Modelling US World War II Armoured Fighting Vehicles E-Book

Tom Cole

• Herausgeber: The Crowood Press
• Kategorie: Fachliteratur
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 248

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

Aimed at military model makers and wargamers who are interested in the armoured fighting vehicles of the United States as used throughout World War II, this book follows on from Modelling British World War II Armoured Vehicles by the same author. The book places its emphasis on US Army and US Marine Corps AFVs modelled mainly in 1/72 and 1/48 scales, in a deliberate departure from the more popular 1/35 scale, to encourage and inspire model makers who are new to or less familiar with these scales. Illustrated with over 270 colour photos this book features every major US AFV used in World War II, with many models shown in various stages of construction and paintings. It presents step-by-step guides demonstrating the painting techniques appropriate for different scales and includes an additional section showing how to paint wargames models. There is also a review of how the USA developed tanks and other armoured vehicles from the interwar period through to the end of World War II. This fascinating story will help model makers and wargamers give the vehicles they build an historical context.

Leseprobe

MODELLING

US World War IIArmoured Fighting Vehicles

MODELLING

US World War IIArmoured Fighting Vehicles

Tom Cole

First published in 2022 byThe Crowood Press LtdRamsbury, MarlboroughWiltshire SN8 2HR

[email protected]

www.crowood.com

This e-book first published in 2022

© Tom Cole 2022

All rights reserved. This e-book is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication DataA catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN 978 0 7198 4028 9

Cover design by Blue Sunflower Creative

Contents

Dedication and Photo Credits

1 Introduction and Choosing Your Scale

2 A Short History of US Armour in World War II

3 Building Model Kits

4 Painting the Model

5 Dioramas and Scenic Bases

6 Light Tanks

7 Medium Tanks

8 Heavy Tanks

9 Tank Destroyers

10 Howitzer and Gun Motor Carriages

11 Half-Tracks and Multi-Gun Motor Carriages

12 Other Armoured Fighting Vehicles of the USA

Selected Bibliography

Index

Dedication

For Max.

Photo Credits

Photographs by Alex Cossey and the author. Majority of models by the author with 1/35 scale models by Simon Ward.

Chapter 1

Introduction and Choosing Your Scale

This is the third book in the military modelling series from The Crowood Press. The first title by Robin Buckland examined modelling German Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) of World War II and the second title, by this author, discussed British AFVs in the same period. This third title will consider all the AFVs from the United States of America (abbreviated to ‘USA/US’ for convenience throughout the book), from December 1941 to the end of hostilities against Japan in August 1945.

There are numerous books and articles on modelling US armoured vehicles, but most of these cover only the most popular scale of 1/35. This book will focus on the smaller scales of 1/76, 1/72 and 1/48 – scales that, with only a few exceptions, are seldom covered in any depth in modelling magazines or even online. The bibliography at the end of this book includes details of other books that may be of interest to the reader.

A SHORT HISTORY OF MILITARY MODELMAKING

Human beings have made small replicas of buildings and people since the dawn of time. However, a major explosion in the modelmaking industry took place in the 1960s, when plastics became cheap and readily available. Leading the charge, in the UK at least, was the modelmaking company Airfix. Such was the firm’s popularity that teenagers of the 1960s and 1970s are sometimes referred to as the ‘Airfix Generation’.

Airfix’s biggest range was, and still is, 1/72nd-scale aircraft – although the complete Airfix range originally included historical figures, small-scale sailing ships, vintage cars, plastic soldiers and model railway buildings and rolling stock. In 1960 the first Airfix military vehicle appeared in the form of the Bristol Bloodhound Surface-to-Air Missile kit. The first Airfix armoured fighting vehicles were released in 1961 as the Panther, Sherman and Churchill tank kits. Sixty years on, these kits are still available. The military vehicle range would never rival the Airfix aircraft range, but small-scale vehicles were produced by other manufacturers, such as Japanese Fujimi and Nitto and Italian Esci. Then, in 1972, British company Matchbox introduced a range of AFVs in 1/76 scale that filled some of the many gaps that existed in the Airfix range.

This Sherman depicts a tank in use with the US Marines in the Pacific and is in 1/72 scale. The basic kit has been extensively modified to represent the modifications that the US Marines applied to many of their tanks.

