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Sherman Mk.V
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 hull
also became the main source for the Firefly conversion;
the Firefly Vc (UK01),
and also for some ARV's as the Sherman (Mk.V ) Armoured
Recovery Vehicle Mk.I (UK79).
The British had shipped Mk.V's
to India for the forthcomming advance against Japanese
held Burma. However the US Govt. requested the return
of these vehicles in order to equip Chinese Provisional
Tank Battalions, several of which operated under American
advisors in China and Northern Burma. These were the
only M4A4's used outwith British Commonwealth forces.
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