The permanent collection of the Museu do Caramulo has welcomed a 1943 M4A1 Sherman tank, the most iconic American armoured vehicle of the Second World War. Having fought on all Allied fronts, the Sherman stands as a symbol of freedom and of the industrial and military might of the United States during this pivotal period in history.
The M4A1 Sherman strengthens the Museu do Caramulo’s section dedicated to the Second World War and marks the first of several acquisitions the museum has made over the past year in preparation for a major immersive exhibition—unprecedented in Portugal—that will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the greatest conflict in history.
This Second World War veteran carries with it several curiosities, such as being the only operational Sherman in Portugal, as well as having featured in the Netflix mini-series “All the Light We Cannot See”, starring Aria Mia Loberti, Mark Ruffalo, Louis Hofmann, and Hugh Laurie.
About the M4A1 Sherman
After the United States entered the Second World War, an ambitious army rearmament programme was launched, with particular emphasis on armoured forces. The first result was the M3 medium tank—known as the “Lee” by the Americans and “Grant” by the British—which, despite its good armour, mobility, and firepower, had significant drawbacks, such as a high silhouette and the main 75 mm gun mounted in the hull, meaning the entire vehicle had to be turned to aim the weapon. Experience from the Blitzkrieg prompted the evolution of this model, leading to the development of the M4, which incorporated a rotating turret for the main gun while retaining many elements of the M3, such as its suspension, transmission, and engine. The latter was the Wright R-975 Whirlwind, a radial engine of aeronautical origin, producing 400 hp, though at the cost of high fuel consumption.
The first versions of the M4—the M4 (with a welded hull) and the M4A1 (with a cast hull)—were followed by the M4A2, which featured twin Detroit Diesel engines that proved more suitable for Soviet logistics. The tank’s combat debut came at El Alamein in 1942, where the Sherman demonstrated superiority over Axis armour. However, after arriving in Tunisia as part of Operation Torch, American forces encountered long-barrelled Panzer IVs and Tiger Is, suffering considerable losses. Even so, the M4 established itself as the Allies’ main battle tank in 1943, being widely used in the Sicily and Italian campaigns, with around 2,000 units being produced each month and broadly distributed among the Allied armies.
The real test came with the Normandy landings, where Shermans faced technologically superior German tanks. The British responded with the effective Firefly variant, and the Americans gradually introduced versions equipped with 76 mm guns. The Sherman’s overall success was not due to technical superiority, but rather to its combination of mechanical reliability and ease of mass production, all supported by effective air cover.
More than just a combat vehicle, the M4 Sherman became a symbol of Allied industrial capacity and the strategy of modern warfare. Nearly 50,000 units were built, and its operational life extended into the late 20th century across multiple theatres of war, securing its place as a landmark in the history of military technology.
Images: Daniel Peres
