My 2 cents worth....
Having served in Shermans for 4 years (M4A2E8) I can comment on a few things.
The Sherman would do over 30 mph (reached over 40 mph downhill once, but threw a track) on roads especially, but only in high (5th) gear. Most of the time was spent in 3rd gear going cross country at speeds between 20-25 mph. Using 4th gear was a stepping stone to get the transfer case into almost an overdrive state. It usually took about 3-4 weeks to train a Sherman driver how to shift from 2nd gear to 3rd gear as it was an incredibly difficult feat. The driver had to sit down and actually lower his seat (low and away from his periscope), use TWO hands to pull the floor mounted shift lever (at his right side) backwards, then double clutch several times. It would ALWAYS grind into gear, even with the double clutch and until a driver got the rhythm, many times it would simply roll to a stop as the driver let the RPM's drop too low to permit the transfer case to slip it into 3rd from 2nd. The rest of the shifts were the same, but nowhere as challenging. Sometimes, we used to cheer when a new driver actually learned how to make this transition consistently.
The gun was the 76 mm with a coaxial mounted 30 cal. It was gyroscopically stabilized so one could fire "on the move" with a stable gun platform. We used to engage targets on the MTR at about 600-800 yards while moving, but the preferred firing mode was from a stopped position. The Sherman used "power traverse" which could rotate the turret 360 degrees in 17 seconds. It had a manual horizontal wheel backup system, placed at the gunner's right hand, but it would take almost 2 1/2 minutes to get the turret around 360 degrees. Having served with a lot of vets who went through WWII in Shermans (75 mm Mk4), they would always comment that the German armor did not have power traverse, especially the Tiger. The result was that one of their major tactics was to hunt in two's and to keep moving laterally to the Tiger while firing, so as to stay ahead of his traversing speed with the 88 mm. They also said that their 75 mm's would simply bounce off Tigers at 800 yards, so they always tried to get around their rear though high speed maneuvering in attempts to get a rear aspect shot, which was the most vulnerable part of the Tiger.
Just some ramblings from an old Sherman warrior. Hope they help.
Badger
Sherman (M4A2E8) & Centurion
Group 3 Gunner (RCAC)
Group 2 Driver Mechanic Tracked (RCAC)
Group 2 Signaler (RCAC)
CC and Trooper Leader Instructor
wow....that sure was a long time ago. You guys are stirring up a whole bunch of old and hidden memories. Some good, some bad.
