M4A3E8

## Basic Information

The **M4A3E8 Sherman** is an American tier 6 medium tank.

The M4A3E8 is one of the most mass-produced modifications of the main U.S. armored vehicle of the World War II period. The tank featured the welded hull and Ford GAA carburetor engine. A total of 11,424 vehicles with the improved HVSS suspension were produced by Fisher Tank Arsenal and Detroit Tank Arsenal from June 1942 through March 1945. The vehicle is also known as M4A3 (76) W. It took part in many after-war conflicts up to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.

Nicknamed as the "Easy-Eight" or "E8", this tank is a quicker, slightly better armored version of the M4 Sherman. It also has an upgraded 76mm gun with an improved rate of fire and better accuracy. Considering all this, the M1A2 should not be overlooked on the upgrade path in comparison to the M1A1 as it really brings out the E8's strengths. Despite the increased armor compared to the M4 Sherman however, the E8 is still a very soft target and will be easily destroyed if it stays exposed to enemy fire. In addition, it's twin, the M4A3E2 Sherman Jumbo has thicker armor and a few more hitpoints than the M4A3E8 Sherman, but worse gun handling (dispersion on the move) and gun depression.

Finding a balance is a necessity and is excellent practice for the American mediums that are to follow, which all share a similar lack of armor. Its strongest point is its excellent mobility. It accelerates very quickly on all ground and loses little energy in turns which makes it an ideal flanking tank. Anyone who underestimates this gem will very soon become a smoking wreck.

The M4A3E8 Sherman leads to the T20.

## Pros & Cons

##### Pros:

* Rapid rate of fire and reasonably good damage per minute
* Mobile: usable top speed and maneuverability, also great hull traverse
* Excellent 12 degrees of gun depression plus strong gun mantlet make hulldown tactics a viable option
* Exceptional gun handling for a tier 6 medium, ability to use Vertical Stabilizer
* Decent HP

##### Cons:

* Practically no armor except for gun mantlet
* Tall profile, large and weak sides are easily hit, penetrated, sometimes even overmatched
* Poor penetration and alpha damage
* Acceleration is respectable but not particularly fast.

## Performance

If you enjoyed the M4, but wished it was faster, then you may love this tank. Like the M4A3E2, it gets the more powerful Ford GAA engine. Unlike the Jumbo, it doesn't have a bunch of extra armor welded on to weigh it down. As a result, this tank is the fastest and most maneuverable of the Sherman variants. It can also take advantage of a Vertical Stabilizer. Coupled with its good mobility and already good gun dispersion on the move, it can easily flank and destroy less maneuverable vehicles in a hail of 76mm shells.

Despite the fact that it is considered a fragile tank, it has still a strongpoint on its armor; the gun mantlet. Covering the majority of its turret face, tall height plus the E8's amazing gun depression makes hull-down positions useful. Of all the Tier 6 flanking mediums, it has the best armor. From the front, it is able to withstand low-tier autocannon, absorb direct hits from large-caliber high-explosive shells and if hull-down, medium tank cannon if they strike the large mantlet. Despite the resilience of the armor, it is no Sherman Jumbo and should always be treated as a medium tank.

Its biggest asset and crippling flaw is its gun; the 76mm Gun M1A2 has excellent DPM, a very fast aim time, and good dispersion multipliers by tier 6 standards, and can be augmented by Gun Rammers and Vertical Stabilizers to make the M4A3E8 a formidable flanker. However, it achieves its excellent DPM through its rate of fire; it's DPS of 115 is the lowest for any top gun on any vehicle, tied with the Sherman Jumbo which employs the same selection of guns. Furthermore, with an AP penetration of 128mm, it is the lowest on any Tier 6 medium tank. Because of its low DPS and AP penetration combined with poorer armor, many players consider the Jumbo a better vehicle due to its armor. But the Easy Eight was never a particularly easy tank to play; in the hands of a skilled player, it will easily out-flank the clumsier opponent.

Run and gun tactics are a must with the E8, as it has enough speed and maneuverability to relocate in time. Coupled with a high rate of fire, good gun dispersion on the move and the ability to use a Vertical Stabilizer, it is capable of executing flanking maneuvers well. The higher than average gun depression angle allows the E8 to take up hull-down positions quite effectively as well. With the rapid rate of fire the E8 can devastate misplaced enemies.

The E8 tends to be most successful as a flanker a passive scout. It has the speed and maneuverability to succeed at flanking where the E2 couldn't. This lets it hit the sides more easily, where the low penetration is less of an issue. The high rate of fire will devastate any victim. Work with teammates to distract victims to ensure maximum surprise.

If flanking is not an option, then sniping is entirely possible. However, the middling accuracy, low penetration and low alpha damage tend to reduce its role. Still, passive scouting is possible, with its 370 meter view range.

Compared to the Cromwell, this tank suffers from a high profile, lower damage per shot with the top guns, lower penetration, slower top speed, worse acceleration and inferior turret traverse. However, the Easy Eight has substantially better protection, slightly better HP, better hull traverse, superior view range, and significantly better gun depression and elevation. Gun handling is also vastly superior to the Cromwell, especially with Vertical Stabilizer mounted. Although the M4A3E8 is arguably less flexible, it often has the advantage in an individual duel against its less stable and more poorly armored British competitor.

## Historical Accuracy Errata

The M4A3E8 is depicted in World of Tanks Blitz with T80 double-pin tracks.

* M4A3E8 Shermans with the 75mm gun or 105mm howitzer still had the original D50878 turret. The in-game version only offers the T23 turret which was armed with the 76mm gun.
* Ford GAA engine is slightly more powerful than in reality, with 520 hp compared to the historical 500.
* The Wright Continental engines were only fitted to the M4, M4 Composite and M4A1 variants. Its configuration on the M4A3E8 is fake.
* Uses the same D51072 turret as its predecessor, yet the view range, turret traverse and weight values are inconsistent.
* The 76 mm M1A2 is the same gun used on the T71 DA. Yet the penetration value of the AP shell is inconsistent.