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.

In honor of its achievement, Corgi has come out with an amazingly accurate 1:50 scale diecast replica of the famed US Army M4A3E8 Sherman medium tank, this time around painted with a fearsome tiger face. Like the other vehicles in the "Forgotten Heroes" Collection, this vehicle has been 'muddied' to give it a more weathered appearance. Sold Out!

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

Release Date: October 2003

Historical Account: "A Tiger in Your Tank" - The Korean War came as a complete surprise to the U.S. military, catching our forces off guard and woefully short of the right equipment. World War II-vintage Shermans that had been in storage in Japan were quickly refurbished and sent to Korea with cobbled-together units. The 89th was made up of volunteers from the various U.S. units stationed in Japan. The distinctive tiger face was painted on many of the early tanks that went into combat. The thought was that they would scare the superstitious North Koreans.