- For the Steel Division II unit see SD2:M4A3E2 Jumbo
M4A3E2 Jumbo is a United States Tank unit. It is the most heavily armoured tank fielded by the Allies and is in fact the most heavily armoured tank in the game, boasting more side and rear armour than the vaunted Königstiger. The US 3rd armored is the only wielder of this impregnable tank, with one Jumbo available in phase B and two packs of two Jumbos each available in phase C. It is equipped with a standard 75mm gun that can only deal with vehicles and the earlier German medium tanks.
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 M4A3 sub-designation indicates a Sherman model manufactured with a Ford GAA V-8 engine, welded hull and either the 75mm medium-velocity general-purpose gun or 76mm medium-velocity general-purpose gun.
The M4A3E2 (Jumbo) sub-designation indicates a M4A3(75)W tank modified with an additional 8 tons of armor, bringing the total thickness of the frontal glacis to 101.6mm for an effective frontal armor of nearly 180mm, together with a redesigned T23-style turret. 254 Jumbos were built at the Fisher Tank Arsenal and shipped to Europe to act as assault tanks, aiding infantry in breaking out of the Normandy beachhead.
Strategy[ | ]
One of the most devastating tools in the American arsenal and definitely a worthy investment, Jumbo is best described as a bruiser, able to take punishment and keep on coming. Its frontal armor is pretty much impregnable to every Nazi tank and anti-tank gun, save for close-range HEAT attacks and long range 8,8 cm guns. Its armor is better, in fact, than the Königstiger (P) and Königstiger (H). On top of that, it has better side and rear armor than either (33% better on the sides and 10% more in the rear) and speed (33% faster off-road, though only ~8% while using them). All the usual considerations for Tiger IIs apply (save for the absence of a powerful gun). Frontal unsupported charges against enemy lines can, should and will result in a burning jumbo wreckage. While it cannot be reliably penetrated from the front except by the Pak 43 and its mounted variants, it can still be panicked by enemy aircraft or repeated anti-tank gun fire.
The second wrinkle is the fact that the Jumbo mounts only a late 75mm tank gun, rather than the much more powerful 76mm or the 17-pounder, meaning it's essentially a meat-shield for lighter, but better armed vehicles. It works quite well heading thrusts and helping other units spot targets by absorbing incoming fire. This was in fact its historical role in the Northwest Europe campaign: leading tank columns and soaking up hits. The jumbo should form the vanguard of an armoured thrust, supported by units that do have the firepower needed to punch through heavy German armour.
Gallery[ | ]
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