The M4A3E8 (76) W HVSS Sherman is an improved variant of the M4 Sherman medium tank produced at the Detroit Arsenal. Nicknamed the "Easy Eight," it began arriving with American forces in Europe in December 1944, just in time for the German offensive in the Ardennes. The 4th Armored Division of the 3rd U.S. Army successfully used these vehicles in the fierce Battle of the Bulge in late December 1944 and early January 1945. In the spring of 1945, the M4A3E8 was extensively used during the offensive in Germany. The last battles involving these variants of the Sherman tank took place during the US 11th Armored Division's advance across the Muller River in Austria in April–May 1945. By the end of the war, a total of about 540 M4A3E8s had been delivered to Europe.
The Sherman (Hell) was introduced in Update 2.47 "Leviathans". It differs from the researchable version due to its unique appearance, which is inspired by field modifications designed to reinforce the Sherman's armor. During the battles in France, the American military encountered German troops actively using HEAT anti-tank man-portable weapons. For this reason, tank crews sought to increase the armor protection of their vehicles by attaching sandbags to the armor and concreting the upper frontal parts, among other tricks. While these improvised methods could not actually stop the HEAT jet, they boosted the morale of the tankers.
The M4A3E8 is a versatile combat unit that forms the backbone of the American team at these combat ratings. It has a decent mobility as well as a stabilized 76 mm cannon, making it dangerous for its enemies. At the same time, it has a big profile, which combined with a poor armor, makes it vulnerable to any enemy fire.
| Ammunition | Type | Armor penetration (mm) at a distance: | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 m | 100 m | 500 m | 1000 m | 1500 m | 2000 m | ||
| AP | 134 | 132 | 121 | 109 | 99 | 89 | |
| HE | 16 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 10 | |
| APCBC | 149 | 146 | 133 | 119 | 106 | 95 | |
| APCR | 191 | 186 | 168 | 147 | 129 | 113 | |
| Smoke | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| Belt | Belt filling | Armor penetration (mm) at a distance: | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 m | 100 m | 500 m | 1000 m | 1500 m | 2000 m | ||
| API-T/I/AP/API-T | 31 | 29 | 21 | 14 | 9 | 6 | |
| Belt | Belt filling | Armor penetration (mm) at a distance: | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 m | 100 m | 500 m | 1000 m | 1500 m | 2000 m | ||
| AP/T | 13 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | |
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