Whilst small-scale military models in 1/76 and 1/72 scales dominated the 1960s and early 1970s, the revolution that would change the face of military modelmaking saw its beginning in 1962 when the Japanese firm Tamiya introduced their first large-scale AFV. The 1/35th-scale Panther was a success, but the product was a curious hybrid between a toy and a serious modelmaking kit. It included an electric motor and could move around the living room in a reasonably accurate fashion. However, by 1968 the Panther had been supplemented by a series of figures that included German soldiers and tank crew. The range rapidly expanded and 1/35 scale became the dominant scale for military modellers. This is still the case today.

Currently, the military modelling market has never been stronger. The range of model kits in all scales is the largest and most comprehensive it has ever been. Airfix have entered the 1/35 market with several models that originated from other makers and they occasionally release a new small-scale AFV kit, but their range is limited compared to the flood of small-scale models that regularly appear from all parts of the world – particularly Russia, Ukraine and Poland, as well as South Korea and China. Some companies normally associated with large-scale models such as Dragon Models produce small-scale kits that are as realistic-looking as their bigger-scale versions.

COLLECTOR OR WARGAMER?

People normally construct model vehicles either because they want to build a collection of models or they want to use them on a Wargames table. The bigger-scale models (1/35 and 1/48) are currently the most popular for collectors and smaller scales (1/56 and 1/72) are more often the province of wargamers. However, some wargamers choose to run around with 1/16-scale radio-controlled tanks and many collectors prefer to model in 1/72 and 1/76. So, there are no hard and fast rules. Much depends on budget and storage when deciding scale. Apart from scale, the main difference between wargamers and collectors is the obvious one. Wargame models must be robust and strong enough to be frequently handled, not just on the miniature battlefield but when they are in transit between games. Collectors go for fine detail, knowing that their models will spend most of their time on a shelf or in a display case (or sadly in a box in the loft), and may occasionally be transported to be shown off at a model show or exhibition. Some wargamers will be content with the quick-build ‘snap together’ kits that are more popular now than ever before, but some will choose to build their models with a level of detail that some collectors would envy. Modelmaking is as individual as the individuals that make models.

CHOOSING YOUR SCALE

If you are new to military modelling, one of the first things you should think about is the scale in which you are going to build your models. Some modellers choose to model in a variety of scales, but most have a favourite scale and seldom stray from it. I have always made small-scale models, predominately 1/76 and 1/72, but have recently re-discovered the joy of 1/48 scale.

Very small scales

Probably the smallest models available are in 1/700 scale. This is a popular scale for ship modellers and the tiny vehicles in this scale are often used as loads for ship landing craft. Predominately models in 1/300 and 1/285 are used for wargaming. Normally cast in white metal, these tiny models from companies such as GHQ are manufactured to a very high standard when you consider that the figures used are only 6mm tall. Models in 1/144 and 1/150 equate to railway N gauge. Whilst they fit in well with the ever-growing range of 1/144-scale aircraft, the range of kits available is limited – although Revell have produced one set of vehicles in this small scale that are relevant to the US Army in World War II.

Small scale

A scale that is popular for wargaming has figures that are 15mm high and equates to 1/100. The Plastic Soldier Company produces a large range of vehicles and figures. Russia-based firm Zvezda also produce simplified vehicles in this scale as part of their ‘Art of Tactic’ wargame. Many of the military vehicle scales can trace their roots in railway modelling and 1/87 is the dominant model railway scale in Europe. It is also known as HO, but 1/87 has never been that popular in the UK. Another scale that has its origins in the model railway range equates to 4mm to the foot or ‘OO’ gauge. This is 1/76. Airfix produced their range of military vehicles in 1/76 to go with their range of figures and model railways, rather than 1/72, which is their main aircraft scale. The dominant manufacturers were Airfix and Matchbox (with Revell now running some of the original Matchbox kits alongside their 1/72 range). Japan-based Fujimi and Nitto produced military vehicle kits in 1/76, but the majority of small-scale kits are in 1/72 scale. This is by far the most popular of the smaller scales. The 1/72 kits from one of the early manufacturers, Esci, emerged a little after the early Airfix kits and set the standard for small-scale modelling. That tradition of high-quality kits has continued with the major manufacturers Revell, Dragon and Italeri producing some incredibly detailed kits in 1/72, some of which date back to the early days of Esci. Some manufacturers have produced military vehicles in this scale aimed at the wargamer. These tend to have two ‘snap-together’ kits in the box, with the emphasis being on a sturdy model that can withstand frequent handling on the wargames table, rather than having large amounts of fine detail. Zvezda have bucked that particular trend by producing wargames models that are both robust and yet highly detailed.

