M4A1 medium tank's gun mount and guard with the seats U.S. Ordnance Dept.
M4A1 Medium Tank: Mark Holloway
T34E1 Rocket Launcher Medium Tank: Aberdeen Tank Museum
Dragon Armor, 60257:
Dragon Armor, 60258:
Dragon Armor, 60292:
Dragon Armor, 60293:
Forces of Valor, 95024:
Design
Cast hull. Early models had M3 bogie units, M2 75 mm gun with counter weights and twin fixed machine guns in hull. Soon hull machine guns eliminated and M3 75 mm gun used. M34A1 mount and sand shields were added. Had the Continental R-975 motor.
Production
Standardized in December 1941. Built by Lima Locomotive Works, Inc., Pacific Car and Foundry Co., and Pressed Steel Car Co.
Variants
M4A1 (76mm): Cast hull. Continental R975-C1 petrol.
76 mm gun replaced 75 mm in turret. It had better velocity and thus armor penetration. 2,600 ft/sec, range of 16,100 yards, penetrate 4 inches at 1,000 yards. Gun can also be used in indirect fire mode as an azimuth indicator and elevation quadrant was also available. Water protected ammo racks installed.
The commander had a vision cupola mounted above the turret hatch. It had 6 prismatic vision blocks of 3" laminated bullet-resistant glass.
The ammunition racks were water protected and there was a traveling lock for the main armament in the front to hold it while traveling in non-combat areas.
Tank Recovery Vehicle M32B1: Based on M4A1.
Full-Track Prime Mover M34: M32B1 removed a-frame and winch. Used as tractor for heavy artillery guns. In service 1944.
Mine Exploder T1E3 (M1) "Aunt Jemima":
Two roller units each of 5 10' steel discs. 75 built. Used in Normandy and Italy. Most widely used mine exploder. Sometimes a 2nd tank was used to push it.
Rocket Launcher T34E1: 14 tubes in 2 bottom units. The 75 mm gun fired a 14.4 lb AP shell at a muzzle velocity of 2,050'/sec.
Airfix Magazine Guide #26 American Tanks of World War 2, Terry Gander and Peter Chamberlain, 1977
British and American Tanks of World War Two, The Complete Illustrated History of British, American, and Commonwealth Tanks 1933-1945, Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis, 1969
Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998