I know that US units equiped primarily with the M4 or M4A1 would often get either vehicle as a replacement because of the mechanical similarities. My question is whether or not it was common for a unit with the M4 or A1 receive the A3 and vise-verse? I know the E8 was sent all around so I needn’t receive any replies in regards to those variants.
The first deployed armored units had M4 and M4A1s. Their initial replacements were M4s and M4a1s because that’s what they had – not because of mechanical similarity per se. However the attrition rate depleted all stocks and the A3 began to come off the assy lines in sufficient nos. Some M4A2s and M4A4s were even taken from British stocks near late '44.
As M4A3s began to come into the ETO by late summer/early fall of '43, you either saw them as replacement vehicles for the existing units or fully complementing the newly arriving armored units. Some of the latecomer units never deployed in the earlier M4 or M4A1s. They came to Europe fully equipped with 47 degree hull M4A3s (75 or 76).
So by late fall, winter '44, you could definitely see units mixing M4s and M4A1s along with the new M4A3 replacement tanks.
Again, if you plan on modelling one of the later arriving units (e.g. 14th Armored Division), I think it would be unlikely to see them with anything except M4A3s.
The HVSS M4A3s just followed the supply chain, appearing winter '44/'45.
A side note: the older M4A3s with the 60 degree hulls, were even upgraded from their earlier role as training tanks and shipped into combat. They appear in late '44 as well.
Thanks, I knew that you, T26, would have an answer. I was just curious about the transition period. I wouldn’t want to build a M4A1(76)W in any given unit unless I had some evidence of that vehicle being in said unit, anyhow. I have not seen many images of M4/A1-A3 together and I just became curious. I appreciate your help. I’m finding myself drawn towards 2nd Armored because of the variety.
Acording to what first hand accounts I have read most liason officers responsable for procuring replacement tanks for there unit would try to keep all of the same variants if possible. It made stocking replacement parts much easier when all of your tanks are running the same powertrain. Most tried to stay away from the radial engine variant because of the tendancy tp foul the plugs after extended peroids of idleing. These engine were just no designed to idle for long periods of time. The ford dual over head cam V-8 variant was the most reliable powertrain and the prefered. Unfortunatly sometimes you had to take what was there. Because of the horrendous losses it was first come first served. So you would definatly seen some mixing withing units. Also lightly damaged tanks were repaired and returned to service so replacements tanks were not always new tanks. Hope this helps.
Soulcrusher
Hi Soulcrusher: I’m wondering where you read this. It’s clear that the Ford V8 was the best engine but given the order of tanks available with an almost complete force of radial engined tanks, gradually being supplanted by M4A3s, when would a procurement officer even have the CHOICE to turn down M4s and M4A1s?
What I’m saying is that up until the fall of '44, all US units had available were M4s and M4A1s in Europe. Production lines had shifted over to the M4A3s in early '44 (with the radial ones ceasing production) and the Ford-engined M4A3s started being shipped by fall '44.
Maybe there were some old veteran tanks that got repaired or refurbished available and it’s easily conceivable how units wanted the new M4A3s first, but even these returned M4s and M4A1s would still have been gobbled up given the overall attrition rate.
I think you’re referring to Cooper’s “Death Traps” but you’ll notice how desparate the various Medium tank companies were for anything that ran.
Hope this makes sense. Rgrds, Roy
Yes you are correct Belton Coopers book is an awsome first hand account of the goings on in a tank division. My grandfather served in the Fourth Armored division from September 44" till his tank was destroyed in the battle of the bulge in late December 44". He was the only surviving crew member because he was the loader and was standing on his seat when his tank was hit. The blast shot him right out of the top of the tank and into the woods. He woke up two days later in a hospital. The only lasting effects of the flight was a aching back believe it or not! He told me many stories before he passed away and I never got tired of hearing them. On more than one instance he witnessed the 75mm rounds from his tank bounce of the front of German tanks. I can not imaging the feeling you must get when you fire your main gun and find out how useless it really was agiants most German tanks. Well I could sit here and tell stories all day talk to you soon.
Soulcrusher