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Sherman Mk.V
(UK10) was
the British designation for the M4A4 which was produced
from June 1942 until September 1943. Due to a general
engine shortage, a five car- engine "Multibank" system
was adopted, with a total 7,499 vehicles being built.
As a result it was longer by165mm, heavier at 39.8tons
and slower with a maximum speed of 25mph than the other
Sherman variants.Resultantly it was rejected by the
US Army and Marines.
Hence this 30
cylinder expedient became the main Sherman variant supplied
under Lend-Lease to the British. It proved however to
be quite suitable and was used in large numbers; the
8th Army in Italy alone recieved 1,600 in 1943, and
they would be used on all fronts with Commonwealth forces
until the end of hostilities.
This then became
the natural choice for the conversions for the new 17pdr,
although both the M4 (Firefly Ic) and M4 Hybrid (Firefly
Hybrid Ic)(UK33) were
also converted. No other Shermans were converted contrary
to some published sources.
Over 2,000
were converted from January 1944 with approximately
200 available on D-Day.
Note
that all models with the 17pdr. barrel now come with
a metal reinforced rod within the casting. Also available
is an aluminium turned barrel as BAR17.
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