In Box Review of Italerei 1/35th Scale
Sherman M4A1 Allied Standard Tank
Kit no. N.225
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1980
Available at two locations overseas on the web.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1980
Available at two locations overseas on the web.
HISTORY:
The M4 Sherman, officially Medium Tank, M4, was the most widely used medium tank by the United States and Western Allies in World War II. The M4 Sherman proved to be reliable, relatively cheap to produce, and available in great numbers. It was also the basis of several other armored fighting vehicles including self-propelled artillery, tank destroyers, and armored recovery vehicles.
Tens of thousands were distributed through the Lend-Lease program to the British Commonwealth and Soviet Union. The tank was named by the British after the American Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman.
The M4 Sherman evolved from the M3 Medium Tank, which – for speed of development – had its main armament in a side sponson mount. The M4 retained much of the previous mechanical design, but moved the main 75 mm gun into a fully traversing central turret. One feature, a one-axis gyrostabilizer, was not precise enough to allow firing when moving but did help keep the gun aimed in roughly the right direction for when the tank stopped to fire.
The designers stressed reliability, ease of production and maintenance, durability, standardization of parts and ammunition in a limited number of variants, and moderate size and weight (to facilitate shipping and for compatibility with existing bridging equipment size and weight limit restrictions. These factors, combined with Sherman's then-superior armor and armament, outclassed German light and medium tanks fielded in 1939–42. The M4 was the most-produced tank in American history, with 49,324 produced (including variants). During World War II, the Sherman spearheaded many offensives by the Allies after 1942.
When the M4 tank went into combat in North Africa with the British Army at the Second Battle of El Alamein in late 1942, it increased the advantage of Allied armor over Axis armor and was superior to the lighter German[11] and Italian tank designs. For this reason, the US Army believed that the M4 would be adequate to win the war, and relatively little pressure was initially exerted for further tank development.
Logistical and transport restrictions, such as limitations imposed by roads, ports, and bridges, also complicated the introduction of a more capable but heavier tank.
Tank destroyer battalions using vehicles built on the M4 hull and chassis, but with open-topped turrets and more potent high-velocity guns, also entered widespread use in the Allied armies. Even by 1944, most M4 Shermans kept their dual-purpose 75 mm gun. By then, the M4 was inferior in firepower and armor to increasing numbers of German upgraded medium tanks and heavy tanks but was able to fight on with the help of considerable numerical superiority, greater mechanical reliability, better logistical support, and support from growing numbers of fighter-bombers and artillery pieces.
Later in the war, a more effective armor-piercing gun, the 76 mm gun M1, was incorporated into production vehicles. For anti-tank work, the British refitted Shermans with a 76.2 mm Ordnance QF 17-pounder gun (as the Sherman Firefly). Some were fitted with a 105 mm gun to act as infantry support vehicles.
The relative ease of production allowed large numbers of the M4 to be manufactured, and significant investment in tank recovery and repair units allowed disabled vehicles to be repaired and returned to service quickly.
These factors combined to give the Allies numerical superiority in most battles, and many infantry divisions were provided with M4s and tank destroyers. By 1944, a typical U.S. infantry division had attached for armor support an M4 Sherman battalion, a tank destroyer battalion, or both.
