War Thunder Wiki - User contributions [en]

P-39N-0

2020-06-04T12:19:02Z

U80515240: I've changed the usage in battle section. Stock grind, enemies worth noting etc.

{{Specs-Card
|code=p-39n
|cockpit=332101/1100862
}}
{{About
| about = American fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other uses
| link = P-39 (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27.

The primary purpose of a P-39 is that of a low-level interceptor against low energy aircraft. It lacks the high-altitude performance needed to engage strategic bombers. The 37 mm M4's dropping trajectory and slow rate of fire make it useless in head-on passes. Therefore, prioritise low altitude objectives, like escorting attackers or low-alt bombers, or prey on the ones of the enemy.

== General info ==
=== Flight performance ===
''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 3,048 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
| 613 || 593 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 18.9 || 19.9 || 10.5 || 10.5 || 280
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 3,048 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
| 680 || 641 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 17.8 || 18.0 || 21.2 || 14.9 || 280
|-
|}

==== Details ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" | Features
|-
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear
|-
| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || X || X 
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Combat flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! + !! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|constructions}} || {{Specs|destruction|chassis}} || 450 || ~12 || ~9
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 360 || < 380 || < 450 || > 312
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 2,800 m || 1,125 hp || 1,446 hp
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===


* 15.87 mm Steel - Propeller hub
* 15.87 mm Steel - Plate in front of the cockpit
* 7 mm Steel - Plate over instrument cluster
* 6 mm Steel - Upper pilot's seat and headrest encasement
* 6 mm Steel - Rear tail
* 38 mm Bulletproof glass - Windscreen
* 64 mm Bulletproof glass - Headrest of pilot's seat

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

{{main|M4 (37 mm)|Browning M2 (12.7 mm)|Browning (7.62 mm)}}

The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:

* 1 x 37 mm M4 cannon, nose-mounted (30 rpg)
* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, nose-mounted (200 rpg = 400 total)
* 4 x 7.62 mm Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (500 rpg outer + 1,000 rpg inner = 3,000 total)

=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|M8}}

The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

* Without load
* 6 x M8 rockets

== Usage in battles ==

The P-39 Airacobra is an exceptional aircraft at a B.R. of 3.0. American planes are known to be heavy, sluggish, slow turning aircraft with mediocre climb rates. Not this one though. With a turn time of 18.0 seconds and a climb rate of 14 m/s, this is a formidable opponent to even the most agile of aircraft. With a deadly arsenal consisting of 4 x 7.62 machine guns, 2 x 12.7 Brownings, and a 37 mm M1 cannon, firepower is not a reason to worry. With 3000 rounds for your six machine guns, and 30 rounds for the 37mm, ammo shouldn’t bother you.

'''Stock Grind'''

The P- 39 has a relatively easy stock grind as it’s easy to fly and doesn’t require “ace” skills to master it. Your first priority should be fuselage repair. The other modules in order is Compressor, 12.7 Ammo belts, new 12.7 Browning, Radiator, 37 mm ammo belts, new 37 mm cannon. Then you should prioritise performance modules, then the survivability modules, and at last firepower modules. The rockets should be your lowest priority, as they are useless against ground targets with at least a little bit of armour. As for crew skills, G-tolerance, stamina and vitality is primary. Repair rank of 2 is also recommended.

'''Tactics: Air Arcade'''

Air arcade is the best mode for researching modules when the vehicle is stock. I would personally recommend you this mode, until you reach at least tier III modifications. Apart from that, the Airacobra isn’t exceptionally strong in arcade as the other aircrafts get boosts in performance too. Dogfighting and Boom n’ Zoom is recommended.

'''Tactics: Air Realistic'''

Air realistic is where the Airacobra shines. It turns into bloody warrior dishing out oblivious enemies left and right. Of course, this is quite hard with a stock vehicle, but not impossible. When the vehicle is upgraded, you’re the one doing the hunting. When taking off hold WEP and climb until your water temperature is about 114 C. Then stop WEP and climb as high as possible, occasionally using WEP. Your optimal combat altitude is about 3000m, but any altitude above is fine. It is recommended to bind keys for small calibre guns and large calibre guns separately. Convergence is best at 500m. Boom n’ Zoom is a smart tactic, but dogfights are not discouraged. However, keep in mind, STAY OFF BOMBERS. They are not your targets. They are for heavier, more armoured vehicle with better survivability. Your fragile frame, and a tendency to catch fire easily makes you stay clear of bombers.

