Ordnance – M4 Sherman Tank in the Pacific War
Once again, we come upon a piece of ordnance that is more well-known in the European Theater, but did get use in the Pacific – the M4 Sherman Tank, named by the British for the American General William Tecumseh Sherman (February 8, 1820 – February 14, 1891).
The M4 Sherman pilot unit was assembled by Lima Locomotive works in February 1942 varying from the T6 mainly in the removal of the hull side doors. Total manufacturing in 3 factories, Lima, Pressed Steel, and Pacific Car & Foundry began the next month, every one of these original manufacturing models being cast hull tanks, named M4A1.
In the Pacific Theater, the Japanese fought fanatically, but were hampered by obsolete and inferior weapons of all types, the Shermans clearly outclassed enemy light tanks.
The M4 Sherman in the Pacific Theater first saw combat was at Tarawa Atoll in 1943 where it fought against Japanese tanks such as the Type 97 Chi-Ha. In this area of operations, the Shermans were better than the Chi-Ha due to the Sherman’s armor was thicker and the M4 Sherman also had better firepower. The Japanese Army began develop countermeasures to take out Shermans such as the Towed 47mm Guns that were capable to penetrate certain parts of its armor at shorter distances, however, other methods were used under extreme measures such as soldiers who voluntarily used Type 99 hand-thrown Mines or Lunge Mines.
The M4Could be easily be adapted for a variety of different uses, such as: the Mark 1 flamethrower which could throw napalm 150 yards; fitted with floatation screens for amphibious landings; plows; additional firepower; steel teeth to push through hedgerows and Sherman ‘Crab’ fitted with rotating chains to detonate land mines.
While only a bit over 49,000 M4’s being produced, half of that production and the other variants were given to other Allied Nations, including Great Britain, France and the Soviet Union under the Lend Lease Program.
Later, in the Korean War, an astute soldier realized that 1950 was the Chinese Year of the Tiger. Word went out for tanks crews to paint tiger faces on the front of their tanks instead of the usual camouflage. The idea was that “superstitious” Chinese would not shoot at them for fear of ‘bad luck’ or
the very least hesitate long enough for the tankers to get the first shot off.
The 5th Regimental Combat Team, known as the Bobcats got the most frightening and complete tiger scheme. But once the Chinese New Year passed in March 1951, the tanks were painted over, so the results of this psychological scheme is difficult to find.
The American Heritage Museum has been restored and re-painted, by Dan Wrightington, exactly as the 5th RCT’s M4A3 appeared in combat January 1951 near Inchon.
For further data on the Sherman in the Pacific, the book by Raymond Giuliani, shows the extraordinary metamorphosis of the famous American tank, its first disastrous engagement on “Bloody Atoll” Tarawa, in the island of Okinawa, the last bastion of the Rising Sun. The terrible experience of fire against an enemy, as brave as fanatical, required Americans to adapt and transform the Sherman to resist and win the war.
Resources: WWII History magazine, The Collins Foundation & the American Heritage Museum yearly report; and WWII Weapons.com
CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE.
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Military Humor –
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Farewell Salutes –
Elwood Culp – Hazelton, PA; US Navy, WWII, PC-491, radarman
Arthur ‘Jerry’ Hamilton Jr. – UT; US Army, Japanese Occupation
Irene Ladish – Knoxville, TN; US Navy WAVES, WWII
John Le Carre (David Cornwell) – Poole, ENG; British Army, Intelligence Group, German Occupation / MI5
Jack Robinson – Fort Wright, KY; US Army, WWII
John Stevenson – Paris, TX; US Navy, WWII
Patricia Truitt – Kelso, WA; Cadet Nursing Corps, WWII
Merl Utsler – Winterset, IA; US Coast Guard, WWII
Norman Winterhoff – Asheville, OH; US Army, WWII / US Navy, Chaplin, Commander (Ret. 22 y.)
James Yeatts – Chesterfield, VA; US Army, WWII, ETO, Cpl., Forward Observer, 188th Field Artillery Battalion
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Posted on December 17, 2020, in Korean War, Post WWII, Uncategorized, WWII and tagged Army, family history, History, M4 Sherman Tank, Marines, Military, Military History, Pacific, Pacific War, veterans, WW2, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 99 Comments.
Reblogged this on Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News.
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Thank you, Ned!
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While I have heard of the Sherman tanks, I never realized they were painted like tigers to scare the Chinese. Would be interesting to know if that had any effect. Also had no idea there were 49,000 of them scattered around the world. You find out amazing things!
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I have amazing contacts that help with that information, Bev. I sure can’t take the credit!! (But thanks! 🧐)
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I would not enjoy being inside the tanks! Lol
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I’ve never been in one, so I can’t say, but to me it sounds safer than and easier than walking.
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😀
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A perfect camouflage!
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Ya can’t help but love it, eh?!!