After World War II, the Sherman, particularly the many improved and upgraded versions, continued to see combat service in many conflicts around the world, including the U.N forces in the Korean War, with Israel in the Arab–Israeli wars, briefly with South Vietnam in the Vietnam War, and on both sides of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Medium tank
Place of origin: United States
In service: 1942–2018, 1942–1957 (United States)
Used by: United States, and many others
Wars: World War II, Indonesian National Revolution, Greek Civil War, First Indochina War, 1948 Arab–Israeli War, Korean War, Cuban Revolution, Revolución Libertadora, Suez Crisis, 1958 Lebanon crisis, Nicaraguan Revolution, Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Six-Day War, Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, Yom Kippur War, Lebanese Civil War, Uganda–Tanzania War, Iran–Iraq War
Production history:
Designer: U.S. Army Ordnance Department
Designed: 1940
Manufacturer: American Locomotive Company, Baldwin Locomotive Works, Detroit Tank Arsenal, Federal Machine and Welder Company, Fisher Tank Arsenal, Ford Motor Company, Lima Locomotive Works, Pacific Car and Foundry Company, Pressed Steel Car Company, Pullman-Standard Car Company
Unit cost:$44,556–64,455 in 1945 dollars, depending upon variant ($607,861–879,336 in 2017 dollars)
Produced: September 1941 (prototype), February 1942 – July 1945
No. built: 49,234, excluding prototype
Mass: 66,800–84,000 lb (33.4–42.0 short tons, 30.3–38.1 tonnes) depending upon variant
Length: 19 ft 2 in–20 ft 7 in (5.84–6.27 m) depending upon variant
Width: 8 ft 7 in (2.62 m) to 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) depending upon variant
Height: 9 ft 0 in–9 ft 9 in (2.74–2.97 m) depending upon variant
Crew: 5 (commander, gunner, loader, driver, assistant driver/bow gunner)
Armor: 12.7 to 177.8 mm (0.50 to 7.00 in) depending on location and variant
Main
Armament 75 mm gun M3 (90–104 rounds) or 76 mm gun M1A1, M1A1C, or M1A2 (71 rounds) or 105 mm howitzer M4 (66 rounds)
Secondary armament: .50 caliber Browning M2HB machine gun (300–600 rounds), 2-4.30 caliber Browning M1919A4 machine guns (6,000–6,750 rounds) depending on variant
Engine: M4 and M4A1 model: Continental R975-C1 or -C4 9 cylinder radial gasoline engine, 350 or 400 hp (261 or 298 kW) at 2,400 rpm, M4A2 model: General Motors 6046 twin inline diesel engine; 375 hp (280 kW) at 2,100 rpm, M4A3 model: Ford GAA V8 gasoline engine; 450 hp (336 kW) at 2,600 rpm, M4A4 model: Chrysler A57 multibank ~(30 cylinder) gasoline engine; 370 hp (276 kW) at 2,400 rpm, M4A6 model: Caterpillar D-200A (Wright RD-1820) 9 cylinder radial diesel engine; 450 hp (336 kW) at 2,400 rpm.
Power/weight: 10.46–13.49 hp/short ton (8.60–11.09 kW/t) depending upon variant
Transmission: Spicer manual synchromesh transmission, 5 forward and 1 reverse gears
Suspension: Vertical volute spring suspension (VVSS) or horizontal volute spring suspension (HVSS)
Fuel capacity: 138–175 US gal (520–660 L; 115–146 imp gal) depending upon variant
Operational range: Road: 100–150 mi (160–240 km) depending upon variant, Cross-country: 60–100 mi (97–161 km) depending upon variant
Maximum speed: 22–30 mph (35–48 km/h) on road, 15–20 mph (24–32 km/h) off road depending upon variant.
The M4 Sherman, officially Medium Tank, M4, was the most widely used medium tank by the United States and Western Allies in World War II. The M4 Sherman proved to be reliable, relatively cheap to produce, and available in great numbers. It was also the basis of several other armored fighting vehicles including self-propelled artillery, tank destroyers, and armored recovery vehicles.
Tens of thousands were distributed through the Lend-Lease program to the British Commonwealth and Soviet Union. The tank was named by the British after the American Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman.
The M4 Sherman evolved from the M3 Medium Tank, which – for speed of development – had its main armament in a side sponson mount. The M4 retained much of the previous mechanical design, but moved the main 75 mm gun into a fully traversing central turret. One feature, a one-axis gyrostabilizer, was not precise enough to allow firing when moving but did help keep the gun aimed in roughly the right direction for when the tank stopped to fire.
The designers stressed reliability, ease of production and maintenance, durability, standardization of parts and ammunition in a limited number of variants, and moderate size and weight (to facilitate shipping and for compatibility with existing bridging equipment size and weight limit restrictions. These factors, combined with Sherman's then-superior armor and armament, outclassed German light and medium tanks fielded in 1939–42. The M4 was the most-produced tank in American history, with 49,324 produced (including variants). During World War II, the Sherman spearheaded many offensives by the Allies after 1942.
