The M4A4 Sherman (Sherman V in the British naming system) had a welded hull with a Chrysler A57 multibank motor. The motor was made from combining five car engines in one crankcase. As complicated as this sounds, it was produced in large numbers. The US Army limited its use to stateside training duty, but the British found it more reliable than their native power plants and liked it. The M4A4 never got the improved large hatch hull or the T23 turret with its 76mm M1 gun. Most were shipped to the UK via lend-lease and many were turned into VC Fireflies, making it the most common Firefly type. The M4A4 had a longer hull and was the first Sherman version to go out of production. A total of 7,499 were built between July 42 and November 43. The M4A4 served with more nations than any other version, including Britain, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, Czechoslovakia, India, China, Free French, Free Polish and the US.
Based on the M4A4 Sherman, the British Firefly VC was fitted with the powerful 3-inch (76.2mm) calibre 17-pounder anti-tank gun as its main weapon. Originally conceived as a stopgap until future British tank designs came into service, the Firefly VC became the most common vehicle mounting the 17-pounder in the war. It was put into production in early 1944, in time to equip Field Marshal Montgomery’s 21st Army Group for the Normandy landings. It soon became highly valued, as its gun could almost always penetrate the armour of the Panther and Tiger tanks it faced in Normandy. In recognition of this, German tank and anti-tank gun crews were instructed to attack Fireflies first. Due to the Firefly having a visibly longer barrel, crews tried to camouflage it so that the tank would look like a normal 75mm-gun Sherman from a distance. Approximately 2,000 Firefly VC were manufactured before production wound down in 1945.
Product Highlights:
- Choice to build either a M4A4 (Sherman V) or Firefly VC
- Open or closed command & crew hatches
- Tank crew figures included
