Home > Combat Vehicles > Dragon > Neo Dragon Armor Series (1:72/1:35 Scale) > World War II Era Military Vehicles (1:72 Scale) > M4 Sherman and Firefly Medium Tanks >

US M4A3 (76mm) Sherman Medium Tank - Lieutenant Colonel Creighton Abrams, "Thunderbolt IV", 37th Tank Battalion, 4th Armored Division, Bastogne, Belgium, December 1944 (1:72 Scale)
US M4A3 (76mm) Sherman Medium Tank - Lieutenant Colonel Creighton Abrams, "Thunderbolt IV", 37th Tank Battalion, 4th Armored Division, Bastogne, Belgium, December 1944

Dragon US M4A3 (76mm) Sherman Medium Tank - Lieutenant Colonel Creighton Abrams, "Thunderbolt IV", 37th Tank Battalion, 4th Armored Division, Bastogne, Belgium, December 1944




 
Additional Images. Click to Enlarge


List Price: $54.99
Our Price: $49.99 Sold Out!
You save $5.00!
You'll earn: 50 points

Stock Status: (Out of Stock)


Availability: Currently Unavailable
Product Code: DRR63102

Description Extended Information
 
Dragon DRR63102 US M4A3 (76mm) Sherman Medium Tank - Lieutenant Colonel Creighton Abrams, "Thunderbolt IV", 37th Tank Battalion, 4th Armored Division, Bastogne, Belgium, December 1944 (1:72 Scale) "The only way you can win a war is to attack and keep on attacking, and after you have done that, keep attacking some more."
- General George S. Patton Jr., January 1945

By all accounts, the M4 Sherman medium tank was regarded 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.

The M4A3 (76mm) was a highly improved variant of the Sherman with production numbers of 1,400. Built by Detroit Arsenal and Grand Blanc, the M4A3 (76mm) had improved armor protection, as well as greater firepower, thanks to its' high velocity 76mm main gun.

This particular 1:72 scale replica of an US M4A3 Sherman medium tank was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Creighton Abrams and nicknamed "Thunderbolt", which was attached to the 37th Tank Battalion, 4th Armored Division, then deployed to Bastogne during December 1944. Sold Out!

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

Release Date: October 2022

Historical Account: "Breakthrough to Bastogne" - On the morning of December 26th, 1944, as part of a concerted effort to relieve the 101st Airborne ("Screaming Eagles") defending the all-important crossroads town of Bastogne, the 4th Armored Division's ("Breakthrough") Combat Command Reserve (CCR) was ordered by Division HQ to link up with Combat Command B (CCB), which was still fighting for the town of Chaumont in southeast Belgium. Colonel Wendell Blanchard, commander of CCR, called together Lt. Colonel Creighton Abrams of the 37th Tank Battalion, and Lt. Colonel George L. Jaques of the 53rd Armored Infantry Battalion. He told them to attack and seize the village of Chaumont, which was just 3 miles from Bastogne. From there, they were to advance in earnest up the main road, break through the German cordon, and make contact with the beleaguered 101st, which was rapidly running out of ammunition.

After capturing Chaumont, the two commanders initially planned to attack the town of Sibret, but because it was so heavily defended, they instead chose to assault the nearby village of Assenois, which was located on a secondary road but still provided access to Bastogne. With artillery firing in support, the leading element of CCR, comprised of three Shermans followed by a halftrack full of infantry, then two more Shermans, stormed the village. Abrams' tanks blasted their way through the obstacles, while dismounted infantry mopped up the remaining strongpoints. After eliminating several enemy soldiers laying Teller mines along the road, Abrams command linked up with elements of the 101st at 1700 hours. The siege had been lifted and with it came the collapse of Hitler's "Wacht am Rhein" operation.

Features
  • Plastic construction
  • Rotating turret
  • Elevating gun
  • Static tracks
  • Accurate markings and insignia
  • Some minor assembly required

Average Customer Review: Average Customer Review: 5 of 5 5 of 5 Total Reviews: 1 Write a review.

  1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
 
5 of 5 Creighton Abrams Bastogne Sherman December 3, 2022
Reviewer: William Totten from Silver Spring, MD United States  
Creighton Abrams is one of the most famous American tankers of WWII, and this model depicts the iconic Sherman he commanded going into Bastogne.  An excellent reproduction in 1/72 scale!

Was this review helpful to you?


Browse for more products in the same category as this item:

Combat Vehicles > Dragon > Neo Dragon Armor Series (1:72/1:35 Scale) > World War II Era Military Vehicles (1:72 Scale) > M4 Sherman and Firefly Medium Tanks
Combat Command Center > World War II: War on the Western Front > The Ardennes Offensive (Dec. 1944 - Jan. 1945)
Release Schedule > Retired and Sold Out > April 2023 Retirees