When the M4 tank went into combat in North Africa with the British Army at the Second Battle of El Alamein in late 1942, it increased the advantage of Allied armor over Axis armor and was superior to the lighter German[11] and Italian tank designs. For this reason, the US Army believed that the M4 would be adequate to win the war, and relatively little pressure was initially exerted for further tank development.
Logistical and transport restrictions, such as limitations imposed by roads, ports, and bridges, also complicated the introduction of a more capable but heavier tank.
Tank destroyer battalions using vehicles built on the M4 hull and chassis, but with open-topped turrets and more potent high-velocity guns, also entered widespread use in the Allied armies. Even by 1944, most M4 Shermans kept their dual-purpose 75 mm gun. By then, the M4 was inferior in firepower and armor to increasing numbers of German upgraded medium tanks and heavy tanks but was able to fight on with the help of considerable numerical superiority, greater mechanical reliability, better logistical support, and support from growing numbers of fighter-bombers and artillery pieces.
Later in the war, a more effective armor-piercing gun, the 76 mm gun M1, was incorporated into production vehicles. For anti-tank work, the British refitted Shermans with a 76.2 mm Ordnance QF 17-pounder gun (as the Sherman Firefly). Some were fitted with a 105 mm gun to act as infantry support vehicles.
The relative ease of production allowed large numbers of the M4 to be manufactured, and significant investment in tank recovery and repair units allowed disabled vehicles to be repaired and returned to service quickly.
These factors combined to give the Allies numerical superiority in most battles, and many infantry divisions were provided with M4s and tank destroyers. By 1944, a typical U.S. infantry division had attached for armor support an M4 Sherman battalion, a tank destroyer battalion, or both.
After World War II, the Sherman, particularly the many improved and upgraded versions, continued to see combat service in many conflicts around the world, including the U.N forces in the Korean War, with Israel in the Arab–Israeli wars, briefly with South Vietnam in the Vietnam War, and on both sides of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Medium tank
Place of origin: United States
In service: 1942–2018, 1942–1957 (United States)
Used by: United States, and many others
Wars: World War II, Indonesian National Revolution, Greek Civil War, First Indochina War, 1948 Arab–Israeli War, Korean War, Cuban Revolution, Revolución Libertadora, Suez Crisis, 1958 Lebanon crisis, Nicaraguan Revolution, Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Six-Day War, Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, Yom Kippur War, Lebanese Civil War, Uganda–Tanzania War, Iran–Iraq War
Production history:
Designer: U.S. Army Ordnance Department
Designed: 1940
Manufacturer: American Locomotive Company, Baldwin Locomotive Works, Detroit Tank Arsenal, Federal Machine and Welder Company, Fisher Tank Arsenal, Ford Motor Company, Lima Locomotive Works, Pacific Car and Foundry Company, Pressed Steel Car Company, Pullman-Standard Car Company
Unit cost:$44,556–64,455 in 1945 dollars, depending upon variant ($607,861–879,336 in 2017 dollars)
Produced: September 1941 (prototype), February 1942 – July 1945
No. built: 49,234, excluding prototype
Mass: 66,800–84,000 lb (33.4–42.0 short tons, 30.3–38.1 tonnes) depending upon variant
Length: 19 ft 2 in–20 ft 7 in (5.84–6.27 m) depending upon variant
Width: 8 ft 7 in (2.62 m) to 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) depending upon variant
Height: 9 ft 0 in–9 ft 9 in (2.74–2.97 m) depending upon variant
Crew: 5 (commander, gunner, loader, driver, assistant driver/bow gunner)
Armor: 12.7 to 177.8 mm (0.50 to 7.00 in) depending on location and variant
Main
Armament 75 mm gun M3 (90–104 rounds) or 76 mm gun M1A1, M1A1C, or M1A2 (71 rounds) or 105 mm howitzer M4 (66 rounds)
Secondary armament: .50 caliber Browning M2HB machine gun (300–600 rounds), 2-4.30 caliber Browning M1919A4 machine guns (6,000–6,750 rounds) depending on variant
Engine: M4 and M4A1 model: Continental R975-C1 or -C4 9 cylinder radial gasoline engine, 350 or 400 hp (261 or 298 kW) at 2,400 rpm, M4A2 model: General Motors 6046 twin inline diesel engine; 375 hp (280 kW) at 2,100 rpm, M4A3 model: Ford GAA V8 gasoline engine; 450 hp (336 kW) at 2,600 rpm, M4A4 model: Chrysler A57 multibank ~(30 cylinder) gasoline engine; 370 hp (276 kW) at 2,400 rpm, M4A6 model: Caterpillar D-200A (Wright RD-1820) 9 cylinder radial diesel engine; 450 hp (336 kW) at 2,400 rpm.
