While the Lee was a somewhat antiquated design when it went into production in August of 1941, it acquitted itself in combat rather well, with its powerful 75mm main gun and heavy armor coming as a surprise to Rommel’s panzers at the Battle of Gazala.
The M4 Sherman made its first combat appearance at the Second Battle of El Alamein in October 1942, successfully engaging the German Panzer III and Panzer IV tanks.
The M4 would go on to become one of the most legendary tanks of all time, with just under 50,000 examples produced — and introducing the phrase “built like a Sherman tank” to the American lexicon. – AJW
Tank crew standing in front of an M-4 tank, Ft. Knox
Crewman of an M-3 tank, Ft. Knox, Ky
Light tank going through water obstacle
Light tanks, Fort Knox
Light tank going through water obstacle, Ft. Knox, Ky.
M-3 and M4 tank company at bivouac, Ft. Knox, Kentucky
M-3 tanks in action, Ft. Knox, Ky
M-3 tank and crew using small arms
M-3 tank from WWII
M-3 tanks and crews from WWII training
M-3 tanks in action
WWII M-3 tanks in action, Ft. Knox (1942)
A World War II Tank driver
Tank commander
Tank commander
M-4 tank, Ft. Knox (1942)
A long line of M-4 and M-3 tanks from WWII
Parade of M-4 (General Sherman) and M-3 (General Grant) tanks in training maneuvers, Ft. Knox, Ky.
Note the lower design of the M-4, the larger gun in the turret and the two hatches in front of the turret.
M-4 tank crews of the United States
All pictures by Office of War Information photographer Alfred T Palmer – June 1942
