M4, 3rd Platoon, "B" Company, 8th Tank Battalion, US 4th Armored Division, Avranches. Illustration by Steven j. Zaloga
The M4 was the primary tank produced by US for its own use and the use of its Allies during World War II. Production of the M4 Medium tank exceeded over 50,000 units. The M4 tank was comparatively fast and maneuverable, mechanically reliable, easy to manufacture and service, and produced in many special-purpose variants, whose capabilities differed greatly. It was effective in the infantry support role. The M4 performed well against World War II Japanese tanks, Italian tanks, and the German standard tank of the time, the Panzer IV medium series. The only other Second World War tank produced in comparable numbers to the M4 was the Soviet T-34 series, which many critics consider as a contender for best tank of World War II.
