When I decided to make some pages on the M4 Sherman, I thought it was a simpel task (show the models and types and Bob’s your uncle),… that was the big first mistake. The last couple of years I’m still correcting things, up-date new found info and shift the types and models. When I finally think I got it done, something new turns up and it head scratching starts again.

It's not easy to find the differences in the specific M4’s models. To find distinctions, look at the rear of the tank, in most cases the solution can be found here. The use of different types of engines changed the back and the name of the type of the Sherman.

With the M4A1 the difference between the other models is relative easy. The M4A1 had the Continental R975 engine. This engine had a hand crank (which was carried on the back of the tank). To connect the crank with the engine, a small hole was made on top, in the middle of the rear armor.

The following types have not such a hole, and the rear armor plate was dropped a little more too, for better protection of the engine compartment. This makes it a lot more difficult to recognize the types from each other. You have to find other clues. For instance on the front (welded on pieces, an M4A2). The 47 degree front from one piece of armorplating, is probably an M4A3 (but a small production of the M4A2 was also made with the steep frontplate). The M4A4 was lacking the transmission armor at the front, and the driver and co-driver had larger hoods (a good point to distinct the M4A4 from the M4A1 who also lacked the transmission armor.

Worlwide there are still hundreds of M4 Sherman tanks to be found. Some are no more than rusty carcasses, others stand as monument to hold the memory alive for the boys who perished in them. But there are also restored ones that are kept in running order. When tanks stand long time in one place, as a memorial, then you can find some in original state. But sometimes they need a refurbish and if the original parts can’t be found, they exchange them with parts from other models. When you come across such a Sherman, it’s very difficult to determine what type it original was.

The hull is welled version and can be every model, from an M4 to the M4A6. The last one is it not, because they were only produced in a small number. It lacks the transmission armour plate, so it’s also not an M4A3. The engine cover of the M4A3 was running almost as width as the tank was, the one in Avranches lacks this item. Could it be an M4A4? No, the one in Avranches has not the distinctive little bulge on the reardeck to give Chrysler A57 multibank more room.

The only possibility that remains is that the hull is an M4. The engine armour plate cover gives it away (together with the hole for the handcrank to turn the Continental R975 around).

The turret looks okay,… at first,… but the pistolport is missing on the left side. Only the M4A2 saw a batch produced where the pistolport was dropped. This must be a turret from an M4A2. The so called rotorshield at the base of the gunbarrel, is the small shield (M34). Later version would get the broad shield (M34A1). I have not seen evidence that there were turrets that lacked the pistolport had small shields, so this could be an adaptation (there is a lot of welding around the mantled of this tank).

Last ‘strange’ part on this turret is the hatch for the commander. This cupola has six M6 periscopes, plus one in the hatch, which were introduced on the later models. I wonder, is this cupola the original one, I still have to find evidence that M4A2 turrets were later equipped with these cupola’s.

In May 2013 I received a mail from Willem Keizer with information on the Sherman in Avranches. He pointed out the space between the wheels on the bogies, these were wider apart than those were at the M4,… It had to be an M4A4. Thye M4A4 was a bit longer, to house the large Multibank engine. Willem also gave me a web address link with a large part on the conversions of these types by the French. It became clear why I thought it was an M4, because of the armored plate on the rear deck, but, the French had during the conversion the Multibank removed, and replaced with the Continental R-975 engine! All of the changes were done by the French in December 1952, and they gave it the designation M4A4(T). And the Sherman in Avranches is one of these M4A4(T)’s (the ‘T’ stands for ‘Transformé’).

Above: the space between the wheels of the M4A4 is much wider than of the standard M4A1 (this M4A1 can be found in Bayeux, France). With this evidence, it is confirmed that the Sherman in Avranches was once a M4A4.

Below are some more details to be found from the M4 in Avranches. To most people the pictured tank is a Sherman. But is not that simple. And every M4 has it’s own specifics. During the production some new adaptations were introduces (but not enough to give it a new model number as well. The tank in Avranches is maybe not the ‘standard’ M4. However it's not imaginary that this Sherman once was driven in this configuration. But, we will probably never find out.

As you see, it is not that easy to distinct the Sherman tanks from each other. But I hope I give you some tips to determine an M4 when you come across one. Are you still in doubt, drop a message in my mailbox (with picture(s)), who knows, maybe I can help you.