---
title: "See what it was like to fight in a WWII Sherman tank"
description: "The Sherman tank of World War II is both legendary and infamous. Here's what it was like to fight in one of these historic tanks."
date: "2021-05-08"
modified: "2023-05-09"
authors:
  - name: "Logan Nye"
    job_title: "Senior Contributor, Army Veteran"
    link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/logan-nye.md"
url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/tactical/see-what-it-was-like-to-fight-in-a-wwii-sherman-tank/"
categories:
  - "History"
  - "Tactical"
  - "Vehicles"
  - "War History"
  - "World War II"
---

# See what it was like to fight in a WWII Sherman tank

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17309644/origin.jpg>)

The Sherman tank of World War II is both legendary and infamous. It was selected for World War II by [Gen. George S. Patton](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/was-movie-like-the-real-general-patton.md>), Jr. himself, America's first tank officer and a pioneer of armored strategy.

The traits for which Patton loved the Sherman, its speed and agility, ease of transport, and decent gas mileage, made it a general's tanks. The tanks could reliably be manufactured in large numbers and easily be deployed into transport.

![sherman tank in wwii](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17238710/origin.jpg>)
*American M4 Sherman tank advances during fighting in the European Theater of World War II. (Photo: Public Domain)*

But the [tradeoffs that made those traits possible came at a cost of what crews wanted in tanks](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQvnIPihy1U>). Their speed and gas mileage came from — relative to most of their German counterparts — light guns and armor. The Sherman's engine was designed for aviation use and was light and powerful but used a more flammable fuel than other tanks of the era.

So, while the Sherman could support friendly infantry and annihilate enemy infantry, they were [vulnerable to attack from enemy armor](<https://armedforcesmuseum.com/wwii-m-4-sherman-tank/>).

The war in Europe was therefore a nightmare for the tank crews who fought their way east from Normandy. They fought in cramped quarters, had to desperately vie for close shots on the flanks and rears of German tanks, and often had to reinforce their own armor with items stolen off the battlefield.

Get a look at what the crews in World War II Shermans had to live with in the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPTdxq_v7y8

## Author
Logan was an Army journalist and paratrooper in the 82nd. Now, he's a freelance writer covering military history, culture, and technology. He has two upcoming podcasts and a Twitch channel focused on basic military literacy.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/JustLoganNye>)  
[Facebook](<https://www.facebook.com/ProfHarlequin-111921498198749>)

## More

- [This experimental WWII tank was like a Sherman on steroids](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/this-experimental-wwii-tank-was-like-a-sherman-on-steroids.md>)
- [Why the Sherman tank was nicknamed ‘death trap’](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/why-wwii-soldiers-nicknamed-the-sherman-tank-death-trap.md>)
- [5 types of extra armor added to tanks during WWII](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/5-types-of-extra-armor-added-to-tanks-during-wwii.md>)
- [When Britain’s top tank slaughtered America’s](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/british-centurion-american-patton-tank.md>)
- [Why the M18 Hellcat was America’s most underrated tank destroyer in World War II](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/the-m18-hellcat.md>)
- [This WWII tank crew laid waste and inspired the movie ‘Fury’](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/wwii-tank-crew-killed-270-enemy-vehicles-less-3-months.md>)
- [America named four tanks after General George S. Patton](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/america-named-four-tanks-after-general-george-s-patton.md>)
- [Canadians put four cannons on an M4 Sherman tank during WWII](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/canadians-put-four-cannons-on-an-m4-sherman-tank-during-wwii.md>)