'''Tactics: Ground Realistic'''

Since you are unable to carry any serious ordnance, your role is air superiority. Get rid of light armoured vehicles with the rockets and strafe targets so the friendlies can see them. Deal with other fighters challenging your dominance and try to deal with bombers. Always try to keep the element of surprise on your side. However, overall, the A-36 is preferable over the P-39 in ground battles.

'''Enemies worth noting'''

'''Germans'''

Your most common enemy. The BF 109 will out-climb you and out-gun you. But you will out-turn him and out-roll him. Be on the lookout for the BF 109 F variants, and avoid engagements if possible. As for the Fw 190, do whatever you like but DON’T go head on. Try to turn fight.

'''Japanese'''

Your most dangerous enemy. NEVER, EVER attempt to turn fight an A6M2 or an A6M3. They will wreck you in the bat of an eyelash. To be on the safe side never engage a Japanese. Boom n’ Zoom is the only tactic. If one gets on you six, dive and pick up speed and get the hell out.

'''British'''

The spitfires are a nasty bit of work, requiring experience and skill alike. They almost impossible to get off your tail and damn hard to down one. Since your roll rate is much higher you should try to barrel roll with 0% thrust and combat flaps and when slow enough put out landing flaps. When they overshoot either mow the down or retreat, and fast.

'''Soviets'''

Never head on with a soviet plane. Be especially wary of any plane with Yak. Turn fighting is a viable option. Boom n’ Zoom is not a bad idea.

Basic dogfighting skills apply. Use energy tactics and only fire the cannon under optimum conditions. A separate key for the main gun is advised. Otherwise, utilise the given machine guns at every opportunity. Especially those 7.62 mm light machine guns in the wings, with 3,000 rounds you wont run dry that fast. The center/cowling mounted .50 cals provide great long range accuracy & harassment.

"Jack of all trades, master of none" is the credo of the Airacobra. Thus the basic tactic is to analyse your opponent's weakness and then exploit it. The P-39 will always find an area in which to exceed the foe, or at least is enough of a match to allow pilot skill to dictate the outcome of the engagement. Given the P-39's sleek and rather aerodynamic form, BnZ is the preferred form of combat. However TnB is an option as well. Again, the P-39 provides all the options a pilot could want: "Jack of all traits, master of none".

=== Manual Engine Control ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="7" | MEC elements
|-
! rowspan="2" | Mixer
! rowspan="2" | Pitch
! colspan="3" | Radiator
! rowspan="2" | Supercharger
! rowspan="2" | Turbocharger
|-
! Oil !! Water !! Type
|-
| Controllable || Controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Not auto controlled || Separate || Not controllable 1 gear || Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Modules ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! Survivability
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair
| Radiator
|
| Offensive 7 mm
|
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 7 mm MGs
| Offensive 12 mm
|-
| III
| Wings repair
| Engine
|
| Offensive 37 mm
| New 12 mm MGs
|-
| IV
|
| Engine injection
| Cover
| New 37 mm cannons
| Rocket Launcher M10
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Heavy armament
* Great dive speed and acceleration
* Reasonable turn time
* Great amount of 7.62 (.306) ammo (750 rpg)

'''Cons:'''

* "Jack of all trades, but master of none"
* Three different weapon trajectories make aiming difficult, although this is less of a problem if you are a proficient P-400 pilot
* Long countdown for the 37 mm in both overheating and reload
* Easy to stall with full controls
* Cannot fire the 2 MGs separately
* Ammunition count for the M2s is low, limiting their usage time

== History ==


The P-39 Airacobra was a single-engine fighter used in the Pacific and Eastern fonts. The aircraft was produced 1940 – May 1944, and its first flight was 6 April 1938. The manufacturer of this aircraft was Bell Aircraft. As mentioned before in the intro this aircraft is great in low attitude combat making it useful in naval battles for escorting torpedo bombers. The original idea for the Airacobra was a defensive interceptor which would protect American shores for the axis powers. Destroying low flying torpedo and normal bombers was a wet dream for this aircraft has it could easily ripe the wings and tail. The plane originally was sent to Britain but has aircraft became more powerful and dogfights where happening higher and higher in the atmosphere and it was sent back to the states. The US then gave the P-39 Airacobra to the Aussies and was used to patrol the northern shores of Australia. The aircraft later was fitted with bombs and more cannons forcing it into a ground pounding role has it could now pen some tanks of the 1939-1942 era. Today P-39 Airacobra can be found in the Air force museum and others around the world.

