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About this book:
A total of 49,234 Sherman gun tanks were built during World War II, but it was not until late in the conflict that need for a better armored and more powerfully armed version became evident. After the D-day landings the first 138 of the new Shermans, with better armor and new 76mm gun, entered the battlefront. Until a new type of ammunition was delivered these new tanks were no match for the Germans’ Panther and Tiger tanks. However, the British had fitted their new Shermans with their own 17lb. anti-tank gun. Known as the Firefly, the tank was very successful against all enemy armor. The US Army’s answer to the problem was to develop the “Jumbo” Sherman with extra armor – the tank now weighed 42 tons – along with improved anti-tank ammunition and a new type of suspension. Designated the M4A3E2, a total of 254 were built and shipped to Europe, proving to be very effective on the battlefield. 96 page softcover book with color and black & white photos throughout.