The collection of the main tanks of the USSR allies in the Anti-Hitler Coalition, presented in the museum of military equipment of the UMMC, was replenished with two new exhibits: the M4 Sherman (Sherman HVSS), named after the American General of the Civil War, William Sherman, and the British " Cromwell, "which received its name on behalf of the English statesman and warlord XVII century Oliver Cromwell. Both exhibits are located on the open site of the museum complex.
M4 "Sherman" is considered one of the most famous tanks of World War II. It is represented in museum and private collections and collections around the world, from February 1942 to July 1945, its output was almost 50,000 units, making the Sherman the third largest tank in world history and the most mass combat tracked vehicle in the United States. The order of 4000 "Sherman" was delivered to the USSR under the Lend-Lisa program. The Allied Tank took part in many major battles of the Great Patriotic War.
"Shermans" are represented in the museums of Moscow and St. Petersburg, and since 2016 its modification M4A4 is on display at the open site of the Museum of Military Equipment of UMMC. However, despite the popularity of this machine, our Museum is ready to surprise the guests with a new "highlight" - a modification of the Sherman M4A2 HVSS, one that was supplied to the USSR and took part in battles to defeat militaristic Japan. In this modification, a new tower with a more powerful long 76mm. the M1 gun, which was approaching by characteristics to the Soviet ZIS-S-53 gun, mounted on the T-34-85. But the main feature is a deep upgrade of the suspension of the middle tank, which received the designation HVSS. It was this decision that increased the reliability of the tank and ensured a long life for the Shermanas, which with new types of cannons and towers served in different countries until the mid-1970s. XX century ", - said the deputy museum of military equipment UMMC Kirill Yakimov.
As noted by members of the UMMC military equipment museum, the middle tank is Cruiser Mk. VIII Cromwell "is considered the best English tank of the Second World War, however, according to many historians of military equipment, it was clearly inferior to the allied tanks of the class - the Soviet" Thirty ", and the American" Sherman ".
"Paradoxically, practically from the very beginning of its production, from the middle of 1943, the" new "tank is already seriously outdated. He was going "in the old fashion" in the traditions of the First World War: sheets of rolled and fairly thick armor (32 - 76 mm. ) fastened on rivets and bolts to the frame almost vertically, without rational tilt.
A small mass of 27.5 tons allowed the tank to develop a good speed up to 60 km / h, but narrow tracks led to a great pressure on the ground and impaired the patency. And the 57-millimeter cannon could still overcome the "Panther" under certain circumstances, but it proved powerless against the armor of the Tigers, "said Kirill Yakimov.
In the Soviet Union, in order of acquaintance, the British sent 6 Cromwells, but nothing is known about their application at the front.