=== In-game description ===
Bell's P-39 Airacobra was a WWII-era American fighter that was notable for its uncommon design: the engine was placed behind the cockpit, and the landing gear moved from the tail to the nose. The aircraft was adopted by five countries: USA, Britain, Soviet Union, Portugal and Australia.

The P-39N was the first variant to be mass produced, with the P-39N-0 getting a new V-1710-85(E19) engine and a 3-blade Aeroproducts propeller with a 3.15 meter diameter. Starting from aircraft #167, some fuel tanks were removed from the wings to reduce weight, and a connection for additional fuel tanks was installed under the hull. To further increase flight performance, Soviet engineers often removed the wing-mounted machine guns, leaving two nose machine guns and a cannon.

As this variant, Bell produced 2,095 aircraft. Most of these were sent to the Soviet Union on the US's Lend-Lease program. In November 1942, the USSR received the first Airacobras, and the fighters showed good results in battle maneuvers at low and moderate altitudes. Many famous Soviet aces — such as Pokrishkin Alexander Ivanovich, Rechkalov Gregory Andreevich, Gulaev Dmitry Nikolaevich and Kutakhov Pavel Stepanovich — piloted the Airacobras during WWII.

== Media ==
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''

== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''

* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
* ''other literature.''

{{AirManufacturer Bell}}
{{USA fighters}}

M4A2 (76) W

2020-03-20T11:00:09Z

U80515240: Added new con.

{{Specs-Card|code=us_m4a2_76w_sherman}}
{{About
| about = American medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other uses
| link = M4 (Disambiguation)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_M4A2(76)WSherman.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was one of the first American tanks to be released with the American ground tree in [[Update 1.45 "Steel Generals"]]. The tank is similar to the [[M4A2|original M4A2]] tank, except with the better [[M1 (76 mm)|76 mm gun]] in the T23 turret.

The M4A2(76)W has an unusually high profile and thus it is difficult to drive around undetected. While playing this tank, the M4A2 is an easy target for [[Jagdpanzer_IV|Jagdpanzers]]. However, if correctly camouflaged, it is possible to get the first shot off. Also, the sides and rear of this tank are very poorly armoured. Thus, Sherman's fuel tanks and engine catch on fire very easily.

One redeeming fact of this model is that the ammo is in the centre of the tank so it's harder to hit than in previous Sherman models ([[M4|M4]], [[M4A1|M4A1]], [[M4A2]], and [[M4A3 (105)|M4A3(105)]]), but the more powerful tanks like the [[Tiger_H1|Tiger H1]] and [[Panther_D|Panther D]] can easily destroy the M4A2 even if it shoots first. In addition, they can easily penetrate the frontal armour at almost all ranges and in most cases, if they are using the correct ammo, the shells' shrapnel will knock out the entire crew. Consequently, the best chance of survival is to fight near allied tanks which allow the 76 mm gun to be effective. With two machine guns, the M4A2 can defend itself and the team from enemy aircraft or clear forested areas where German tank destroyers could be.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===

'''Armour type:'''

*Rolled homogeneous armour
*Cast homogeneous armour (Turret, Transmission area)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 63.5 mm (47°) || 38.1 mm || 38.1 mm || 19.5 mm
|-
| Turret || 88.9 mm || 63.5 mm || 63.5 mm || 25.4 mm
|-
! Armour !! Sides !! Roof
|-
| Cupola || 63.5 mm || 25.4 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, the bogies are 10 mm thick, and the tracks are 20 mm thick.