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Have a very Merry Christmas, GP!
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And you as well Anna!
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Another fascinating post. I watched a program on those mine busters, what an incredible machine. Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you for stopping by to read this, Mark!
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You are most welcome. I always enjoy yours interesting posts.
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I appreciate you saying so, Mark!
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“Later, in the Korean War, an astute soldier realized that 1950 was the Chinese Year of the Tiger. Word went out for tanks crews to paint tiger faces on the front of their tanks instead of the usual camouflage. The idea was that “superstitious” Chinese would not shoot at them for fear of ‘bad luck’ ” was a very good observation!
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At the very least, maybe they would hesitate before shooting – in war you look for any edge at all!!
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When I was growing up, the Sherman tank was frequently used as a comparator. It was interesting to learn some details about it.
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She had her faults, but she was unique and and formidable weapon, that’s for sure.
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In case you think the only Marines in the PIs in WWII were fighter pilots and POWs of
Japanese army here is a bit of 411. Marine Howitzer teams were utilized by the 11th AB
on Leyte. I heard a few paratroopers blamed them for friendly fire casualties but that is
not substantiated at all!
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Thank you for that info, CP. I appreciate you stopping by to include us in your day! I’ll look into that.
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Hence the expression: “She’s built like a Sherman Tank!”
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Yes, I suppose so. I hadn’t thought of that, Allen, thanks!
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These tanks would have made General Sherman proud of his name sake.
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I do believe you’re quite right!!
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Reblogged this on depolreablesunite.
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Thank you, Rick.
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I know a few places in Belgium where is standing a sherman to remember at WOII. and the people who helps us for liberation. That they are painting the shuman in the Koreon world as a tigre was unknown for me. “ Superstitious”can help in that part of the world.
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I am very happy to know that Sherman tanks are still around in Europe. Thank you for telling me.
It seems the Tiger tanks were a bit of a surprise to many.
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Remember so many films and photographs showing the Sherman and its flamethrower.
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Yes – It was especially useful for the bunkers and caves when the translators couldn’t talk the enemy into coming out and giving up.
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Hello GP, I Wanted To Wish You A Merry Christmas And Happy New Year 2021 ! I Rest My Case For Awhile, Tomorrow I Receive A Special Guest..A Cat, I Share That Because I Will Face The Unknown..And I’m Puzzle By It Right Now, The Only Cat I Know Is Garfield And I Suppose Lasagna Will Do lol. Thanks Again GP For Your Irremplacable Friendship !
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I thank you very much for the Holiday Cheer and hope that you and yours will also have a Season of Joy to remember!
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I think faced with a tank, whether you hesitate or not your luck has most likely just run out anyway. What else could be worse for the lightly armed Japanese soldier I wonder.
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You’ve got me there!!
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Hello my friend. I want to thank you for helping me with my father. He never spoke of WW2. We had photos and silence. Some men could hide away the war. He did. He accomplished many things and was a preacher in the church for 40 years. We must remember the cost of freedom and I love your site. I hope you are doing well and staying safe.
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Yes, I am following the guidelines and hanging in there. I so appreciate your words about your father. I never thought when I first started this site about my dad and his unit that I would help anyone to understand their own. You are not the only person to say such a thing and I tear up when I do. Thank you very much for letting me know I’ve helped in some small way!
Thank you for your service as well!!
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You helped me and my family more then you will know. I do appreciate and you are welcome my friend.
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👍
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Same here!
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I didn’t know Sherman tanks were so versatile, and the tiger paintings was such a brilliant idea. It’s a shamed nobody recorded the effect of it.
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True. I think it would have been interesting to see that.
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I wonder if anyone thought of doing a study on them; it’s such a unique case.
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I don’t think enough was reported.
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That’s a shame.
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As others have mentioned I think it would be very claustrophobic inside a tank. However if that is where one needs to be then a Sherman tank sounds like a good choice.
I think the idea of the tiger face painting is intriguing. Are there reports of the distraction method actually working?
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No, Being as the paint jobs (and there were different designs) were not on for even a full year, no specific results were collected.
Hard to believe our USMC is now preparing to become completely tankless.
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I didn’t know that GP. Hard to imagine it.
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The Japanese tanks certainly don’t look the part, do they? I’ve always wondered why they didn’t ask the Germans to build Panzers under licence as they were clearly better than what they had. Perhaps it all stemmed from how difficult jungle terrain was, and that many of the heavier tanks would have just got bogged down.
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The jungles and mountainous areas were all a problem for tanks, but sometimes they proved to be problem solvers. The Japanese and Germans were passing engineering plans back and forth, so the only reason I can think of off hand as to why they were stuck with old tanks is their lack of metal resources.
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My idea of hell would be to be crammed into a tank . God bless the tankers but my clautrophobia wouldn’t be a good match with that kind of duty.
