Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnews!military
From: military@cbnews.ATT.COM (William B. Thacker)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: RE: M4 Tank Info
Message-ID: <15339@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 7 Apr 90 05:13:53 GMT
Organization: DSC Communications, Plano Tx.
Lines: 38
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: digi!rvannost%digi.lonestar.org (Richard M. Van Nostrand)

In response to L.J. Sparvero's post about the M4 Sherman,

First I personally don't believe that the basic M4 was an MBT.
It was a medium tank that was all to often thrust into the role
of an MBT.  I believe it only had a  76 mm gun, which, as the war
progressed, proved inadaquate for medium-long range frontal engagements
with the heavier german tanks.  There were a number of revamped versions
of the Sherman however.  For example, the Super Sherman and the Sherm V.C.
Firefly (a british tank) in both cases the armor was upgraded, the powerplant
improved,  and a larger gun installed.  The Firefly had a 17 pounder!
Granted, the primary asset of the Sherman was the fact that they could
be produced in greater numbers than they could be killed in.  Another of
its strongpoints was its versatility.  We used the Sherman for everything
imaginable.  A version with 70 some odd 4.5 inch free flight rockets, a flame
thower version, and even a version used for the invasion of Normandy that
was supposed to float ashore (with a dismal success rate however.)  
Nonetheless, if there ever was something that could be done to a tank, 
it probably was done to the Sherman.

(I will agree that I find it rather odd that a country that obviously won 
WWII based on the number of weapons that it could produce rather than the
quality of the weapons.  Overall, the Germans had some of the highest 
quality weapons of the entire war.  (I have seen reports that claim the
MG-34 is superior to our M-60.)  And yet, only 40 years later we have gone
to a stategy of producing higher quality in smaller numbers; I do happen
to believe in this practice however.  Perhaps, it is the advancement of
technology that has made this the best strategy.)

Rick Van Nostrand
SMU Crew, Rowing's Finest!!!
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There is no life without crew.