Medium scales

Another scale similar to 1/100 that is aimed at the wargames market is 1/56. This scale is also known as 28mm, as this is the height of the figures from floor- to eye-level. Kits from the major manufacturers such as Italeri tend to be simplified. For example, suspension units and tracks are produced as a single item.

The T31 Demolition Tank never entered production but makes an interesting model. This particular model is in 1/56 scale. This scale is popular with wargamers.

Compared to 1/72 and 1/35 there are relatively few kits available in 1/48 scale. This US Marine Corps M4A3 is a heavily modified kit from HobbyBoss. A 3D-printed Japanese Tankette is in the foreground.

Known as ‘Quarter Scale’, 1/48 is a very popular scale for model aircraft manufacturers. Bandai produced some highly detailed AFV kits in the 1970s and Tamiya have a reasonable range of military vehicles from various nations. However, 1/48 is not as popular as 1/72 or 1/35. This issue has been partially addressed by some great models from Accurate Armour, but like many of the Tamiya kits, they are mainly soft-skins based around aircraft subjects. However, 1/48 scale is a good compromise; models in this scale are more detailed than 1/72 but do not take up the space of 1/35-scale models and are certainly cheaper, although the range of vehicles is limited.

Large scale

Known by some as the ‘Standard Size’, 1/32 scale is popular amongst model soldier collectors and is also known as 54mm. Airfix have produced a small number of military models in this scale, but it is an odd scale that does not have a big following. By far the most popular scale for military modelling is 1/35. This scale was not based on a deliberate decision but came about because Tamiya wanted to fit an electric motor and a ‘C’ type battery pack in a tank chassis. Their first military model – the Panther – was released in 1961. The scale grew in popularity in the 1970s and now totally dominates the market. New manufacturers in this scale regularly appear – particularly from the Far East and eastern Europe. The vast array of kits in this scale covers just about every vehicle and variant that ever existed and this makes it a very attractive scale. Perhaps the only drawbacks are the space that completed models take up when compared to the smaller scales, and the relatively high price of many kits in 1/35 scale. Tamiya produced some tanks in 1/24 scale and there are specialist manufacturers such as Kit Form Services that produce some highly detailed kits in this large scale.

The most popular scale for military modelling is 1/35 scale. This tank destroyer shows the level of detail that can be achieved in this scale.

Very large scale

Tamiya and Trumpeter produce some military vehicles in 1/16 scale. Some are fully motorized, but generally these kits are expensive (Tamiya Panzer IV sells at around £500), so probably not the best choice if you are starting out in the hobby. For around £100 you can buy a remote-control, ready-to-run tank. Built for rugged handling, they are not as detailed as those from traditional kit manufacturers but they are proving popular. Those old enough will remember the 12in-tall Action Man figures. This equated to 1/6 scale and, although you could buy a hard plastic tank for these figures, the latest iterations in this scale are very different from those toys of the 1960s. If you have a big budget or just want to make a once-in-a-lifetime purchase, then this might be the scale for you. Kits cost around £5,000 each and are fully motorized and remote controlled. Made from aluminium, brass and steel, assembly is relatively straightforward using household tools.

MODELLING MEDIUMS

Regardless of scale, the biggest range of military models available is plastic injection-moulded kits. These kits are provided in various degrees of complexity. Small-scale injection-moulded kits are either simple kits for wargamers or highly detailed kits for the more serious modelmaker. Large-scale kits can have literally hundreds of parts.

This M12 Gun Motor Carriage is a 1/48-scale resin kit from Gaso.line. It requires a chassis and the Tamiya M4 kit was used. Extra detailing comes from photo-etched parts and plastic card has been used to replace some of the more fragile resin parts. A truly multi-media kit.

