Weight (combat loaded): 37.4-tons (33,928-kg)

Length: 24' 10 (7.56-m)

Width: 9' 9” (2.99-m)

Height: 9' 8” (2.94-m)

Crew: 5

Armor:

Hull front: 2.5” (63-mm)

Turret front: 2.5” (63-mm)

Weapons:

Primary: 1x 76-mm M1A1/M1A1C/M1A2 gun

Secondary: 1x .50-caliber M2HB machine gun

2x .30-cal M1919A4 machine guns

Ammunition:

71x 76-mm

600x .50-cal

6,250x .30-cal

Engine: General Motors 6046, 12-cylinder, 2-cycle, twin inline, 375-hp

Power/weight: 10.2-hp/ton

Fuel Capacity: 148-USG (560-l)

Range: 100-miles (146-km)

Speed: 25-mph (40-km/h)

The tank being offered, M4A2(76)HVSS, serial number 50331, registration number 3082929, is an older restoration and is in excellent all around condition. The exterior paint is in excellent shape. All suspension components are in excellent condition and function normally. The drive sprockets are a variation of the D47366 part type. It is equipped with T84 rubber chevron tracks. The rear exhaust deflectors open and close normally and are equipped with hold open chains. An RC-298 Interphone Extension Kit box is mounted on the right, rear of the hull. Also mounted on the rear of the hull is the blanket rack. It is complete and opens and folds normally. All exterior lights are present. Attached to the hull in its proper mounting brackets is a tow cable. Six spare track blocks are mounted on the hull sides. All of the tank's doors and hatches open and close without trouble. The loader's hatch head cushion is in excellent condition. The commander's cupola periscope holder rotates freely in its ball race. The interior paint is in excellent condition with the interior components appearing to be complete. The driver's controls operate normally. Both the driver and assistant driver's seats have seatbelts. The turret rotates manually. It is not known if the turret traverse motor functions. The main armament elevates and depresses manually. Intercoms and a radio are mounted in the turret along with a pair of headsets. All periscopes have good glass. Three spare periscopes are included. Several dummy/inert rounds of 76-mm ammunition are included with this tank. The pioneer tool set includes a shovel, axe, sledgehammer, idler wrench, “tanker” bar, mattock and mattock handle. The tank has been operated on one engine as the other is overfull on oil.

The M4A2(76)HVSS was the last type of the M4A2 series produced during World War II. Production of the M4A2(76) with vertical volute suspension system (VVSS) began in May 1944 at the Fisher Body Division of General Motors. The M4A2(76) was the first type of M4A2 to incorporate wet stowage ammunition racks for it's main gun ammunition. With wet stowage, the main gun ammunition was stowed in racks that were surrounded by jackets filled with water or an ethylene glycol solution to prevent freezing. These liquid-filled racks helped to slow down or snuff out propellant-based fires when the tank's armor was penetrated by enemy anti-tank weapons. 1595 M4A2(76)VVSS had been built by Fisher by the time production transitioned to the wider-tracked M4A2(76)HVSS in January 1945. Other than possibly a very small handful, all of the VVSS equipped tanks were shipped to the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease.

As noted above, Fisher began production on the M4A2(76)HVSS in January 1945. HVSS stands for horizontal volute spring suspension. This type of suspension became the preferred type of suspension for the M4 series beginning late in 1944. HVSS gave a better ride than the earlier VVSS type and had a 23-inch wide track shoe that provided superior flotation to the VVSS' 16.5” track. Between January and May 1945, Fisher built 1299 M4A2(76)HVSS with Pressed Steel Car building 21 more between May and June 1945.

While 460 M4A2(76)HVSS were shipped to the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease, there has yet to be any verified accounts of them seeing any combat. Post-war, some of the Soviet tanks had their turrets removed and were then used as snow plows by the Soviet National Railway Company. Of the remaining 800-plus tanks, the U.S. Army used 529 as parts vehicles. These parts vehicles were stripped of their turrets, HVSS components and anything else useful so that M4A3(75) Shermans could be converted into M4A3(76)HVSS types. 300 M4A2(76)HVSS were sold to Canada in 1946 for $1,460 each where they were used as training vehicles into the 1950s. 60 or so of these tanks are on display at various museums and monuments in Canada.

Transport Cost to Storage: $4,488