflect most incoming enemy round from light and medium tanks. This is why it is recommended to bring high-velocity guns like the M7 (76 mm) on the M10 GMC or the KwK40 (75 mm) on the later Panzer IV. If it can't be engaged from the front, manoeuvre to its side and rear armour, as these armour plate are extremely vulnerable to even 37 mm guns. When manoeuvring around the M4A3 (105), try not expose the tank for a prolonged time and move faster than the M4A3 (105)'s slow turret traverse rate (though beware that the M4A3 can compensate this slow turn by turning the entire body). If fast enough, a tank could also move past the 105 mm low-velocity shell and mess up the enemy's lead. This will eventually lead to a good shot on the M4A3's weak points. Another simpler and less mobile way is to lie in wait in a tank destroyer such as the StuG III for the M4A3 to move tight into the TD's line of fire, giving a clean shot to a vulnerable armour part. A good shot on a general part of the hull can ignite one of the many ammo racks strewn around the interior.

Modules

Tier Mobility Protection Firepower
I Tracks Parts Horizontal Drive M67 shot
II Suspension Brake System FPE Adjustment of Fire
III Filters Crew Replenishment Elevation Mechanism
IV Transmission Engine Artillery Support M84 Smoke grenade
  • Research the M67 shot first as you start with an HE shell only.
  • Parts and FPE come next as they are key to survivability.
  • Follow up with accuracy improvements.
  • Everything else is up to you, but Artillery Support and mobility upgrades are welcome.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Devastating against lightly armoured tanks
  • HE shells can cause serious damages even with a non-penetrating hit
  • HEAT shell option with approximately 130 mm of penetration at any range, making it able to take on even the KV-1 from the front
  • Both HE and HEAT shells have a high chance of causing hull breaks on lightly armoured foes
  • .50 cal machine gun on top can provide AA defence
  • Good mobility, best hp/weight ratio of any Sherman
  • HVSS suspension gives good cross-country mobility
  • Wide tracks makes it easier to brake at high speeds and climb steep mountains
  • Better sloped frontal armour that can withstand lots of punishment

Cons:

  • Poor ballistics, especially with HEAT shells, long-range fighting is not recommended, due to its extremely low shell velocity
  • Slow reverse speed, retreating from dangerous situations may be a hassle
  • Stock HE ineffective against even moderately armoured tanks
  • HEAT shell post-penetration damage is somewhat punctual, follow up shots may be required at times
  • Often targeted due to the large 105 mm gun
  • Side and rear armour are very weak in comparison to the front
  • Very slow turret traverse rate, relies on turning hull to get gun onto targets away from turret front
  • Poor stationary turning ability combined with slow turret traverse makes flanking enemies a dangerous foe
  • Long reload of more than 10 seconds

History

Each US tank regiment was equipped with a few 105 mm M4A3 at the end of WW2. Their role was to support the other armoured units by destroying fortifications and obstacles. The M4A3 (105) was not provided officially to the Free French Forces through the lend-lease program. However, as they were embedded under US command in preparation of the invasion of France, a few French armoured divisions received the tank from US Army stocks. The French 2nd Armoured Division received several M4A3 (105) under those circumstances in the UK in 1944. The 1ère and 5ème Divisions Blindées (1st and 5th Armored Divisions) were first equipped with M4A3(105) Shermans in April 1945. 18 M4A3(105) Shermans had been listed as authorized in January 1945, but they were not listed as on hand until April 29 - May 5. From images it can be seen that many of those tanks were M4(105)s, but at least one was an M4A3(105).

They saw combat action in France in 1944 and in Western Germany in early 1945.

After the war, many M4A3 (105) were supplied by the US to European countries as part of the Mutual Defense Assistance Act. France received 230 units they allocated to their cavalry units garrisoned in the French occupation zone in Germany. These M4A3 (105) never saw combat.

Media

Skins
Videos

See also

Vehicles equipped with the same chassis
Vehicles equipped with the same gun
Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

External links


France medium tanks
M4 Derivatives  M4A1 (FL10) · M4A4 (SA50)
AMX-50  AMX M4 · AMX-50 (TOA100) · AMX-50 (TO90/930)
AMX-30  AMX-30 · AMX-30 (1972) · AMX-30B2 · AMX-30B2 BRENUS · AMX-30 ACRA · AMX-30 Super
AMX-32/40  AMX-32 · AMX-32 (105) · AMX-40
Leclerc  Leclerc · Leclerc S2 · Leclerc SXXI · Leclerc AZUR
Other  D2 · S.35 · Lorraine 40t
Germany  Panther "Dauphiné"
USA  ▄M4A1 · ▄M4A3 (105) · ▄M4A4 · ▄M26