Joshua Tindale
Course: America in the Great Depression and WWII, HIST 204
Professor: Dr. Robert Young
Assignment Title: The M4 Sherman Tank – The Tank that Saved the World
Assignment Details
This project explored the story of American armor, culminating in the Sherman tank which was the main tank used by the United States during World War II. Its story and many variants were a culmination of years of engineering, global cooperation, and creativity amongst its designers and users.
The Sherman served not only the United States, but Great Britain, the Soviet Union, France, Canada, and China, to name a few nations. It was one of only two models of tanks to serve in every theater of World War II, and it continued to serve armies across the world even into the 21st century.
I wanted to know the story of one of the most famous tanks of World War II. How it was built, where it served, how it performed, and who used it. My research led me to over 80 years worth of analysis and even a trip to the Canadian Tank Museum to visit some in person.
Application
This assignment required the ability to pull from and discern proper material from a vast array of locations. From searching through the College’s databases, Google searches leading to internet forums and compendiums, to consulting other historians and military aficionados, to even traveling and gaining hands on experiences. This project tested my ability to scour resources, and find as many perspectives as possible.
Another aspect of this process was discerning the credibility of the sources I found, and not discrediting sources based on their age. A primary source I repeatedly pulled from was a book titled “British and American Tanks of WWII” by Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis, published in 1969. By this point, Chamberlain and Ellis directly consulted an array of veterans and officials who were integral to the process of making these vehicles, making their input invaluable.
Historians need to be able to evaluate these sources, as much of their knowledge will build upon what others have put together in the past. The true fun lies in pulling from every resource one can get their hands on, in order to piece together the full story.
Results/Conclusions
The M4 Sherman was initially created as a tank for Great Britain as they needed new armaments quickly in their fight against Nazi Germany. Lend Lease allowed American manufacturers to build and ship Armaments.
What the British needed the most was a tank chassis that could support a 75 mm anti-tank gun. American engineers first made the M3 model, which had the gun, but lacked a turret to put the gun into. The M4 fixed this glaring issue and it immediately became the main tank of the United States and Great Britain.
Receiving numerous upgrades throughout its time in the war, the Sherman saw combat everywhere, from North Africa, India, Russia, to the Pacific Islands, the Philippines, France, Italy, Germany, and Japan.
The Sherman was the United States’ answer for the armored call to arms. It epitomizes American ingenuity, practicality, and the responsibility the nation had to fight the Axis and defend the free world. Its production helped give jobs and experience to an American population still reeling from the Great Depression, and helped give rise to this once lowly nation, cementing them as the most powerful nation on earth by the time World War II had ended.
Challenges and Successes
This project was one of passion for me, and while I was invested into it, there was a feeling that no matter how much effort I put into it, it would not be enough for my own satisfaction.
Instead of thinking to myself “What can I add?” I inversely thought “What will I need to leave out?” No matter what was in my paper, I felt that there could have been more.
I overcame this though by finding value in the wonderful research I had already done, and what I had created vastly exceeded the expectations of the assignment’s parameters.
I was vindicated in my knowledge when I was permitted to teach our class on the Sherman and other World War II vehicles using the resources I had collected over the months. A truly fantastic experience and privilege I will never forget.