Miguel Sánchez
SHERMAN TANK PHOTOS: BRING A TRAILER
The term "planet”Is one of the most used in motorsport. Not really so much to refer to the size of the car, but rather to a difficult balance of features. After all, any car "planet"Of the segment"planet”It has to offer good consumption, but also power. Habitability, without being at odds with an attractive design and, of course, reliability even after coming out of mass production. Oh, and it also has to be very profitable for the company.
In short, a squaring of the circle where nothing stands out but everything is coherent and efficient. In motorsport this is perfectly represented by models such as the Mini or the Golf. But what about military engineering? Who gets this credit? Well then, an interesting candidate could be the Sherman tank. Thought to gain the lead over the Axis during World War II, with this classic tank the United States of America achieved a noticeable advantage in battles such as El Alamein or Sicilia.
Places where the Sherman tank showed characteristics of a medium model, combining the mobility of the light ones with the armor and armament of the heavy ones. A formula of success that during World War II defined the three decisive tanks in it: the Soviet T-34, the German Panzer-IV and the M4 Sherman itself. Vehicles that are not usually seen in the second-hand market, even less with the magnificent condition in which this classic tank that we find on the portal is found Bring a trailer.
SHERMAN TANK. ACE OF THE ARMORED DIVISION
"The armored division is specially organized to carry out missions that require great mobility and firepower. They are given decisive missions… their main function is against areas with a hostile enemy retreat ”. These lines from the US Army Field Manual 100-5 summarize what the Sherman tank was created for. As a prominent member of these divisions, he had to move easily through all kinds of battlefields, being able to defeat any rival of the Axis powers with his weapons.
Under this premise, the first Sherman tank went into production at the beginning of 1942. A time when, free from Nazi bombing, American automobile plants adapted for war production. A transformation that managed to assemble almost 50.000 units until February 1944. A titanic effort, even more so if we count on the fact that each of these armored vehicles weighs between 30 and 38 tons depending on the version and gunnery equipment. A beast that, in the diesel versions, mounts a nine-cylinder radial engine, while in the gasoline versions it equips a Ford V8.
Of course, making separate mention for the M4A4 version of the Sherman tank, which equips a 30-cylinder Chrysler. Curiously, it was not the most powerful, although, like all of this classic tank, they moved in a range that goes from 370 to 400CV. A horsepower assumed by its five-speed manual transmission plus reverse gear, another point in favor of its maneuverability. Nevertheless, the most important thing was, without a doubt, its armor. Improved in its weak points during the fight, it created great headaches in some Nazi gunners surprised by the good resistance of the Sherman tank under enemy fire.
A CLASSIC FOR THE ROADS
Able to house 5 people and with a great capacity for roads. Put like that, it seems that we are talking about a current SUV. However, those are two features that are featured in the advertisement for this Sherman tank. In fact, the roads are very important, since the only thing this perfectly restored unit is missing is a set of rubber blocks to make the tracks run on asphalt. Beyond this detail, the truth is that the 4 M1A1943 sold a few days ago by the Wob Cars dealer for $ 480.000 -404.594 euros-.
Obviously you will not be able to go shopping with this Sherman tank, but if you think that the homologation problem would come from the armament you are in error. Like painting, both the 50 caliber machine gun and the 30 caliber pistol are mere inoperative reproductions. Small details that cannot distract from the good condition of its original parts, especially its radial engine, being one of the less than twenty M4A1s still in operation.
Something easy to understand when you know the history of these vehicles, exposed to all kinds of battles. Something that this unit did not experience, which was used for armor testing. Happily restored, it has been preserved for decades in California, where just found a new owner that, hopefully, you don't decide to rush through a traffic jam aboard this piece of WWII history. A very interesting classic, even if it doesn't have four wheels.