=== Mobility ===


{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 635|rbMinHp= 363|}}

== Armaments ==
=== Main armament ===

{{main|M1 (76 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="6" | [[M1 (76 mm)|76 mm M1]]
|-
! colspan="3" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity
! rowspan="1" | Vertical guidance
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal guidance
! rowspan="1" | Stabilizer
|-
| colspan="3" | 71 || -10°/+25° || ±180° || Vertical
|-
! colspan="6" | Turret rotation speed (°/s)
|-
! style="width:4em" |Mode
! style="width:4em" |Stock
! style="width:4em" |Upgraded
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
|-
| ''Arcade'' || 14.28 || 19.80 || 24.0 || 26.60 || 28.20
|-
| ''Realistic'' || 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.4 || 22.60 || 24.00
|-
! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Stock
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
|-
| 7.67 || 6.78 || 6.25 || 5.90
|-
|}

===== Ammunition =====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 90°'''
|-
! 10m
! 100m
! 500m
! 1000m
! 1500m
! 2000m
|-
| M62 Shell || APCBC || 127 || 125 || 116 || 106 || 97 || 89
|-
| M42A1 Shell || HE || 7 || 7 || 7 || 7 || 7 || 7
|-
| M79 Shot || AP || 155 || 154 || 131 || 107 || 88 || 72
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="11" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" |Velocity in m/s
! rowspan="2" |Projectile Mass in kg
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse delay''
''in m:''
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse sensitivity''
''in mm:''
! rowspan="2" | ''Explosive Mass in g (TNT equivalent):''
! rowspan="2" | ''Normalization At 30° from horizontal:''
! colspan="3" | ''Ricochet:''
|-
! 0%
! 50%
! 100%
|-
| M62 Shell || APCBC || 792 || 7 || 1.2 || 20 || 63.7 || +4° || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
| M42A1 Shell || HE || 800 || 5.8 || 0.1 || 0.5 || 390 || 0° || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
| M79 Shot || AP || 792 || 6.8 || N/A || N/A || N/A || -1° || 47° || 60° || 65°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="7" | Smoke characteristic
|-
! Ammunition
! Velocity in m/s
! Projectile Mass in kg
! ''Screen radius in m''
! ''Screen time in s''
! ''Screen hold time in s:''
! ''Explosive Mass in g (TNT equivalent):''
|-
| M88 || 274 || 3.4 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 50
|-
|}

===== [[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] =====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full ammo
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |3rd rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |4th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |5th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual discrepancy
|-
|| '''71''' || 57 ''(+14)'' || 43 ''(+28)'' || 29 ''(+42)'' || 15 ''(+56)'' || 1 ''(+70)'' || style="text-align:center" | Yes
|-
|}

=== Machine guns ===

{{main|Browning M2 (12.7 mm)|Browning (7.62 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="7" | [[Browning M2 (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
|-
! colspan="7" | ''Pintle mount''
|-
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate (shots/minute)
! rowspan="1" | Vertical guidance
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal guidance
|-
| colspan="4" | 600 (200) || 577 || -10°/+30° || ±60°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="7" | [[Browning (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]
|-
! colspan="7" | ''Coaxial mount''
|-
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate (shots/minute)
! rowspan="1" | Vertical guidance
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal guidance
|-
| colspan="4" | 3,000 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in the battles ==


=== Pros and cons ===

'''Pros:'''

* Higher top speed compared to the previous vehicle
* Great rate of fire for the main gun
* Angled frontal slope which may sometimes bounce larger calibres if angled correctly
* A standard 5 crew members, which equates to 3 spare crew members to take over positions of the tank if necessary
* A pintle-mounted heavy machine gun (12.7 mm), which can be used for anti-aircraft and against light armoured vehicles
* Wet ammo storage - Which reduces greatly ammo rack chances, is indicated by the "W" in its name, this also means tightly packed ammo only placed under the turret
* Fast turret traverse

'''Cons:'''

* Is quite tall
* Prone to tipping over when travelling across steep inclines
* Sides and rear are thinly armoured
* Engine compartment is poorly armoured
* Susceptible to nearby artillery explosions
* Narrow tracks mean poor ground flotation and cross country performance
* Only reaches its top speed on paved surfaces
* Lacks the add-on armour module found on the 76 mm M4A1 and M4A3
* Unlike the earlier M4A1 (7n6) W, Cruise Control 1 setting is slightly above the maximum speed that the stabilizer operates at
* Completely useless when going against Tigers and Panthers unless you flank them.