Resin kits are normally available as limited runs from small ‘cottage industry’ providers. Small-scale resin kit manufacturers such as Geisbers Models, Milicast and Matador Models each have an enormous range of small-scale vehicles – mainly in 1/76 scale. Resin kits come in a variety of styles. Some are cast as a single AFV, mainly for the wargames market, whilst others have as many parts as the more complex injection-moulded kits. In the larger scales, resin tends to be used to provide conversion kits for injection-moulded kits. Resin is a popular medium for figure modelling in all scales.

Ready-assembled, die-cast metal models have often in the past been dismissed by serious modelmakers as nothing more than toys. However, some of the recent offerings from Oxford Die-casts, Panzerstahl and Hobby Master, as well as models from kit manufacturers such as Dragon, are of a very high stand both in construction and in finish. Mainly small-scale examples can also be found in 1/35 scale. At one time there were some kit manufacturers that provided models in white metal (a soft, easy-to-cast alloy), but now this medium is increasingly rare. Figures in white metal in various scales are still available from a few sources.

Some high-end models come complete with etched-brass detailing parts and perhaps a turned-brass gun barrel. This is by far the most popular medium for aftermarket detailing kits. Modellers who prefer the smaller scales are the poor relations compared to those that model in the larger scales when it comes to detailing sets. It seems that almost every kit in the large scale has at least one accompanying photo-etch and or resin detailing set, and for every plastic gun barrel in 1/35 there seems to be a turned-brass replacement. In the small scales there are detailing sets and gun barrels available, but these are the exception rather than the rule. Companies such as Hauler, ARMO, Extratech, Dan Taylor Modelworks and PART produce a variety of detailing and conversion parts and Aber and RB produce some splendid turned-brass barrels in small scale, but not in the diversity that are produced for 1/35 scale.

Just as the home computer and smartphones have revolutionized all of our lives, so the 3D printer is thought by some to be the next big thing that will find a place in every home. However, 3D printing has yet to take off seriously. The quality of the finished item is generally poor and the cost of a good 3D printer is prohibitively high, but good-quality and inexpensive 3D printers may be with us all very soon. There are already a few 3D-printed models available from a variety of sources, but generally the best-quality models are expensive compared to resin or plastic alternatives. However, this may all change with improvements in technology and prices will eventually fall to meet those of resin and plastic models.

Chapter 2

A Short History of US Armour in World War II

INTRODUCTION

Whilst this book is focused on modelling US Army armoured vehicles of World War II, most modelmakers wish to know about the history and development of the vehicles they build so that they can give their models an historical context. The story of how the real vehicles of the USA developed before and during World War II is fascinating. Living at a time when the armed forces of the United States of America are the largest and most potent in the world, it is incredible to think that at the outbreak of World War II the US Army had as few as 174,000 of all ranks and was classified as only nineteenth in the world, slightly ahead of Bulgaria but firmly behind Portugal in terms of manpower. By 1945, US Army strength had grown to 8,267,958 with a strong emphasis on armoured forces. This was an incredible increase that took the USA from a minor armed force to centre stage as a leading world power in less than six years.

North America, along with much of Europe, suffered during the Great Depression and, as inevitably happens at times of recession, spending on armed forces after World War I was drastically cut. These cuts severely affected the US armoured forces. The end of World War I not unnaturally meant a drastic culling of armed forces, and the fledgling US armoured forces suffered particularly, as mechanized forces were expensive. In July 1919 Congress declared that the US Tank Corps would be limited to no more than 154 officers and 2,508 other ranks. The tank corps lost its independent status and came under the control of the infantry. The concept was that in any future conflict tanks would be used only to provide support to the infantry. However, some serving tank corps officers (notably Lieutenant Colonel Dwight D. Eisenhower and Major George S. Patton) argued that the armoured forces should retain independence from the infantry and be under the control of the cavalry. This view was not supported by the top-ranked General of the Armies of the United States. John J. Pershing ensured that the National Defense Act of 1920 placed all tanks and their units under the control of the infantry. Inevitably, subordination of armoured forces to the infantry stifled tank design and doctrine, which would have repercussions in the next war and indeed beyond.

