how did the us military camouflage sherman tank

The armament of the assault amphibians started out as a small 37mm gun on LVT(A)1, but advanced to a 75mm howitizer on LVT(A)4. Armored amphibians were also developed to give the assault craft direct fire support during the landing and immediately after. LVT3 and LVT4 remedied that problem by repositioning the engines and adding a rear loading ramp. At first the LVT was seen simply as an efficient mechanism of transporting supplies from ship to shore (47), but it wasn't long until a more direct military role as an assault craft was envisioned, and LVTs premiered in this role at Tarawa.(48) LVTs initially used in assault landings were unarmored or fitted with applique armor plates, and the position of the engines in the rear of the vehicle made for a tension-filled dismount over the tall sides. The first LVTs were modified versions of Donald Roebling's Alligator, which was used as a swamp rescue vehicle in Florida's Everglades. The Marines eventually accepted a number of 105mm howitzer Shermans once production and support of the 75mm gun tanks had ceased and the Army was concentrating on the M26.(46)Īn innovation in infantry vehicles that was perfectly suited to Marine use was the tracked landing vehicle. The Army had standardized on the gasoline-fueled M4A3 Sherman, meaning that the Corps could obtain numbers of the diesel-powered M4A2 quicker.(44) The Corps was forced to convert to 75mm gun M4A3s, however, once M4A2 production switched to the M4A2(76)W in mid-1944.(45) The Marines relished the excellent high-explosive power of the 75mm gun's M48 high-explosive shell, and the 76mm gun, while being more effective at armor penetration, fired a weaker HE shell. Usage of the heavier medium tanks, though, forced the design of more robust landing craft such as the Landing Ship, Tank (LST), since the Sherman's 35-ton (32-metric ton) bulk could not be handled by earlier vessels.(41) Tank-infantry cooperation was dismal in early operations (42), and it wasn't until after the debacles at Guadalcanal and Tarawa that training in this area intensified and matured.(43)

Light and medium tanks mounting flame throwers also proved useful as close assault weapons. The Sherman first fought with the Marines at the battle of Tarawa in November 1943.(40) The Sherman was the most powerful tank used in the Pacific Theater, and it proved devastating against Japanese armor.

'Combat experience showed the Marines that their light tanks were vulnerable and underarmed, so they made the move to the Sherman medium tank.

How did the us military camouflage sherman tank