== History ==

=== M4 Sherman ===
The start of World War II and the Battle of France had America find that their current armoured forces were completely inadequate to fight back a German armour assault. With only the [[M2A4|M2 light tanks]] and the [[M2]] available with their 37 mm cannons, the Americans greatly increased their efforts in tank development to bolster their defences but to satisfy demands from Great Britain for adequate tanks to rebuild their decimated armoured forces. The requirements set by the US Army called for a tank armed with a 75 mm gun. While a 75 mm gun was available for use, a turret mounting the gun on a tank was not. Thus, while the turret and tank design underwent development, the 75 mm would be mounted on the stopgap design - the [[M3 Lee|M3 Lee]] tank - in a "sponson" mount. During the M3's development, the designs of the 75 mm armed vehicle were submitted by the Ordnance Department. In April 1941, the Armored Force Board chose the simplest of the designs, which was a redesigned M3 hull and chassis with a turret mounting the 75 mm gun designated the ''T6'', completed in September 1941. This tank would then designated the '''[[M4|M4 Sherman]]'''. The production for the Sherman began in October 1941 and would continue to be produced until the end of the war in 1945 with around than 50,000 units produced, making it the second most-produced tank in World War II before the [[T-34 (1942)|T-34 tank]]. The Sherman first saw service in North Africa in the hands of the British, and the Shermans continued to see service throughout the North African campaign, Tunisian campaign, and the Italian campaign in the British and American armies. However, the 75 mm gun on the Sherman soon found itself saw as inadequate when the Germans began fielding their new generation of heavy tanks, the [[Tiger H1|Tiger I]] and the [[Panther D|Panther]], which could defend itself against the 75 mm gun and take out the Sherman at a long range. A desire to up-gun the Sherman grew among Ordnance officers to fight incoming armour threats and started as far back as 1942.

===Development===
The desire for a hole puncher on the Sherman started in the Ordnance department, seen as an improvement to the Sherman tank's overall combat ability to fight future tank threats. It started with the adaption of the 3-inch anti-tank gun, the most powerful American anti-tank weapon at the time, into the M4 Sherman. The gun proved too heavy and too bulky for a straight adaption so a simpler and smaller gun model was created called the ''76 mm M1'', which could be practically fitted into the M4 Sherman turret. The 76 mm differed from the 3-inch in ammunition as well, using a different propellant case but the same shells. The first guns were trialled in a [[M4A1|M4A1 Sherman]], but while Ordnance approved the vehicle, Armored Board rejected it as it caused the turret interior to be too cramped for the crew and also the lack of need of such vehicle. This solution was fixed by taking the cancelled T23 project and adapting the turret into the Sherman, which was easy as the Sherman and the T23 used the same turret ring diameter. The larger turret allowed for a more practical mounting of the 76 mm gun and more room for the crew to move around in. This variant was approved and production was to start in early 1944 for the upcoming invasion of Europe in Operation Overlord to counter the German Tiger I and the Panther tanks.

===Design===
Aside from the enlarged T23 turret, the Sherman interior layout was largely unchanged from the original design. The driver and bow gunner still sat in the front, the three-man turret crew in the centre, and the engine compartment in the back. The exterior design of the hull was also largely unchanged with the vertical volute suspension system (VVSS) and sloping front armour.

The '''M4A2(76)W Sherman''' model ran on a GM 6046 diesel engine. Being built off the original [[M4A2|M4A2]], the hull construction was welded, which proved simpler to produce than casting. Early M4A2 variants had the front armour plate placed on a 56-degree sloping angle, but this design had protrusions on the driver and assistant driver hatches that created "shot traps" as these protrusions gave less protection than the frontal armour plate. This was fixed on later models with 47-degree angling instead, which eliminated the shot traps and made the frontal armour more effective than before. The M4A2(76)W variant, as indicated by the name, mounted the 76 mm gun instead of the usual 75 mm. The "W" designation on the Sherman indicated that the vehicle had the "wet stowage" feature in response to complaints that the Sherman can easily catch fire due to exploding ammunition. The "wet stowage" encased the ammo containers in a liquid mixture that would douse the flames when penetrated or block flaming shrapnel from penetrating shots from hitting the ammunition. The containers also placed all the ammunition in the bottom centre of the tank, reducing the likeliness of it being hit by a shell as the penetrating shell must go through every armour and obstacle to hit the tank centre. This feature was only present after February 1944 and severely decreased the rate of Sherman fires. Of the 49,234 Sherman produced in World War II, 2,915 M4A2(76)s were produced from April 1944 to May 1945.

