The M4 Sherman medium tank was regarded by many as the workhorse of the US Army during World War II. In fact, virtually all of the Allied armies employed the Sherman in their armed forces, including the British, who developed an upgunned variant called the "Firefly". Eleven different US plants manufactured six basic models of the Sherman, and by June 1944 over 49,234 battle-ready vehicles had been produced. While it was no match for the German Panther or Tiger tanks, the Sherman soldiered on, using its weight in numbers to wrest control of Europe from the Wehrmacht.

Early Shermans mounted a 75mm medium-velocity general-purpose gun. Later M4A1, M4A2, and M4A3 models received the larger T23 turret with a high-velocity 76mm gun M1, which traded reduced HE and smoke performance for improved anti-tank performance. The British offered the QF 17 pounder (76.2 mm) anti-tank gun with its significant armour penetration but a significant initial (later rectified) HE shortcoming to the Americans but the US Ordnance Department was working on a 90mm tank gun and declined. Later M4 and M4A3 were factory-produced with a 105mm howitzer and a new distinctive mantlet in the original turret. The first standard-production 76mm-gun Sherman was an M4A1 accepted in January 1944 and the first standard-production 105mm-howitzer Sherman was an M4 accepted in February 1944.

Pictured here is a 1:72 Firefly Mk. VC tank that was attached to 3 Troop, A Squadron, Northamptonshire Yeomanry, then deployed to France during 1944. Pre-order! Ship Date: May 2024.

Dimensions:
Length: 3-1/4-inches
Width: 1-1/2-inches

Release Date: ?

Historical Account: "Yeomanry" - The Northamptonshire Yeomanry was a Yeomanry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1794 as volunteer cavalry. It served in the Second Boer War, the First World War and the Second World War before being reduced to squadron level in 1956. It ceased to have a separate existence in 1971.

In 1944, as a part of the 33rd Armoured Brigade, the unit participated in the Invasion of Normandy, landing on Gold Beach in Normandy on June 6th. The brigade also included the 1st East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry and the 144 Regiment RAC. The Brigade's role was infantry support, therefore it rarely fought as an entity. One of the occasions when the Brigade did undertake an operation on its own was at Le Mesnil-Patry, Rots on June 11th, 1944. Further battles they were involved in were around Caen, including Operation Charnwood on July 7th, the battle to capture Caen. On July 16th, 1944, it was involved in Operation Pomegranate, where it come under the command of the 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division.

On August 8th, 1944, it was involved in Operation Totalize, a breakout from the Caen Salient. It was during Operation Totalize that Joe Ekins, a Sherman Tank gunner of the Northamptonshire Yeomanry, gained recognition for being the man who possibly killed the renowned German tank commander, Michael Wittmann, the 4th top scoring tank ace in history, near Saint-Aignan-de-Cramesnil, France. The regiment was briefly attached to the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division for the actions around the Battle of the Bulge. The regiment was re-formed and re-equipped with LVT 4 Buffalo amphibious armoured fighting vehicles for the Operation Plunder the Rhine crossing and was placed under the command of the 79th Armoured Division.