Hornby M4A3(76)W Battle of the Bulge

The Chrysler Corporation began producing the M4A3(76) in March 1944. Many of their first units arrived almost simultaneously in France and Italy in August 1944. Like all the Shermans, it saw a steady flow of minor improvements, and versions of this tank with HVSS (horizontal volute spring suspension) started arriving in December 1944, just prior to the Axis push into the Ardennes region. These versions would become increasingly common as replacement tanks entered the combat zone. The tanks were very well received, and the Ford GAA was an excellent engine for a tank in the Sherman's weight range.

The low RPM of the motor matched the existing gear ratios in the transmission, and the motor was more than capable of handling the stresses most operations put it under. Once the HVSS suspension versions began replacing previous tanks, this model truly became the ultimate Sherman. The French 2nd Armored Division received a small number of M4A3(76)s just prior to their dash to liberate Paris, making them probably the first to use this model in combat.