The M4A2(76)W was not an important Sherman in the west during WWII. Just about the whole production run was shipped off to the Soviet Union, where it was well received. The M4A2(76)W was a wet tank with large hatches from the beginning. It’s 76mm T23 turret was the same as the ones installed on all the other 76 tanks, and probably went through the same series of minor changes. The hull is almost indiscernible from a M4A3(76)W. A total of 1,594 M4A2(76)W was manufactured between May 44 and Dec 44. From Jan 45, production was switched to M4A2(76)W HVSS; a total of 1,321 was manufactured until May 45. The Russians received some M4A2(76)W HVSS tanks before the war ended.
The Soviet Union’s nickname for the M4 medium tank was Emcha because the open-topped figure 4 resembled the Cyrillic letter che or cha (Ч). The M4A2s used by the Red Army was considered to be much less prone to blow up due to ammunition detonation than the T-34/76, but tended to overturn in road collisions because of their much higher centre of gravity. Under Lend-Lease, 4,102 M4A2 medium tanks were sent to the USSR. Of these, 2,007 were equipped with the 75mm gun, and 2,095 carried the 76mm gun. The total number of Sherman tanks sent to the USSR under Lend-Lease represented 18.6% of all Lend-Lease Shermans. The first 76mm-armed Shermans started to arrive in the Soviet Union in late summer of 1944. In 1945, some units were standardized to depend mostly on them, and not on the ubiquitous T-34: 1st Guards Mechanized Corps, 3rd Guards Mechanized Corps, and 9th Guards Mechanized Corps.
Other countries that used the M4A2 Sherman included Britain, New Zealand, Poland, and the Free French Forces. No US Army combat use of the M4A2 except for the USMC and DD conversions for the Omaha landings.
Product Highlights:
- Includes both early & late production T23 turrets
- Includes both normal & “duckbill” extended end-connectors
- Includes optional sand skirts
- Open or closed hatches on turret and hull
- Tank crew figures included
Product Code: 280054
Number of Parts: 92 pieces / 6 sprues
