Sherman School: Part 2 | Differential Covers - M4 Sherman Tank

In this second installment of "Sherman School," we'll continue our exploration of the different hull types employed by the various models of the M4 Sherman Medium Tank that served as the backbone of the Allied Armor Divisions during WWII.
In today's class, we’ll focus our efforts on the Sherman's Differential Cover. Over the course of the tank's production run, three distinct differential covers were used across all variants of the Sherman tank. We'll learn some of the features of each of these differential covers, learn how to spot each one of them, and see how this falls in to our larger system for identifying the more than two-dozen variants of the iconic American medium tank.
If you'd like to pick up one of my Sherman Spotter's Guide or Sherman Data Sheet posters to follow along at home, you can do so right here: spruesnbrews-s...

[@okcmodeler2]

I really enjoy your presentation!!! The shorter segments make it easier to understand and retain all of the differences….. thank you for this series!!!!

[@Chilly_Billy]

🍎 for the teacher. Great series, Hank.

[@robbie.205]

Well done old chap, jolly good work 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@paulsawyer2326]

Great stuff Sir Stephen Ambrose. Keep the camera rolling.

[@raymondserafin9396]

Another great information. Can't wait for next class.Good working

[@armoredsaint6639]

Good stuff! I’ve noticed many of these variations, but didn’t quite put the timeline together. This is actually really cool, Thank you Sir!

[@SpruesNBrews]

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed - thanks for watching!!

[@chrispacer4231]

I’m only here for the SCHOOL I know you’re a big fan of the SHERMAN !!!!! Yes, I have learned something When you build a kit, it’s always good to be accurate as much as possible, especially when it’s a larger scale kit… YOU HAVE TO LOOK CLOSELY AT THE KIT YOU CHOOSE TOO BUILD….. I wrote a short ESSAY 😅 I’m enjoying this class…. I’ve watched these a couple times… CHRIS 🇺🇸

[@SpruesNBrews]

I'm glad to hear you're enjoying - thanks for watching!

[@bobrivett7645]

Very nice breakdown here in part 2 as well as your part 1 of Sherman school. Thank you for this looking forward to the next installment. PS. Your motivating to jump into my Sherman stash. But not I have so many projects in the works, and with weather warming up I can fire up my air brush and some these models that are waiting for their paint jobs. Anyway thank you hank.

[@KGmodels]

Hey Hank! This really helps to show the difference between the Sherman Models,especially that like 5 billion different types existed ;) .Now onto my question.I would want some questions for a Q&A as I want someone more expereinced (like you) to be the one asking,and I almost have enough,so your help will be greatly appreciated. (Anyone else that reads this Can also answer:)

[@dan8402]

Another great episode!

[@SpruesNBrews]

Thank you!!

[@MarMightyGood]

Wow part two came quick. This series is great so far.

[@benjaminbellestlandawatson4965]

This helps alot for my dio as i am making a operation overlord dio

[@SpruesNBrews]

Ooo very nice - enjoy!

[@colonelb]

Another great one. How do you do your research? I spend soooo much time trying to find details out and I get nowhere. Could you perhaps do a "research tips and tricks" video at some point? Cheers

[@SpruesNBrews]

Ohh that's a good call - thanks! I'll see if I can do something along those lines one of these days 👍

[@FinsburyPhil]

Hi Hank, great series, thanks. Feedback from a Brit - I see that on your spotter's guide you have the pounder in 17 pounder abbreviated as LBR - however the abbreviation was always written as pdr (17-pdr).

[@billballbuster7186]

I believe Differentiol Covers were factory specific as some used types a lot longer than others. The early single piece cover was first used at Fisher on M4A2, however Pullman and PSC continued with the 3-piece until well into 1943 and as you said all Detroit M4A4 used it until the end of production. I have seen info that the late single-piece was up armoured to 102mm.

[@mickk8519]

The Sherman Jumbo M4A3E2 had a transmission cover especially cast at 140mm.

[@billballbuster7186]

@@mickk8519 That was a a different cover specially made for the Jumbo. Only a few Jumbo's were built as the extra weight very badly degraded the transmission

[@ParkerStorm-q5p]

really good great job

[@kaikuklik9748]

Bravo 😊 Thanks a lot 🫡

[@jabonorte]

Nice!

[@Philzila702]

Yessssss! 😊

[@edwardlatham1971]

Great stuff, Hank. Enjoying the series. Any chance of a digital option on the posters? Postage to UK is prohibitive!

[@srenherskind2093]

haha I like this series

[@SpruesNBrews]

I'm glad to hear it - thanks!!

[@srenherskind2093]

U can just see how nerdy this is. Its to complicated for my little brain to handle. Im impressed u understand it all so well😂☺️

[@jimbe01]

Ackshully 🤦🏻‍♂️ the Sherman tank versions were the backbone of the “Western” allied armored forces.

[@tomdulski3729]

wow, very informative

[@SpruesNBrews]

I’m glad to hear it - thank you!

[@mickk8519]

Tut tut. You need to recheck your source material. The M4A4's were all supplied with three piece transmission covers. The M4A4's hulls designated for Firefly adaption were no different than any other lend lease M4A4. Any M4A4's with a one piece transmission cover would be post war modifications, or a very rare field repair. Also the later three piece transmission covers had sunken bolt heads along the top, or an up-swept protective ridge, unlike the original three piece originally fitted to the M3's and earliest M4A1's with exposed bolt heads. Although, one must not forget that there were three Firefly variants, one Sherman Vc, the above mentioned M4A4, and two types of Sherman Ic's, the M4 composit and the M4, both of which were supplied with one piece transmission covers.

[@SpruesNBrews]

Did you really just say “tut tut?” 🤔

[@mickk8519]

@@SpruesNBrews Yep. Imagine me like a school teacher marking your homework. And after saying that, I'm going to mark you down for a glaring mistake on your submitted work, the recognition poster. There were NO Firefly M4A1's, the hybrid was classified as an M4 Composit, on account that it had a cast front welded on to an M4. The Grizzly (all cast M4A1) manufactured in Canada under license, didn't reach Europe, and therefore didn't get a firefly recognition.

[@SpruesNBrews]

Except you’re not my school teacher… you’re an internet troll…? 🤔