Katerina Swanson
The M4 Sherman tank was the most widely used tank series among the Western Allies during World War II. It was employed by the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, as well as British, Canadian, Free French, and Soviet forces. The M4 Sherman was renowned for its reliability, ease of maintenance, and good firepower. However, it also had a high fuel consumption rate, with Soviet tankers noting that it consumed great quantities of fuel. The fuel economy of the M4A3 variant was 0.87 mpg (270 L per 100 km) on roads and 0.40 mpg (588 L per 100 km) off-road, with an average fuel expenditure of 428 L per 100 km. Now, let's delve into the details of the Sherman tank's fuel usage and the factors that influenced its fuel efficiency.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Average speed | 9.25 mph (14.9 kph) |
| Fuel economy | 0.87 mpg (270 L per 100 km) on-road and 0.40 mpg (588 L per 100 km) off-road |
| Average fuel expenditure | 428 L per 100 km |
| Fuel expenditure for M4A1 and M4A4 | 0.47 mpg (500 L per 100 km) and 0.40 mpg (588 L per 100 km) respectively |
| Fuel expenditure after speed upgrade | 1.09 miles per British gallon (259 L per 100 km) |
| Engine weight | 709 kg |
| Number produced | 49,324 |
| Fuel system | revised fuel system to improve stalling engine |
| Fuel issues | Fuel supply was interrupted |
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What You'll Learn
M4A3 Sherman fuel economy
The M4A3 Sherman was a highly reliable tank that underwent extensive testing and saw action in World War II. The tank was equipped with a Ford GAA V8 gasoline engine, which offered superior performance compared to the R975 engine used in earlier Sherman variants.
In terms of fuel economy, the M4A3 demonstrated varying results in different trials and conditions. One source mentions that the M4A3 achieved an average speed of 9.25 mph (14.89 km/h) during trials in 1943, with a fuel consumption of 1.1 mpg (214 liters per 100 km) on the highway and 0.5 mpg (470 liters per 100 km) off-road. These figures are comparable to those of other Sherman variants tested during the same period.
However, other trials indicated higher fuel consumption rates for the M4A3. One trial conducted in 1944 reported an average fuel expenditure of 428 liters per 100 km for the M4A3, which was significantly higher than that of the M4A1 and M4A4 variants tested in the same conditions. This particular trial focused on reliability rather than fuel economy, and the M4A3 demonstrated superior reliability by travelling the furthest distance before breaking down.
It is worth noting that fuel consumption can be influenced by various factors such as terrain, speed, engine condition, and load. The M4A3 was reported to have experienced issues with oil leaks, engine power loss, and cylinder misfires during some trials, which may have impacted its fuel economy. Additionally, the M4A3's fuel consumption was found to increase with higher water and air temperatures, resulting in a decrease in miles per gallon.
Overall, while the M4A3 Sherman exhibited varying fuel economy figures in different trials and conditions, it demonstrated superior reliability and performance compared to other Sherman variants, making it a valuable asset during World War II.
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M4A1 and M4A4 fuel economy
The M4 Sherman tank was widely used by the US and Western Allies during World War II. The M4 Sherman series was the only tank series to see action in every theatre of the war. The US also provided the tanks to other Allied nations through the Lend-Lease program, with Britain receiving over 17,000, France 657, and the Soviet Union 4,035.
The M4 Sherman had seven main sub-designations during production, which included the M4A1 and M4A4. These sub-types mainly differed in their engines. The M4A4 had a longer engine that required a longer hull and more track blocks, resulting in wider longitudinal spacing between the bogies.
In 1943, the Americans conducted large-scale trials of all types of Shermans, including the M4A1 and M4A4. The tests aimed to reach 400 hours or 4,000 miles before the engine failed. The M4A1 and M4A4 both reached an average speed of 8 mph (13 km/h), while the M4A4 took 45 hours to service, compared to 132 hours for the M4A1.
While the fuel economy of the M4A1 and M4A4 is not explicitly stated, the M4A2, which reached an average speed of 9.5 mph (15.3 km/h), had a fuel consumption of 1.1 mpg (214 litres per 100 km) on the highway and 0.5 mpg (470 litres per 100 km) off-road.
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Fuel fires
Although the Sherman tank was no more prone to fire than any other tank, it did gain the grim nickname "Tommy Cooker" due to its tendency to catch fire when hit. This was largely due to early design flaws, which were later addressed by the introduction of \"wet storage\" for ammunition.
