M4 Sherman Medium Tank – Bolt Action WWII 28mm Vehicle
M4 Sherman Medium Tank
Bolt Action WWII 28mm Vehicle – The Workhorse of Allied Armored Divisions
🔥 "The Arsenal of Democracy" – The Tank That Won the War 🔥
The North African desert trembled as hundreds of Sherman tanks roared toward the German lines at El Alamein. British tank commander Thomas Williams peered through his periscope at the enemy positions ahead. His crew had received their new American-built M4 just weeks before, and despite initial skepticism, they had quickly come to appreciate its reliability and power.
"Driver, maintain course. Gunner, target the anti-tank position at two o'clock," Williams ordered, as the Sherman's 75mm gun traversed smoothly in its powered turret—a revolutionary feature compared to the manual turrets they had struggled with before. As the tank battalions advanced in waves across the desert, the tide of war was turning. The Sherman might not have been the most heavily armored or armed tank of the war, but what it lacked in individual might, it made up for in overwhelming numbers and mechanical reliability. The "Ronson lighters," as they were sometimes grimly nicknamed, would become the backbone of Allied armored warfare—the tank that helped win the war through industrial might and logistical superiority.
"The Sherman tank was the most important weapon in winning World War II for the allies, so enormous was their output. On D-Day, British and Canadian forces landed with 2,100 tanks, many of which were, of course, American Shermans. The Americans landed with 5,000 tanks, all of which were Shermans."
The Backbone of Allied Armor 🎖️
Add the iconic M4 Sherman medium tank to your Allied forces with this detailed 1/56 scale model kit. The most produced American tank of World War II, the Sherman represented a revolutionary step forward when it first saw action with the British at El Alamein, featuring a powerful 75mm gun in a fully traversing powered turret.
The original M4 variant showcased all the qualities that made the Sherman legendary: exceptional reliability, ease of maintenance, decent speed, and superior crew ergonomics. These characteristics, combined with America's massive industrial capacity, made the Sherman the mainstay of American armored forces and a crucial factor in the Allied victory in Europe, particularly during the breakout from the Normandy beaches.
In games of Bolt Action, the M4 Sherman is classified as a medium tank with a medium anti-tank gun that benefits from the Improved HE rule, making it effective against both armor and infantry targets. It can be included in Armoured Platoons, forming the backbone of your Allied armored forces just as it did in the actual conflict.
✨ Key Features:
- Battlefield Versatility - Effective against both armor and infantry with Improved HE rule
- Historical Significance - The most produced and widely used Allied tank of WWII
- Multi-National Use - Suitable for US, British, Free French, and other Allied forces
- Tactical Flexibility - Perfect for balanced forces and combined arms approaches
- Authentic Details - Accurate representation of the original M4 variant
- Multi-Game Use - Compatible with both Bolt Action and Achtung Panzer! games
📊 Technical Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Medium Tank, M4 (later designated Sherman I by the British) |
| Crew | 5 (Commander, Gunner, Loader, Driver, Co-Driver/Bow Gunner) |
| Weight | 33 tons (30 tonnes) |
| Length | 19 ft 2 in (5.84 m) |
| Width | 8 ft 7 in (2.62 m) |
| Height | 9 ft (2.74 m) |
| Main Armament | 75 mm M3 gun (90 rounds) |
| Secondary Armament | 2 × .30-06 Browning M1919A4 machine guns (bow and coaxial) 1 × .50 caliber Browning M2HB machine gun (commander's cupola) |
| Engine | Continental R975 radial engine, 400 hp (early production) |
| Maximum Speed | 24 mph (39 km/h) on roads |
| Operational Range | 120 miles (193 km) |
| Armor | Front: 76mm; Sides: 51mm; Rear: 38mm; Top/Bottom: 25mm |
| Production | Over 49,000 Sherman tanks of all variants produced during WWII |
📦 Box Contents
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Main Kit | One 1/56 scale plastic M4 Sherman tank |
| Gaming Materials | Bolt Action stat cards for quick reference during games |
| Documentation | Detailed assembly guide |
| Markings | Full-color waterslide decal sheet for authentic unit markings |
| Game Accessories | Damage markers for tracking vehicle status during gameplay |
The Sherman Family
The M4 Sherman evolved throughout the war, spawning numerous variants and specialized versions:
M4 (Original)
The initial production model with the Continental R975 radial engine and distinctive high silhouette. Featured a cast, rounded hull front and the 75mm M3 gun. This is the variant represented by this model kit.
M4A1
Similar to the M4 but with a fully cast upper hull instead of welded construction, giving it a more rounded appearance. Still powered by the Continental R975 radial engine.
M4A2
Fitted with twin General Motors 6-71 diesel engines, primarily supplied to the Soviet Union through Lend-Lease and to the US Marine Corps for use in the Pacific Theater.
M4A3
Powered by the Ford GAA V8 engine, this became the standard late-war US Army Sherman. Later versions featured improved armor protection and the more powerful 76mm gun.
M4A4
Equipped with the Chrysler A57 multibank engine (five car engines working together), this variant had an extended hull and was primarily supplied to British forces as the Sherman V.
Firefly
British conversion that replaced the 75mm gun with the powerful 17-pounder anti-tank gun, creating one of the few Allied tanks capable of reliably penetrating Panther and Tiger armor from combat ranges.
⏳ Sherman Combat Timeline
Production of the M4 Sherman begins, developed as a successor to the M3 Lee/Grant medium tank. The new design features a fully traversing turret with a 75mm gun, representing a significant improvement over its predecessor.
M4 Shermans see their first combat action with the British Eighth Army at the Battle of El Alamein in North Africa. The British christen the tank the "Sherman," a name later adopted by American forces as well.
Shermans prove effective in Tunisia and Sicily, though encounters with heavier German tanks like the Tiger I reveal limitations in armor and firepower. Production ramps up dramatically as the Sherman becomes the standard Allied medium tank.
Thousands of Shermans participate in the D-Day landings and subsequent Normandy campaign. Despite vulnerability to German anti-tank weapons, the sheer number of Shermans and their mechanical reliability prove decisive in the Allied breakout.
Shermans play a crucial role in defeating the German Ardennes Offensive (Battle of the Bulge) and the subsequent advance into Germany. Improved variants with better armor and more powerful guns, including the British Firefly conversion with its 17-pounder gun, help counter heavier German tanks.
By war's end, over 49,000 Shermans of all variants have been produced—more than all German tank production combined. The Sherman's legacy continues long after WWII, serving with dozens of nations well into the Cold War era, with some modified versions fighting as late as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War.
Bolt Action Game Statistics
Damage Value (Medium Tank)
Main Gun
Improved HE Special Rule
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