The Cobra King is a unique version of the M4A3E2 Sherman, which was an up-armoured modification of the M4A3, the fourth variant of the early-generation Medium Tank M4 (Sherman) family. During the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, the Germans assaulted and cornered U.S. soldiers in the town of Bastogne. The Cobra King was the first tank to enter the perimeter of Bastogne, bringing relief to the besieged American 101st Airborne Division. Cobra King saw combat for the first time in 1944. It was destroyed during a battle in France in November 1944, but it was later restored and reassigned. In late 1944, the tank was deployed to Company C of the American 4th Armored Division's 37th Tank Battalion, which was the spearhead of General Patton's Third Army moving into Bastogne. The 37th Tank Battalion was then commanded by Creighton Abrams, subsequently commander of U.S. forces in the Vietnam War, Chief of Staff of the United States Army, and namesake of the M1 Abrams tank. Lieutenant Charles Boggess led a crew that included Hubert S. Smith (driver), Harold Hafner (co-driver), Milton Jafet (gunner), and James G. Murphy (loader). Boggess had taken over for the tank's former commander, Charles Trover, who was killed by a sniper on December 23rd while standing in the turret.
Introduced in Update 1.45 "Steel Generals", the Cobra King is a unique premium version of the M4A3E2, which is a makeshift heavy tank based on the original M4A3 Sherman variant. Playstyles are very much similar to the standard M4A3E2. Though it may look similar to an ordinary M4A3 Sherman medium tank, it can sustain substantially more damage than any M4 Sherman variants and can attack enemy positions effectively. The majority of Cobra King adversaries will struggle to penetrate this vehicle from the front. When you utilize the M4A3E2 to lead an aggressive charge, your opponents will usually direct their fire at you, allowing others in your team to attack enemy targets with less pressure. Despite its superb armour, the Cobra King's 75 mm M3 tank gun is underwhelming. It lacks the armour penetration to engage most opponents within its ranks from the front. Players will usually have to destroy critical components such as the barrel and tracks, and flank enemies for the weaker side armour in order to properly destroy hostile vehicles.
