Due to the sheer surplus of M4 Shermans available to the United States during World War II, a great number of separate tank battalions were formed; these were typically assigned to infantry divisions to grant frontline troops permanent armoured support, a luxury which their Comintern opponents never possessed.
The M4 Sherman is an American medium tank, and the most widely produced Allied armoured vehicle of World War II, known for its versatility and mechanical reliability. Three variants made up the earlier arsenal of Sherman tanks: the welded-hull M4, the cast-hull M4A1 and the diesel-powered M4A2. These variants are powered by the Wright R-975 Whirlwind engine (produced by license as the Continental R-975) and could reach up to 48 km/h on a road. The base Sherman armament consists of a vertically stabilised 75mm M3 cannon, a Browning M2 cupola-mounted machinegun and two Browning M1919 machineguns, one coaxial and one in the hull. Its angled armour, some 50mm thick in the front hull, is capable of shrugging off shots from early war tanks and anti-tank guns. The Sherman's true strength lies in its adaptability and reliability; it will work under any conditions and can be modified to suit any role. Despite advancements in anti-tank weaponry, the M4 is still considered a formidable tank in Oceanyka.