Power/weight: 10.46–13.49 hp/short ton (8.60–11.09 kW/t) depending upon variant
Transmission: Spicer manual synchromesh transmission, 5 forward and 1 reverse gears
Suspension: Vertical volute spring suspension (VVSS) or horizontal volute spring suspension (HVSS)
Fuel capacity: 138–175 US gal (520–660 L; 115–146 imp gal) depending upon variant
Operational range: Road: 100–150 mi (160–240 km) depending upon variant, Cross-country: 60–100 mi (97–161 km) depending upon variant
Maximum speed: 22–30 mph (35–48 km/h) on road, 15–20 mph (24–32 km/h) off road depending upon variant.
THE KIT:
Italerei (now spelled Italeri) is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer, based in Italy. They make all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows an M4A1 Sherman tank and an American infantryman, posed against an all-white background. Similar to how Tamiya also does the majority of their box arts.
The Sherman is overall olive-drab, with a large white star on the turret sides, hull sides and nose.
The infantryman is standing in front of the tank with his right arm raised and a Thompson sub machine-gun in his left hand. He wears a khaki uniform and steel helmet. A canvas belt with a pistol In a holster and ammo pouch on it.
The top of the cover art says: Kit contains 193 precision parts, movable suspension. Easy to assemble.
One side-panel of the box has 3 one-paragraph histories of the M4A1 Sherman, in Italian, English and French. Each language labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language. Followed by color box arts of other armor kits that Italarei makes: Kit no. 216, an Opel Blitz 3 (T) S. Type and Kit no. 212, a Pz.Kpfw. 38(t).
Italerei (now spelled Italeri) is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer, based in Italy. They make all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows an M4A1 Sherman tank and an American infantryman, posed against an all-white background. Similar to how Tamiya also does the majority of their box arts.
The Sherman is overall olive-drab, with a large white star on the turret sides, hull sides and nose.
The infantryman is standing in front of the tank with his right arm raised and a Thompson sub machine-gun in his left hand. He wears a khaki uniform and steel helmet. A canvas belt with a pistol In a holster and ammo pouch on it.
The top of the cover art says: Kit contains 193 precision parts, movable suspension. Easy to assemble.
One side-panel of the box has 3 one-paragraph histories of the M4A1 Sherman, in Italian, English and French. Each language labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language. Followed by color box arts of other armor kits that Italarei makes: Kit no. 216, an Opel Blitz 3 (T) S. Type and Kit no. 212, a Pz.Kpfw. 38(t).
The other side-panel of the box shows four more color box arts: Kit no. 213, a Fiat Ansaldo M13/40, Kit no. 218, a Panzer IV (H), Kit no. 220, a Soviet BM-13 Katyusha Rocket launcher truck and Kit no. 219, a British Crusader III tank.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit holds 3 dark-green parts trees, vinyl tracks and the decal sheet in one sealed clear cello bag.
The instructions consist of a single sheet, that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 6” x 11 ½” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white copy of the box art, minus the figures. Over the history of the Sherman M4A1 in Italian, English and German, with specifications.
Page 2 begins with ATTENTION about the kit in the 3 previous languages and including now German.
The part trees are not alphabetized. Instead they are labeled with geometric signs: a circle, triangle and square.
