This Sherman M4A1E8 is a late war version and was an improved design featuring the 76mm M1A1 gun (71 rounds) instead of the standard 75mm and as secondary weapons the .50cal (12.7mm) M2HB machine gun and two .30cal (7.62mm) M1919A4 machine guns. The M4A1E8 tank was powered by the Continental R974 C4 9cylinder 400-460hp engine.
One of the big improvements of the tank was the HVSS suspension, which was easier in tank maintenance and allowed wider tracks, hence the “W” designation.
Block Buster 3rd
This “Block Buster 3rd” Sherman tank photographed here was the lead tank of (then) Captain James “Jimmie” Leach, Commander of B-Company 37th Tank Battalion, during the Battle of the Bulge. The Captain was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions in WW2.
