Couple of things to keep in mind with the Sherman Family,
First the entire budget to develop the M4 was roughly 36,000. It was one of the greatest tragedies to the US Armor Corps.
The ordance department was limited to 30 tons, and essentially had to work with hand me downs and left over equipment.
The first M4 and M4A1 Shermans used Wright Cyclone Aircraft Radials as their powerplants since that was all that was availibile. Aircraft engines are not condusive to Armoured Warfare. They would foul plugs from idiling and overheat frequently.
It was not until the M4A2 that the Diesel was seen (M4A2 only Marine, Russian and UK use) then the standard M4A3 which was the Ford GAA-8 (Esentially the Rolls Merlin missing 4 cylinders). M4A4 used the Chrysler Multibank but also did not see US Army use but, became the Firefly modeled in the game (it also has a longer hull to accept the multi-bank)
They had to use the original 75 in the M4 and A1 family and did not recieve the 76 until later on.
The Sherman taken against it contemporaries (Panzer 1,2,3 and Pre-Ausf-H Mark 4's) was matched equally to it. From Mk4 Ausf H and up, it was woefully outclassed by the other tanks on the field. Including the M4A3E8 with the 76 and HVSS "wider suspension"
The Sherman stregnths was it tracks lasted 1000 of miles longers than the German conterparts,plus it had easier maintainabilty.
Further US Armoured Doctrine showed the Sherman was not to be used for any Tank vs Tank warfare. That is what Tank Destroyers (i.e. M-18's M-36's using the 90mm and light armoured hulls) were for.
US Tankers suffered among the highest casulties among any, and their bravery facing grossly superior equipment should never be forgotten.
My Grandfather and his crew with their M4A1 and earlier M3 Stewart
Tanks were for infantry support
