CMD M4 DD is a United States Tank unit.
Overview[]
The ubiquitous M4 Sherman medium tank evolved from the M3 Lee medium tank pressed into service as a stop-gap model in 1941. Designed by the U.S. Army Ordnance Department, the tank built upon proven technologies developed for American tanks of the 1930s, combining them with British experiences in tank design. The result was a versatile, reliable, and cheap tank much like the Soviet T-34.
The M4 entered service in late 1942, outperforming its older sibling in every aspect, the Sherman went on to become one of the most widely produced armored fighting vehicles of World War II. It was well armored, relatively fast, and cheap to produce, becoming the backbone of Allied armored divisions across the world and a major element of the Lend-Lease program for the Soviet Union. Nearly 50 000 tanks were produced before production ended in 1945 and were used across the world.
The normal M4 is the initial production version, using a Continental R975 radial engine and the 75mm M3 gun.
The DD stands for Duplex Drive (or Donald Duck among troops), indicating a Sherman fitted with a flotation screen and a propeller, allowing it to cross water barriers. DD tanks primarily served during D-Day operations, but a number of them were later used in Western Europe for river crossings.
741st Tank Battalion lost 27 of 29 tanks launched due to the high seas swamping the tanks before they could land. The lack of tanks support slowed the advance of the Omaha beach and high losses of the unsupported infantry forces.
Strategy[]
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