This past fall, history rolled back into the US Army Armor and Cavalry Collection—literally. After eight decades abroad, an American World War II tank has made its way home from Europe. This is no ordinary Sherman, but a rare M4A1(76)W, one of the first U.S. tanks to carry the longer and more powerful 76 mm M1 gun.
The Sherman’s Role in WWII
The M4A1(76)W represented a significant upgrade to the iconic Sherman line, offering increased firepower to meet the evolving challenges of armored warfare. These “up-gunned” Shermans first saw combat in Operation Cobra, the Allied breakout from Normandy in the summer of 1944.
In 1944 alone, the Pressed Steel Car Company produced 2,171 of these tanks, followed by 1,255 more in 1945 that featured the later horizontal volute suspension system. But of all those thousands, the one that just arrived in our care holds a unique distinction.
The Oldest Known Survivor
The newest arrival is only the fourth M4A1(76)W ever built—and the oldest surviving example known today. Constructed in January 1944, it was shipped to the United Kingdom in April 1944 and assigned to an American unit by July 1944, just in time for Operation Cobra.
After the war, it received upgrades and modifications before embarking on a new chapter in the early 1950s as part of the U.S. Mutual Defense Assistance Program, likely serving in the French military. Eventually, it was returned to the U.S. Army and placed as a monument at the American base in Baumholder, West Germany, where it stood sentinel for decades.
From Europe to the Collection
Now back on U.S. soil, the M4A1(76)W has taken up a temporary position in one of the restoration bays. The goal is to present it in the wartime paint scheme of “In the Mood.” While its journey home marks an important milestone, the mission is far from over—the goal is to restore it for near time display in 2025, honoring its combat service and historical significance.
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