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.

This particular 1:50 scale Sherman tank with exhaust vents was used during the D-Day invasion and is equipped with specially designed exhaust vents so it could ford beaches and was nicknamed "Anvil." Sold Out!

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

Release Date: April 2006

Historical Account: "Bloody Omaha" - Omaha Beach was the code name for one of the principal landing points of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on June 6th, 1944, during World War II. The beach is located on the northern coast of France, facing the English Channel, and is approximately 3.5 miles (5.6 km) long, running from Sainte-Honorine-des-Pertes to Vierville-sur-Mer.

On D-Day, the untested 29th Infantry Division, joined by 8 companies of US Rangers redirected from Pointe du Hoc, was to assault the western flank of the beach. The 1st Infantry Division was given the eastern approach. This was their third amphibious assault of the war, after Africa and Sicily. The primary objective of the Omaha Beach assault was to secure a beachhead between Port-en-Bessin and the Vire River, before pushing southward toward Saint-Lo.