THE EMF

Despite these constraints, and inspired by combined arms exercises in Britain, the US Army formed the Experimental Mechanized Force (EMF) at the end of 1927. The EMF consisted of a headquarters company, an armoured car troop, a company of tanks, a machine-gun company and a self-propelled artillery battery, all supported by an engineer company, supply, signal, and chemical warfare troops. The Mechanization Board was set up in May 1928 and recommended that a permanent mechanized force be formed. This force went against the spirt of the 1920 Act, as it established that the role of armour was to carry out what were traditionally typical cavalry actions of scouting and exploitation. The infantry countered with a plan for establishing a tank division for each of the six field armies. The plan placed armour firmly under Infantry Command and not surprisingly was opposed by Chief of Cavalry, Major General Guy Henry via Major George Patton. The squabble was resolved by Army Chief of Staff General Douglas MacArthur dissolving the Mechanized Force as a separate entity and ordering all combat branches to modernize as much as possible. This was the green light for the cavalry to explore mechanization.

The M3 Light Tank was known as the Stuart or ‘Honey’ by the British. This example is at the Bovington Tank Museum being displayed at ‘Tank Fest’ in a rather gaudy scheme depicting a tank in British 8th Army service.

By 1932 the infantry had the Light Tank T2 and the cavalry the Combat Car T5. Both were tanks, but because under the 1920 Act only the infantry could have tanks, the cavalry had to use the subterfuge of a combat car. The T2 and T5 had a common ancestry and shared the same chassis and many parts. They would evolve into a whole series of Light Tanks M3 and M5 that would see active service throughout World War II with the US Army, US Marines and numerous allies. The remnants of the dissolved EMF were assigned to the cavalry to become the Mechanized Cavalry Regiment. Originally based at Camp Knox in western Kentucky in late 1931, this would become Fort Knox the next year and the home of US armour for almost 80 years.

MEDIUM TANKS

Parallel to the development of the light tanks, the US Tank Board looked to North American industry to provide medium tanks. No history of American armour would be complete without reference to the eccentric J. Walter Christie. The suspension system that bore his name featured large road wheels individually sprung on leading or trailing arms suspended on soft helical springs that were housed inside a double-walled hull. This revolutionary suspension was combined with the novel concept of the vehicle using wheels when travelling on roads but tracks when going cross country. In both modes the vehicle travelled fast and smooth. Unfortunately Christie’s prototype tanks had a reputation for shoddy workmanship and were generally unreliable, which resulted in some dismal trials. Some Christie designs (the Medium T1 for the infantry and Combat Car T1 for the cavalry) saw small production runs and the Americans continued to toy with the Christie design between 1930 and 1936 with the T2, T3, T3E2 and T4, but Christie’s designs were generally dismissed in his home country. However, he fared better overseas, with Britain adopting the Christie suspension for their medium tanks and the Soviets taking the Christie suspension to produce the BT Series of tanks, which would be developed into arguably the best tank of World War II – the T34. (It is a matter of speculation as to what the outcome would have been if the Americans had persisted with the Christie design, but perhaps it would have led to the US Army possibly being equipped with a T34 type tank rather than the M4 Sherman.)

Rather than follow the Christie design, US armour development favoured the volute suspension system (a volute spring is a compression spring in the form of a cone), used in the M2 light tanks, which had been designed by Harry A. Knox in the early 1920s. Knox filed dozens of patents related to mechanization, but his most important were volute spring suspension and tracks with rubber bushings around the track pins. This suspension would see widespread use throughout US armour. Most Light Tanks, all Medium Tanks and even the M6 Heavy Tank all used either vertical or horizontal volute suspension systems. The US ordnance department’s Rock Island arsenal produced the T5 Medium Tank in 1938 and this would lead to development of the Medium M2 and M2A1 Tanks. These all carried the same 37mm gun used on the M2 Light Tank. However, the Medium M2 was much larger, and when the German Wehrmacht swept through most of Europe, analysis by Chief of Infantry Brigadier General Asa L. Singleton advised the ordnance department that the Medium Tank M2 should be improved to match the German Panzerkampwagen IV that carried a 75mm gun.

