The M4 Sherman was an American medium tank from the Second World War. The first prototypes were built in 1941, and serial production was carried out in the period 1942-1945. In total, about 49,000 copies of this tank of all versions were created, which makes it one of the most produced tanks of the Second World War and the most important tank in the equipment of the Allied armies during this conflict. The M4 Sherman was powered by a single engine version of the M4A1 Continental R 975 C4 with a power of 400 hp . The vehicle was armed with - depending on the version - a single 75mm M3 cannon or a 76mm M1 cannon or a 105mm M4 howitzer and two 7.62mm Browning1919A machine guns.
The M4 Sherman was developed as the successor to the M2 and M3 tanks, although it used many of the latter's components. First of all, it only used a slightly changed chassis of the M3 Lee car. When designing the M4 Sherman, the emphasis was primarily on playing the role of an infantry support vehicle, and not fighting enemy tanks - this was the role of American tank destroyers. Only possible clashes with the carts were assumed Pz.Kpfw III and Pz.Kpfw IV. A significant role was also played in the mass production of the new tank and the lowest possible production costs. The result was a tank with good armament for 1942 and early 1943, average armor, but with a tilted front plate, but also with poor maneuverability and - especially in the first versions - very susceptible to fire as a result of hitting the engine compartment . At the same time, however, a tank was created that could be truly large-scale production and had a significant modernization potential. Many development versions were created in the course of serial production M4 Sherman. Chronologically the first was the M4A1 version that already had a cast armor. Another - M4A2 - had welded armor and a new General Motors 6460 engine with 375-410hp, but much less prone to fire. A version of the M4A3 also appeared, armed with a 105 mm howitzer and powered by a Ford GAA engine with a capacity of 450 HP. Based on the M4A3 version, two sub-versions were created: the M4A3E2 Jumbo with reinforced armor and the M4A3E8 with the HVSS and 76mm gun. An interesting development version was also the T34 Calliope with mounted missiles not guided on the turret. The M4 Sherman was also supplied in huge numbers to the British and Red Army. The former developed a version of the Firefly based on it, with a great 17-pounder anti-tank gun. During World War II, M4 Sherman tanks fought in North Africa (1942-1943), Italy (1943-1945), during the battles in Normandy, France and West Germany (1944-1945), but also in the Pacific or in the ranks The Red Army on the Eastern Front. After World War II, the M4 Sherman was used in many countries, including Argentina, Belgium, India, Israel, Japan, Pakistan and Turkey. He also took part in many post-1945 conflicts, including the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 and the Six-Day War of 1967.
The Battle of El Alamein, or actually the Second Battle of El Alamein, stayed carried out in the period from October 23 to November 4, 1943. The battle was fought between the German-Italian troops and the British units, supported, however, to a significant extent by Australian, New Zealand and South African troops. It is assumed that about 116 thousand people fought on the side of the Axis countries. people supported by approx. 550 tanks and approx. 800-900 aircraft. On the British side, around 195,000 people fought. people, supported by approx. 1,100 tanks and approx. 750 aircraft. The Second Battle of El Alamein was a kind of continuation of the battle, known as the 1st Battle of El Alamein in July 1942. As a result of this second battle, the Axis offensive towards the Suez Canal was slowed down and finally stopped. On the other hand, the struggle of October-November 1942 was a British offensive to the west, intended to completely push the enemy out of Egypt. It can be assumed that the commander of this battle on the British side - field marshal Bernard Law Montgomery - won mainly thanks to the material advantage and much better logistics. Undoubtedly, however, the British commander, aware of his advantages, decisively used them and led to a decisive victory for his troops, winning the greatest victory in his career. Axis troops lost at least 30,000. people (killed, wounded and captured) and about 500 tanks. The British lost approx. 13-14 thousand. people and about 330 tanks.