Any comments, corrections or additions are welcome. Some of these experimentals was standarized and went into production, some wasn't. Some of the latter group wasn't standarized for obvious reasons, but others should perhaps have entered production ? M4E1(i) - M4A1 fitted with 76mm gun in standard turret. Turret was later modified, but in the end replaced by a T23 turret. M4E2 - M4A4 with RD-1820 diesel engine. Test vehicle for M4A6 production vehicle. M4E3 - Test vehicle. M4A4 fitted with Chrysler V-12 engine. M4E4 - M4 fitted with torsion bar suspension. M4E5 - Prototype for 105mm gun versions based on M4. M4E6 - Test vehicle for T23 turret with M1A1 76mm gun and 'wet storage'. M4E7 - M4A1 fitted with Ford GAA engine. Not adopted. M4E8 - M4A3 fitted as test vehicle for HVSS and 76mm gun M4E9 - M4 with spaced out suspension and grousers. To be continiued ...
Do you have anything more on this one? I really wonder what it looks like and why it wasn't adopted (there seems to be plenty of room in a Sherman hull for torsion bars)?
The M4E4 and the M4A2E4, the latter an M4A2 with torsion bar suspension, are the most intriguing experimental variants of the Sherman as far as I'm concerned. I do have a picture, but I can't scan it because my USB ports aren't working. But it looks like a Sherman with six roadwheels similiar to the type found on the M24 Chaffee. I have little information to offer. My guess, however, as for why the torsion bar system wasn't adopted, is that the HVSS required no re-design of the hull to speak of.
Was the T-14 a Sherman with 'lowered' suspension? And what are those flaps at the side? Are they similar in use to the German 'skirts'?
T14 Military classification: schwerer Kampfpanzer Arms: 75 mm Kanone, 3 MG Armour-plating: 133 mm - 19 mm Weight: 42 Tonnen Motor: 520 PS Speed: 44 km/h Crew: 5 Mann Year of construction: 1943 Quantities: 2
It had the tracks of the M6 heavy tank. if i remember correcty this was constructed using two tracks as used in the m2-m3 light tank series side by side aglooka
T31 Demolition Tank The turret housed a dummy 105mm howitzer. This was flanked by two .30 machine guns in ball mounts. on each side of the turret was a T95 7.2 inch rocket launcher with a revolver feed holding 5 rounds each. the launchers could also be relaoded from inside the turret, the tank having 30 rounds in store. arrived at aberdeen proving grounds in august 1945 and developent was stopped after the war. aglooka
That's not specified in the description. I'd guess it is some sort of protection for the barrel from the blast of the exploding mine aglooka