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Вот такую полезную штуку нашел. Для диванных экспертов, вроде меня, самое то. Русский перевод нужен кому или итак все понятно?
Источник: "Sherman Tank: Rare Photographs from Wartime Archives" by Gavin Birch
MODEL M4
Featured welded hull, cast turret, and 75mm gun in an M34 gun mount. Vision slots were fitted into front hull. Differential (transmission) housing was three part, bolted together. The earliest examples, after standardization in October 1941 had the track return rollers mounted at the top centre on the bogies. Engine mounted was the Continental R975 9 Cylinder Radial. Production continued until January, 1944 and later models had the 75mm gun mounted in the M34A1 gun mount. The later M4’s also had the three piece differential cover replaced by the sharp nosed design manufactured as a one piece casting. Therefore later M4’s are often misidentified as M4A2 variants. Sand shields were factory fitted on the M4.
MODEL M4A1
Two months after the standardization of the M4 in 1941 came the M4A1 which featured a curved cast hull to lessen the impact of direct hits after testing raised concern. The first Sherman accepted into British Service ‘Michael’ was an example of this model and is illustrated in this book. It used the three piece bolted differential cover and also direct vision slots in the front of the hull. These did not rotate, hence ‘direct’ vision slot - front view only. The 75mm gun was again mounted in the M34 mount. Track return rollers were centred atop the bogies on early models and there were ports cut in the front of the hull to allow the bow mounting of two fixed .30 calibre machine guns. These were later sealed and deleted by end of 1941. The engine used was the Continental R975 Radial engine. Later production models rolled off the line with track return rollers moved to the rear of the bogies, a cast one piece rounded diff cover and appliqué armour neatly welded to the turret and hull sides for added protection of ammunition compartments within. Field applied additional armour plate usually has a much rougher welded seam where it had been applied to the hull. Some were factory fitted with gun travelling locks attached at the front of the hull.
MODEL M4A2
Also standardized in December of 1941 this model had a welded hull with a cast turret and looked similar to an M4. Power to propel the tank was provided by the twin General Motors 6-71 Diesel engines. Earliest production tanks had the 75mm M3 in an M34 mount with vision slots for driver and co-driver. Differential cover was of the three piece bolted type and it still retained the twin fixed .30 machine guns mounted in the bow. The track return rollers were centred atop the bogies. Later versions of the M4A2 used the return rollers mounted at the rear of the bogies. Complicating identification, some early models used the one piece differential cover too, and later models of the M4A2 used this cover exclusively. 75mm guns were later mounted in the M34A1 redesigned mount and appliqué armour was added. Plates were welded onto the hull as hatch guards, especially in front of the driver’s position on what has become known as the driver’s hood. Gun travelling locks were fitted, and sand shields, at the factory although did not last long in the field. Battlefield travel soon tore off various components of the bolt together sand shield, which was made of much thinner steel than the armoured hull. The very late model of the M4A2 used the 47 degree hull front armour plate, which produced a distinctive silhouette rising to the driver’s/ co-driver’s positions. Enlarged doors for the driver and co driver were added in this later production. The diff cover used on these very late production models was of the sharp nose type only. The best way to identify this variant is by looking at the rear deck layout as the diesel engined M4A2’s had a distinctive access hatch layout, of course not every photograph affords this opportunity!
( Read more... )
Источник: "Sherman Tank: Rare Photographs from Wartime Archives" by Gavin Birch
MODEL M4
Featured welded hull, cast turret, and 75mm gun in an M34 gun mount. Vision slots were fitted into front hull. Differential (transmission) housing was three part, bolted together. The earliest examples, after standardization in October 1941 had the track return rollers mounted at the top centre on the bogies. Engine mounted was the Continental R975 9 Cylinder Radial. Production continued until January, 1944 and later models had the 75mm gun mounted in the M34A1 gun mount. The later M4’s also had the three piece differential cover replaced by the sharp nosed design manufactured as a one piece casting. Therefore later M4’s are often misidentified as M4A2 variants. Sand shields were factory fitted on the M4.
MODEL M4A1
Two months after the standardization of the M4 in 1941 came the M4A1 which featured a curved cast hull to lessen the impact of direct hits after testing raised concern. The first Sherman accepted into British Service ‘Michael’ was an example of this model and is illustrated in this book. It used the three piece bolted differential cover and also direct vision slots in the front of the hull. These did not rotate, hence ‘direct’ vision slot - front view only. The 75mm gun was again mounted in the M34 mount. Track return rollers were centred atop the bogies on early models and there were ports cut in the front of the hull to allow the bow mounting of two fixed .30 calibre machine guns. These were later sealed and deleted by end of 1941. The engine used was the Continental R975 Radial engine. Later production models rolled off the line with track return rollers moved to the rear of the bogies, a cast one piece rounded diff cover and appliqué armour neatly welded to the turret and hull sides for added protection of ammunition compartments within. Field applied additional armour plate usually has a much rougher welded seam where it had been applied to the hull. Some were factory fitted with gun travelling locks attached at the front of the hull.
MODEL M4A2
Also standardized in December of 1941 this model had a welded hull with a cast turret and looked similar to an M4. Power to propel the tank was provided by the twin General Motors 6-71 Diesel engines. Earliest production tanks had the 75mm M3 in an M34 mount with vision slots for driver and co-driver. Differential cover was of the three piece bolted type and it still retained the twin fixed .30 machine guns mounted in the bow. The track return rollers were centred atop the bogies. Later versions of the M4A2 used the return rollers mounted at the rear of the bogies. Complicating identification, some early models used the one piece differential cover too, and later models of the M4A2 used this cover exclusively. 75mm guns were later mounted in the M34A1 redesigned mount and appliqué armour was added. Plates were welded onto the hull as hatch guards, especially in front of the driver’s position on what has become known as the driver’s hood. Gun travelling locks were fitted, and sand shields, at the factory although did not last long in the field. Battlefield travel soon tore off various components of the bolt together sand shield, which was made of much thinner steel than the armoured hull. The very late model of the M4A2 used the 47 degree hull front armour plate, which produced a distinctive silhouette rising to the driver’s/ co-driver’s positions. Enlarged doors for the driver and co driver were added in this later production. The diff cover used on these very late production models was of the sharp nose type only. The best way to identify this variant is by looking at the rear deck layout as the diesel engined M4A2’s had a distinctive access hatch layout, of course not every photograph affords this opportunity!
( Read more... )