The primary cause of fires in Sherman tanks was ammunition, not fuel. Ammunition is designed to explode and provides its own oxygen supply, allowing it to burn much hotter and without the need for an oxygen-rich environment. Unlike fuel, ammunition is often stored in areas that are easily accessible to the crew, making it far more deadly to the crew and other vital systems. In the worst-case scenario, ammunition that is hit by enemy fire can detonate and produce a fire hot enough to start a chain reaction, detonating all the remaining ammunition within the tank and resulting in a catastrophic loss.
Fuel, on the other hand, does not tend to ignite as readily or cause a vehicle cook-off. While both petrol and diesel fuels will react with oxygen to produce fire, the conditions within a fuel tank are not particularly oxygen-rich, making it less likely for fuel to ignite.
To address the issue of ammunition fires in Sherman tanks, modifications were made to the ammunition storage. The "wet storage" configuration, also known as "wet stowage", involved placing the ammunition around water pockets or adding water jackets to the ammo racks. This innovation reduced the likelihood of a fire after being hit to around 15%, a significant improvement over the 60-80% likelihood of a fire with "dry storage."
While fuel fires did occasionally occur in Sherman tanks, they were far less common and less deadly than ammunition fires. In many cases, the fuel tank of the Sherman was found intact after a fire, with tankers describing "fierce, blinding jets of flame" that were consistent with burning pressurized hydraulic fluid rather than gasoline-related fires.
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Fuel system improvements
The M4 Sherman tank's fuel system underwent several improvements throughout its service life. One of the key issues addressed was the engine's tendency to stall under high load due to interrupted fuel supply. This issue was found to be a result of incorrect engine installation, and was rectified.
Another issue was the high fuel consumption of the Sherman tank, which was noted to be a problem especially when compared to its German and Soviet counterparts. The M4A3 variant, equipped with the Ford GAA engine, demonstrated improved fuel economy, achieving 0.87 mpg (270 L per 100 km) on roads and 0.40 mpg (588 L per 100 km) off-road. The average fuel expenditure was 428 L per 100 km.
To address the issue of fuel leaks, extended end connectors ("duckbills") were issued by the U.S. Army to add width to the standard tracks. This was a stopgap solution, with late-model Shermans featuring wider-tracked suspensions that helped resolve the issue.
The fuel system of the Sherman tank was also modified to improve its reliability. In November 1943, several M4A1 Shermans were tested with British innovations, implementing up to 60 experimental changes. These changes were deemed successful after a 600-mile run and firing, improving the reliability of the tank.
The auxiliary power unit (APU) of the Sherman tank was also an improvement, allowing the tank's batteries to be charged without running the main engine, which was a feature appreciated by Soviet tank crews.
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Fuel supply interruptions
The Sherman tank's fuel economy was not particularly impressive, especially when compared to its German and Soviet counterparts. David M. Glantz, for instance, noted that the Sherman "consumed great quantities of fuel".
The M4A3 variant of the Sherman tank was found to have a fuel economy of 0.87 mpg (270 L per 100 km) on the road and 0.40 mpg (588 L per 100 km) off-road. The average fuel expenditure was 428 L per 100 km. This was an improvement over the M4A1 and M4A4 variants, which had lower average speeds and higher fuel consumption.
The high fuel consumption of the Sherman tank may have been due in part to its engine design. The Ford GAA engine, used in the Medium Tank M4A3 variant, produced 450 hp at 2600 RPM. This made it more powerful than other engines used in tanks at the time. However, this increased power came at a cost, as the fuel expenditure increased from 1.29 miles per British gallon to 1.09 (from 219 to 259 L per 100 km).
The Sherman tank's fuel system was revised in November 1943 to improve the stalling issue. British innovations were tested on several M4A1 Shermans, and a total of 60 changes were implemented, most of which were considered successful after a 600-mile run and firing.
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Frequently asked questions
The fuel consumption of a Sherman tank varied depending on the model and the terrain. The M4A3 model had a fuel economy of 0.87 mpg (270 L per 100 km) on the road and 0.40 mpg (588 L per 100 km) off-road. The average fuel expenditure was 428 L per 100 km. The M4A1 and M4A4 models had a lower average speed and higher fuel consumption, with an average fuel economy of 0.47 mpg (500 L per 100 km) and 0.40 mpg (588 L per 100 km) respectively.
The fuel efficiency of the Sherman tank was influenced by its engine design, terrain, and driving conditions. The Sherman tank was designed with mobility and ease of manufacture and maintenance in mind, which may have impacted its fuel efficiency. Additionally, the engine periodically stalled under high load due to an interrupted fuel supply, which could have contributed to higher fuel consumption.
The Sherman tank was known to consume "great quantities of fuel" in comparison to its German and Soviet counterparts, such as the T-34 and the Panther tank. This was partly due to its relatively narrow-set tracks, which struggled to negotiate muddy terrain, resulting in higher fuel consumption in certain conditions.