Although the USA was still neutral at this juncture, it was clearly only a matter of time as to when they would enter the war against Germany. Singleton’s need for a tank that could match the German Panzer IV was echoed by the British army, whose tanks were generally unreliable and poorly armed (most British tanks carried a 2pdr gun that was only slightly superior to the US 37mm gun). British tanks were struggling to defeat the better-armed German tanks in the North African Western Desert. With great urgency, the US ordnance board looked for a quick means of mounting a 75mm gun in the M2 Medium. By a twist of fate, a suitable arrangement that mounted a 75mm field gun in a sponson of a surplus M2 Medium had been under evaluation since April 1939. The resulting Medium Tank M3 retained a 37mm in a turret like the Medium M2 but carried a more powerful 75mm gun in a side sponson. At best this was an interim measure, but when shipments of the M3 Medium – built to British specifications and named the General Grant – arrived in the Western Desert, the tank was found to be the equal of the best German tanks and better than most German and Italian armour. The Grant was the first tank in the British armoury that could fire both armour-piercing and high-explosive shells, and so at last British armour could take on enemy infantry and anti-tank guns at battle ranges.

The M3 Medium, known by the British as the ‘General Grant’, with the US version called the ‘Lee’. When first introduced the Grant gave the British their first tank capable of firing a reasonable anti-tank or high-explosive round. But the 75mm gun in a sponson was at best a compromise measure.

Although initially a success, the unusual arrangement of locating the main weapon in a side sponson was not without drawbacks. One of the principal tactics used by all sides in the Western Desert was to fight from a ‘Hull Down’ position. This involved positioning a tank on the reverse slope of a hill so that only the turret was exposed. However, the Grant could not fire its 75mm gun in such a position and not being able to rotate the main gun through 360 degrees proved to be a serious tactical disadvantage on a battlefield where the action was often fast moving. As the M3 was coming off the production lines, development was already underway to build its replacement with the 75mm gun mounted in a suitable turret. The new M4 Medium Tank (referred to as the Sherman by the British) was based very much on the M3 with the same volute suspension and the same 75mm gun. Desperate for more new and effective armour the British received, under the new Lend-Lease agreement, the new M4A1 Sherman tanks to supplement the Grants at the second battle of El Alamein in October 1942.

This splendidly restored M4A1 clearly shows the cast hull of the first production Sherman. Also prominent is the three-piece transmission case that was replaced on later models with a single-piece cast nose.

The British Sherman’s debut showed that the Allies had a tank superior to most German tanks and at least on a par with the Panzer IV ‘Special’, with its long-barrelled 75mm gun. However, the US Ordnance Department were aware that they had now entered an arms race against the Germans. Rumours of new and far more powerful German tanks became a reality when the first Tiger tanks appeared in Tunisia. Plans for the M4 Medium’s replacement were being considered as the first Shermans were entering production. The Sherman’s turret front plate was interchangeable, and it was planned to replace the 75mm gun with a 105mm howitzer for infantry support and install a 3in gun M7 to improve the Sherman’s ability to defeat the expected next generation of German tanks. The 105mm-armed M4 did eventually enter service, but the 3in gun proved difficult to fit in the Sherman turret (although the 3in M7 was successfully fitted in the M6 Heavy Tank and used in anger when fitted in the GMC M10 Tank Destroyer). The Sherman would eventually be armed with a higher-velocity gun in the form of the 76mm M1 and M1A1 guns, but this would be as a result of the failure of the T23 tank project (see below). In June 1944 it was intended to field 75mm and 76mm gun tanks in a ratio of two-thirds to one-third. Combat experience showed the value of the 76mm gun and by the time of the Rhine crossings in March 1945, approximately 40 per cent of the Shermans in the European theatre stocks were armed with the 76mm gun.

The M4 Sherman painted up in British colours and referred to by the British as the Sherman I. This example carries a 0.3in-calibre anti-aircraft machine gun on the turret, which was common practice for US vehicles.

One of the plans to replace the M4 Medium would emerge from the development of the T7 Light Tank, which in turn had been proposed as the replacement for the M2 and M3 Light Tanks. The M7 Medium took the T7 and replaced the 57mm gun with a 75mm gun in a new turret. This almost doubled the weight of the tank from 14 tons to 25 tons. Although a contract had been placed with the International Harvester Company in December 1942 to produce 3,000 M7 Medium tanks, trials of the pilot model showed that the new tank was grossly underpowered. Plans to replace the engine with a more powerful Ford V8 were shelved as the M4A3 Medium