Tank, Combat, Full Tracked,
76mm Gun, M4A2

The Royal Canadian Armoured Corps was equipped with with some 294 M4A2(76)W HVSS purchased in 1946 from the United States, at a unit cost of $62,000 each. In Canadian service it was officially listed as the Tank, Combat, Full Tracked, 76mm Gun, M4A2. It was also known variously as the M4A2E8 and the "Sherman". While the M4 series of tanks were certainly outmoded by the latter stages of WWII, these tanks were readily available and proved to be a valuable training acquisition for the Canadian armoured forces in post-war Canada. The M4A2 series of medium tanks were powered with twin General Motors 12 cylinder diesel engines. It had a maximum speed of 25 mph. Armour thickness was a maximum 4.25" thick, and the glacis plate was angled at 47º from the vertical. The suspension was the later Horizontal Volute Spring Suspension (HVSS) type and the tank was equipped with either steel or rubber block tracks. It was armed with a 76mm main gun. It was superceded in Regular Canadian armoured regiments by the Centurion series of main battle tanks in the early 1950's. The M4A2(76)W HVSS soldiered on into the 1960's equipping Canadian Reserve armoured regiments. Many have survived to this day on display as gate guardians across Canada. A restored example at the Oshawa Military and Industrial Museum, serial #64993, is maintained in full running order and is regularily paraded at various events throughout the year.

(21)
M4A2(76)W HVSS displayed at Canada's
Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario

Return to CANADIAN ARMOUR PROFILES page

Site Map

© Chris Johnson, 1997