I think that there must still be a lot of those tanks strewn around some of those Pacific islands , left by the American military rather than carting them back home .
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Oh, I wouldn’t want to count how many, Dan!
I guess your claustrophobia cancels out submarines too, eh?
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Aw… now you’ve gone and done it. First you get me interested in old planes — and now I like tanks too. LOL. This is terrific, GP. Hugs on the wing!
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Maybe one day they’ll all come to life in a story from you, eh?! (Just kidding).
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LOL. Hmmm… maybe clockwork planes, tanks, and automobiles… an anime maybe. 😉
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Planes, tanks and JEEPS. 😉
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I did not know about the use of the Tiger motor in the Korean War. This was a terrific article, GP
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I’m very happy to hear that, John.
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That is a powerful piece of machinery! Just the sound of it coming towards you could make you tremble. It mowed down everything in its path, just like Tecumseh Sherman burning his way through the South.
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haha, that’s about the size of it, Rose! Thanks for coming by today!!
Stay safe, my friend!
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For the tank crews, painting a rabbit on the tanks for 1951 Year of the Rabbit was probably too much to ask. 😄
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They’d probably end up being shot at for dinner. 🤪
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The Tiger was a great idea. I expect you are aware that Churchill invented the tank during WWI – it had come on a long way with the Sherman
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I always wondered about that. Why was the Lord of the Admiralty concerned with a land weapon? So I checked it out at the Churchill Project….
https://winstonchurchill.hillsdale.edu/the-tank/
and found in short….
“Ernest Swinton was the father of the tank, but Churchill made it happen because of his vision and influence, even after he had been sacked from the Admiralty over the Dardanelles-Gallipoli episode.”
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Yes – I believe Churchill had the idea and demanded its implementation.
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Thanks for continuing this series. I didn’t know the Sherman made it into the Pacific. This was an interesting bit of history. I have so many books on WWII, I am amazed when I read something here I never read about before. Thanks, As always for the terrific information.
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Sure think, Dan. Let’s hope I continue to find stories that are new to you!!
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Maligned in Europe, a superstar in the Pacific…
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The terrain was often quite a project for a tank, but they sure helped!
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Reblogged this on John Cowgill's Literature Site.
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Much appreciated, John!
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Happy to do it.
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All the more reason to get to the American Heritage Museum!
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Oh, they have so much being restored right now. They are always adding on!!
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I know! Like the only surviving fighter plane from Pearl Harbor. It is definitely on my list! Thanks, GP.
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Off topic…
I got mail.
Merry Christmas also.
Hoping 2021 will bring all people together again.
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We can hope – can’t we?! Glad the mail got through!!
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Thanks for adding that bit of history GP. Never thought of the Sherman as a Tiger before !
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I don’t think the Chinese did either! lol
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There’s one in a country museum down here, they were also given to Australia and some have been preserved by collectors. I have noted the movies Kelly’s Heroes and Fury have a Sherman. I wonder that the Japanese had planned on a short war and weren’t then focussed on their military tech? They took Malaysia and Singapore with light tanks for jungle use but these, I assume, are useless in open battle?
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They were too old. Not up to confronting new technology.
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Like Napoleon, stretched too far then.
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I love the idea of painting the Sherman in Tiger colors for the Lunar New Year. Great picture. This was a very informative post. When I click on the first cartoon, where it looks like there is laundry flapping from the gun, I get a close-up of the Hooters cartoon, which is also a very funny cartoon.
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That’s a big WHOOPS!, Pat. There was laundry hanging from the tank, so I’d better fix that. Thanks for letting me know!
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For those of us who have no real idea of war, that the word “only” could be applied to 49,000 of those fearsome M4 ordnance being manufactured, lends some scope – given we all know generally, of the Sherman Tank.
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When you take a look at a map or globe and take in just how large WWII really was in area – 49,000 of anything spread around the world ? When most people think of WWII they have Pearl Harbor and Europe in mind, but it was so much larger than that.
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Yes, the whole wide world. It is still hard to fathom from an armchair, such evil when 49000 of such machinery, is deemed almost insignificant. That is why putting it forward as in your blog, is important.
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Thank you. Sorry to say, it’s a big and often very bad world out there.
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Indeed a great tank. Thank you for sharing the information, GP! Enjoy your day! Michael
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Thank you, Michael. If you check it out, the German tank was quite a piece of machinery – a formidable weapon.
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I remember a documentation about it. There was also one invented by Porsche, but this more for laughter. 😉
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The British Army used these tanks extensively after D-Day. They had a tendency to catch fire when hit by German anti-tank rounds though. The Germans gave them the grisly nickname of ‘Tommy-Cookers’ as a result.
Best wishes, Pete.
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That would certainly be an awful way to end! There always seems to be good and bad in everything, isn’t there?
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Thank you, Ian!
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Thank you!
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Thank you, Ned.
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