The bottom of the page shows part-trees illustrations for the circle and triangle trees.
The top of Page 3 shows the part tree illustration for the square tree.
The bottom of page 3 through to page 6 gives 9 of the assembly steps.
Page 7 is a painting and marking guide at the top.
It shows one side-view and two 3-views.
The side-view is overall olive-green, with a large white star on the side of the turret and sides of the hull, followed by white “Al Capone”, followed by white US ARMY over 30419403 stenciled on.
It was with the 5th Corps. 741st Tank Battalion Company, Vehicle 7, Normandi, June 1944.
The first 3-view is in a base of olive-green, spotted with white. It has a large white star on the sides of the turret, hull and nose, with the hull star followed by white “Bonnie”, over B 15, followed by white USA over 3039762 stenciled on.
It was with the 10th Armored Div., 11th Tank Battalion, Company B, Vehicle 15, Ardennes, 1945.
The second 3-view is overall dark-green, with a large white star on the sides of the turret, hull and nose, followed by white USMC over 3030762 stenciled on.
With the U.S. Marine Corps., Pacific, 1944.
The bottom of page 7 has assembly step no. 10 on it for assembly of the figures and painting instructions for him.
The top of page 8 has the front and rear views for “Al Capone” on the previous page. It further shows a large white star surrounded by a circle on its nose.
Below is a black and white photo of the model made up.
The bottom of page 8 has the history of the tank in French.
The kit holds 3 dark-green parts trees, vinyl tracks and the decal sheet in one sealed clear cello bag.
The instructions consist of a single sheet, that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 6” x 11 ½” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white copy of the box art, minus the figures. Over the history of the Sherman M4A1 in Italian, English and German, with specifications.
Page 2 begins with ATTENTION about the kit in the 3 previous languages and including now German.
The part trees are not alphabetized. Instead they are labeled with geometric signs: a circle, triangle and square.
The bottom of the page shows part-trees illustrations for the circle and triangle trees.
The top of Page 3 shows the part tree illustration for the square tree.
The bottom of page 3 through to page 6 gives 9 of the assembly steps.
Page 7 is a painting and marking guide at the top.
It shows one side-view and two 3-views.
The side-view is overall olive-green, with a large white star on the side of the turret and sides of the hull, followed by white “Al Capone”, followed by white US ARMY over 30419403 stenciled on.
It was with the 5th Corps. 741st Tank Battalion Company, Vehicle 7, Normandi, June 1944.
The first 3-view is in a base of olive-green, spotted with white. It has a large white star on the sides of the turret, hull and nose, with the hull star followed by white “Bonnie”, over B 15, followed by white USA over 3039762 stenciled on.
It was with the 10th Armored Div., 11th Tank Battalion, Company B, Vehicle 15, Ardennes, 1945.
The second 3-view is overall dark-green, with a large white star on the sides of the turret, hull and nose, followed by white USMC over 3030762 stenciled on.
With the U.S. Marine Corps., Pacific, 1944.
The bottom of page 7 has assembly step no. 10 on it for assembly of the figures and painting instructions for him.
The top of page 8 has the front and rear views for “Al Capone” on the previous page. It further shows a large white star surrounded by a circle on its nose.
Below is a black and white photo of the model made up.
The bottom of page 8 has the history of the tank in French.
The parts trees are not alphabetized but instead have geometric shapes for identification like circle, square, etc.
Olive-drab circle tree contains the road wheels, two different kinds of drive sprocket faces, suspension, finale drive covers and the one piece lower hull (70 parts).
Olive-drab Square tree has the upper and lower turret halves, main gun, hatches, a crew figure, etc. (34 parts).
Olive-drab triangle tree holds the one piece upper hull, dust guards, nose, rear plate, etc. (88 parts).
There are 2 one piece vinyl tracks.
The decal sheet completes the kit.
I have added two brass PE sets by my company (Armor Research) to this kit. A set of straps and tie downs and a set of periscope, headlight etc.
shields.
shields.
The detail of the kit is very good.
Recommended.
Recommended.