The tanks look the same to me....Can anyone build on the differneces between the two tanks? and why the Jumbo was built? Was it its arch enemy Panther tank?

I found thsi text

History: Prior to the invasion of Europe, combat experience in North Africa and the Mediterranean had shown the weakness of the M4 Sherman armor. With progress on the T-14 assault tank going nowhere, it was decided to "up-armor" a standard late model 75mm M4A3 Sherman. This tank, nicknamed "Jumbo", was classified as the M4A3E2. From May to July 1944, the Fisher Tank Arsenal had modified 254 vehicles to this configuration. These modifications included adding 1.5 inches of armor plate to the glacis and upper hull sides. This increased the front armor from 2.5 inches to 4 inches and the sides from 1.5 inches to 3 inches. The differential housing was also replaced with a casting of 5.5 inches, increasing the thickness by 1.25 inches. Except for a minor alteration to the transmission, the deletion of the lights and siren, and a taller gun travel lock mount, there were few modifications to the hull.


Give more when I find it.

The turret was different. The armor was increased all the way around with a much thicker mantlet that was horizontal as opposed to the rounded mantlet on the 75mm or 76mm turrert.

The front slope and sides of the hull were uparmored as well. The extra armor added much more weight to the vehicle making the tank slower and adding additional wear to the suspension components.

They were designed as assault tanks to penetrate enemy strong points and bunker busters but eventually were put in the front of normal tank columns because it could take a hit from an enemy tank.

It was not designed to defeat a Panther.

To add more detail to the above, the turret was a whopping 130mm all round, giving the M4A3E2 a good chance of surviving a hit from an 88...

The regular M4A3 looks very different from the M4A3E2. The extra plates on the hull are not too evident from a distance, but the turret is very noticeable. It's far more flat on top, resembles the 76mm turret a bit in shape, but is more angular where the top slopes into the sides. This was because unlike the other Sherman turrets, the Jumbo had a roof that was welded in place, rather than a one piece casting. Also, the mantlet is very angular.

Should you need pics, just let me know your email addy, I have plenty of pics of this beasty.

if I'm not mistaken all Jumbos had Duckbills on their tracks in order to lower the ground preasure.

My first "encounter" or knowledge of a Jumbo was playing 1/285 scale WW2 Microarmor using a rules set called Tractics back in the 80s.. Column of Shermans is advancing on my Nashorn (it's what they gave me...) I fire 3 rounds at the lead Sherman expecting to blow the turret off it and block the road.. They all bounced..

Ever since I have wanted to build one.

That is correct on the duckbills. Of the little I know on Shermans, that stands out. Because of the weight of the armor and the small tracks (to meet the Armor Ordinance? requirements that a tank be so big to meet shipping needs - this was disregarded near the end of the war), the tank sank in mud. So Duckbill extenders were added (of course, I remember someone saying that the duckbills were sheered off relatively easy, so I guess I'll ask, did these units operating the Jumbos get restocks of the extenders?

Here is a link to a whole bunch of pictures I have taken of the Jumbo a couple of hours away from me. This should give you a good idea of what they did indeed look like compared toa regular sherman.

http://milveh.tripod.com/Pictures/wwiivehicles/jumbo/index.htm

On the aside, can anyone provide a list of all the units the Jumbo's were issued? I am specifically looking for Units with them in Italy.

(PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE)

I don't recall jumbos in Italy. The jumbo was usually the lead tank in an advancing column. Since the drive towards Germany was spearheaded in NWE that is where the jumbos were used.

The duckbills were added to all jumbos as the all up weight was ten tons heavier than the standard sherman. The turret was 3" thick at the front plus the block mantlet was 7" inches thick. The sides were 6" thick and the rear was 2.5" thick. The panther' s gun could not penetrate the front armor at long range and the IV had to use its heavily rationed APTCR (tungsten I may be wrong on the initials)) rounds at anything but point blank ranges. Originally the turret used the 75mm but in Mar 45 all jumbos were ordered rearmed with the 76mm as it had 1" better penetration.

I know that SOME of the Jumbo's were sent to Italy, I jsut do not know with which units. I have photo's from Italy showing Jumbo's.

I know that there is some shermaholic that has a list of which units got what tanks, so I am hoping that they will be able to share their info with me! (please)