===Combat usage===
Despite the stock of 76 mm Shermans now available for them, the commanders opted to not bring any during the invasion of France in June 1944. The issues were logistical, as having a 76 mm armament would mean supplying a different set of ammo to the task forces. Another issue was that the 76 mm gun had a less lethal high-explosive round at hand, meaning combat against infantry or fixed emplacements would be slightly harder. This forced 75 mm armed Shermans to have to compete against the better armed and armoured Panthers and Tigers in the initial period of the invasion. The combat debut of the 76 mm Shermans as the [[M4A1 (76) W|M4A1 (76)]] was during Operation Cobra in July 1944, as a response to the growing German armour threat in Europe. The 2nd and 3rd Armored Divisions received 52 of these Shermans and the rest were distributed among the tank battalions in the infantry divisions. Deliveries of the M4(76) began coming into Europe from August 1944. The M4 (76) and M4 (75) Shermans served alongside each other, though the 75 mm Shermans were around in larger numbers and the opinions of the 76 mm cannon vary from a necessary addition to a burden. Nevertheless, the M4(76) began to be supplied among the tank battalions and armoured divisions to face the intense combat at the Siegfried Line. The 75 mm guns stayed as the primary armament of the armoured forces until the Battle of the Bulge, which had much American armour destroyed by the German onslaught of heavy German tanks such as their [[Panther G|Panther]] and [[Tiger II (H)|Tiger II's]]. The negative response from both troops and press had Allied commanders, even Eisenhower himself, request only 76 mm Sherman to be delivered instead of 75 mm in response. The new units arriving in Europe after the Battle of the Bulge were all equipped with 76-mm Shermans. Despite their appearance, 75 mm Shermans were still in stock in the armoured divisions and were still held in high regards for their better capacity to destroy soft targets with high-explosive shells.

After the war, the Shermans continued serving America and its allies as the [[M4A3 (76) W|M4A3E8]] with a new suspension and 76 mm gun. The [[M26|M26 Pershing]] that was introduced late in World War II was phased out for the Shermans due to its unreliability, and the Sherman stayed until the [[M46|M46 Patton]] was introduced. After being phased out of American service, many other countries still used the Sherman as their main tank, mainly Israel where they up-gunned the tank with the much powerful post-war French 75 mm and 105 mm gun as the M-50 and M-51 respectively (nicknamed "Super Shermans"). These proved successful as they were able to fight against the Soviet-supplied [[T-54 (1947)|T-54 tanks]] and [[T-34-85]]s in Middle East service, proving the Sherman as a successful and adaptable design for many years to come.

=== In-game description ===
"The new tank modification, based on the M4A1 (76)W, was an upgraded T23 turret and a long-barrelled 76 mm M1A1 cannon, later an M1A2. The turret included a cupola, the turret ventilator moved from the roof to the back wall, and the frontal armor was thickened to 100 mm. Beginning in August 1944 the reloader was given a separate round folding hatch. In March 1945 the M4A2 (76)W's suspension went through a significant change: two road wheels in each bogie turned into four (two paired), the volute springs went from vertical to horizontal, and the balance system was modified accordingly. A hydraulic shock absorber was also installed on every bogie.

Between May 1944 and the end of the war, 2,915 of them were made in total.

A significant number of units, around 2,070, were shipped to the USSR via Lend-Lease.

The Shermans helped liberate Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Austria, also seeing combat in the battle for Berlin."

== Media ==
[http://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?q=%23m4a2_76 '''Camouflages''' and '''skins''' for the M4A2(76) from live.warthunder.com]

== Read also ==
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== Sources ==
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{{USA medium tanks}}