M4 Sherman at War [Paperback]

Michael Green (Author), James D. Brown (Author)

Book Description

Series: At War | Publication Date: February 15, 2007

It was not the most heavily armored tank--it was tall and ungainly, and its firepower couldn't match the German tanks it faced--but by dint of sheer numbers and downright reliability, the M4 Sherman became the winning workhorse of World War II.

This book gives readers an inside look at one of the best-known American tanks from the point of view of tankers and other military personnel who experienced the M4 Sherman firsthand. With diagrams and descriptions of various components, it also details the triumph of American industry, which came into the war without a modern tank and overcame the Axis powers with 50,000 M4 Shermans. From harrowing first-person accounts of tank combat to close-ups of the M4 Sherman's mechanical make-up, this book gives readers an unprecedented insight into the tank that, more than any other, embodied American pluck and power.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Military Machines International, May 2007

“All in all, this is a well-rounded account of the M4 Sherman that has some excellent photographic materials that will serve the enthusiast and model-maker well.”

 

Internet Modeler, February 2007

“M4 Sherman at War is another fine offering of the ‘At-War’ series of books. This is a nicely concise but very informative book … For $20 you will be hard pressed to find a better book on the Sherman tank. I highly recommend this to any AFV book library or modeler.”

Midwest Book Review, May 2007

“Military specialty libraries strong on World War II won’t want to miss M4 Sherman at War … a fascinating, involving read.”

Book Description

It was not the most heavily armored tank—it was tall and ungainly, and its firepower couldn’t match the German tanks it faced—but by dint of sheer numbers and downright reliability, the M4 Sherman became the winning workhorse of World War II. This book gives readers an inside look at one of the best-known American tanks from the point of view of tankers and other military personnel who experienced the M4 Sherman firsthand. With diagrams and descriptions of various components, it also details the triumph of American industry.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Zenith Press; 1st edition (February 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076032784X
• ISBN-13: 978-0760327845
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #251,520 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michael Green is a freelance writer, researcher, and photographer. He specializes in military subjects and has authored and coauthored over 90 books. His books have been translated into German, Japanese and Georgian. In addition, Mr. Green has also authored and coauthored numerous articles for a variety of national and international military-related magazines including Armor; The Magazine of Mobile Warfare and Jane's Defense Weekly. Mr. Green is a lifetime member of the Marine Corps Tanker's Association and a tour guide at the Military Vehicle Technology Foundation.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Green at War, Again., February 21, 2007

By 

D. A. Smith (New Almaden, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: M4 Sherman at War (Paperback)

New from Zenith Press is writer Michael Green's fourth book in their At War series, M4 Sherman at War. This work is one of the best of the series and handles the development of this iconic bit of Americana in a popular, accessable style. This book differs from Green's previous work on the Sherman (now out of print) in that it draws the reader into the tank. Ample color photos, color cut-away diagrams and "previously unpublished" pictures, along with first hand accoutns of tank operations by WWII vets, will put the reader firmly in the drivers seat/loaders seat/etc... Of course, the book also highlights the development of the tank prior to the M4 and continues through the Korean War. The only thing I'd wished it would have covered was the Sherman in the Arab-Israeli Wars, but perhaps this topic will be covered in an upcoming "At War" book. All in all, this volume is a steal at Amazon.com prices, a must have for gamers and modelers.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Balanced & Interesting Examination of a Legendary Tank!, August 1, 2007

By 

Michael OConnor "Wordsmith" (Wausau, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: M4 Sherman at War (Paperback)

The M4 Sherman is THE American tank of the Second World War, seeing service in all theaters of war and being operated by a number of Allied units. That being said, the Sherman was a badly designed tank that was never the equal of its German contemporaries. That Sherman crews accomplished so much says more about their courage and steadfastness rather than the quality of the tank they manned.

The Sherman went to war an under-gunned, under-armoured and under-powered tank whose boxy, too-tall silhouette provided German tank and anti-tank gunners easy opportunities for kills. In a rare, pre-war blunder Chief of Staff George Marshall decided the M4's main mission was to be a weapon of explotation rather than a slayer of enemy tanks. The newly created tank destroyers were tasked with that duty. Yet realistically how could a Sherman crew pick and choose its opponents in a combat situation? Nevertheless Marshall, aided by General Lesley McNair, pushed through this doctrine and Sherman crews went to war in a seriously flawed design.

Green and Brown do an excellent job of documenting the Sherman's flawed beginnings, the seemingly endless - and usually unsuccessful - attempts to upgrade the basic design and its armament along with the stateside struggles between various Army bureacracies that hindered production of the best possible design.

Likewise in describing and illustrating the tank, its various components, and combat record, the authors do a bang-up job. The book is packed with photos, cutaways, profiles and digrams, many in color along with dozens of wartime photos and contemporary acccounts of the M4 in action.

All in all, a comprehensive, insightful, well-illustrated, and entertaining guide to a a combat legend. And only $19.95!

Recommended!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Tank That Won The War!, February 16, 2007

By 

Anthony Accordino (Massapequa Park, New York United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: M4 Sherman at War (Paperback)

Military historian Michael Green in collaboration with James D. Brown, has written yet another fine book that details the history of the M4 Sherman tank. Green meticulously follows the tank from its origins to its leading role in helping all the allies defeat the axis powers during WW-2. He points out the strengths and weaknesses of this legendary tank in great detail. The book is well stocked with illustrations and never before seen photo's of the tank and its crew mwmbers who so proudly served in battle. The Sherman was clearly not the best tank of the war, but its reliablity, adaptability, longevity and its overwhelming numbers made the M4 Sherman the greatest tank ever built. A must read for the budding military historian or that special grandfather who just may have served inside the mighty Sherman tank.