M4A3, Tank, Medium, 75mm "Sherman"

In the fall of 1941, the M4 Sherman medium tank was adopted by the U.S. Army to replace the M2 and M3 tanks then in service. It became the standard tank of the U.S. military during the war and was supplied to multiple Allied nations, with between 40,000 and 50,000 M4s built by the end of the war. The 75mm M4 Sherman appeared in several models and was distinguished chiefly by the five separate engines used to meet production demands. By 1944, newer German armor had surpassed the M4, prompting modifications that included a new high-velocity 76mm gun, a new turret, better armor, and wider tracks. The M4A3, designated for its Ford engine, was first introduced in 1942; armed with a medium-velocity 75mm gun, it became a staple of U.S. armored forces. M4A3s built by Fisher Tank Arsenal in 1944-1945 also included wet stowage for main gun ammunition to reduce the chance of ammunition exploding when the tank was hit by hostile fire. Although 75mm M4s were not suitable for action in Europe, they continued to serve in other parts of the world where enemy armor was weaker or absent. This M4A3 had stood outside a VFW building before being accepted by the Fort Snelling Military Museum, and it was transferred to the Army Transportation Museum in 2012.

Newport News, Virginia · United States