Sherman Register - British designations

Index > Sherman subjects > British designations for US medium tanks and related AFVs

British designations for US medium tanks and related AFVs

The table below lists the designations given to US-built AFVs by the British military. "Paper" designations - i.e. given to tanks which were never supplied - are not listed to prevent confusion. Tanks listed below were all supplied in substantial numbers and used operationally, except where noted.

Medium Tanks
British designation	US designation	*Numbers supplied^()**
Lee I	M3 Medium Tank
Grant I	M3 Medium Tank with British designed turret and other modifications
Grant II	M3A3 or M3A5 Medium Tank with British designed turret and other modifications
Sherman I	M4 Medium Tank	2,073
Sherman IB	M4(105) Medium Tank
Sherman IBY	M4(105) HVSS Medium Tank	small number (delivered late 1945)
Sherman IC	M4 Medium Tank modified with 17-pdr gun (Firefly)
Sherman Hybrid I	M4 Medium Tank with composite hull: cast front and welded rear end
Sherman Hybrid IC	as Sherman Hybrid I but modified with 17-pdr gun (Firefly)
Sherman II	M4A1 Medium Tank	885
Sherman IIA	M4A1(76)W Medium Tank
Sherman III	M4A2 Medium Tank	5,033
Sherman IIIAY	M4A2(76)W Medium Tank - not used operationally	5
Sherman IV	M4A3 Medium Tank - not used operationally	7
Sherman V	M4A4 Medium Tank	7,155
Sherman VC	M4A4 Medium Tank modified with 17-pdr gun (Firefly)
Medium Tank-based conversions
Grant ARV I	ARV I conversion based on Grant I or II
Grant ARV II	M31 TRV
Grant CDL	CDL conversion based on Grant (or Lee)
Sherman III ARV I	ARV I conversion based on M4A2
Sherman V ARV I	ARV I conversion based on M4A4
Sherman V ARV II	ARV II conversion based on M4A4
Sherman II ARV III	M32B1 TRV
Sherman III BARV	BARV conversion based on M4A2
Sherman Kangaroo	Sherman III converted into APC	75 (used in Italy)
Sherman III DD / DD I / DD II	M4A2 with DD / DD I / DD II conversion
Sherman V DD / DD I	M4A4 with DD / DD I conversion
Sherman IIIAY DD III	M4A2(76)W HVSS with DD III conversion	small number (in British service late 1945)
Sherman Crab I / II	M4A4 fitted with mine flail equipment
Sherman-related AFVs
M10 17pdr SP Gun	M10 3in Gun Motor Carriage modified with 17-pdr gun Note: also referred to as "Achilles IIC 17pdr SP", but this is very much a paper designation.
M10 3in SP Gun	M10 3in Gun Motor Carriage Note: also referred to as "Wolverine 3in SP Gun", but this is very much a paper designation.
Priest 105mm SP Gun	M7 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage
Priest Kangaroo	Priest converted into APC (used in Normandy as well as Italy)

^(*)includes the Shermans supplied to the Polish; the Free French were supplied by the USA.

Sources:

'Sherman Nomenclature'. R.A.C. Liaison letter no. 14, 15 June 1944.
'Shermans fitted with E8 - 23" Horizontal Volute Suspension - Nomenclature'. DRAC Monthly LL no. 22, 15 February 19 45
'Identification list of U.S. Tanks and Armoured Cars. (All Production Unless Otherwise Stated)'. Situation Report no. 26, Appendix "D", no date.
'U.S. Medium Tanks Gun Motor Carriages Identification Tests (In supersession of relevant entries in S.R. 26 Appendix D)'. Situation Report no. 28, Appendix "B", no date.
War Office letter No. 57/Tanks/2805 (R.A.C.3.a), 'Classification and nomenclature of Armoured Fighting Vehicles', Appendix 'B', 1 November 1944; Appendix 'C', 14 March 1945.

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Last update: 19-12-2002