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I have seen hundreds of photos of British and Canadian Shermans in Normandy but not too much info on the types used by the US army before Cobra began. As the 76mm M4A1s were left in England, at least initially, what was the prime US Sherman from D-Day until the Breakout? From the photos that I have seen I presume M4s and M4A1 75mm types, would there have been any M4A3 initially or did those only arrive at large hatch versions after the start of Cobra?

Alastair,

the M4A3 76mm arrived later, I would say that the first US units got them in August 1944 (the book "Son of Sherman" states that "the first of the new M4A3s arrived in the ETO during the summer of 1944"). I know that some units of the French 2nd Armored Division received theirs in August 1944. There was no use of Ford small hatch M4A3(75) tanks in Normandy, so before Cobra there were only M4(75) and M4A1(75) tanks in the US Army.

P-O

There were also M4 105mm Assault Guns (the Large Hatch M4 with the 105mm howitzer) - the M4A3 variant also arrived later.
HTH

All the US armored units - divisional or non-divisional went to Normandy with a mix of M4 and/or M4A1 medium tanks. Some units had received M4 s with 105mm howitzers before moving to the Continent, others received them in France. There were a few M4s with the late-DTA hull (aka "composite hull"). Many of those show up in photos of the 6th Armore Division about the time of the breakout and drive into Brittany and across France. The standard light tank for US forces was the M5A1. The M4A3 type came later in the summer/fall. The M4A3 76mm went into use circa 8/44 (reportedly a couple were first issued to the French 2eme DB), the 75mm version came slightly later, then the 105mm howitzer type, then the M4A3E2 later in the fall. The planners for Overlord standardized on the M4/M4A1 to facilitate logistics.

It is my opinion, from studying photos that the armored divisions and tank battalions arriving in Europe in the summer were totally equipped with radial engined M4/M4A1s - 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th Armored Divisions. The units that landed in the fall seem to have all, or at least a high proportion, of M4A3s; 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 14th. The 1945 arrivals (8th, 13th, 16th, 20th) came entirely with later model M4A3s.

Of course, once a unit had been in combat for a while they took whatever replacemnt vehicles were available (the US Army had a medium tank shortage in the ETO until well into 1945).

- claude_GILLONO

There were also M4 105mm Assault Guns (the Large Hatch M4 with the 105mm howitzer) - the M4A3 variant also arrived later.
HTH

you're right Claude, M4(105) tanks showed up in Normandy in July 1944, so possibly just before Cobra.

P-O

Thanks to all