M4A3E8 Easy Eight (Uparmoured)
(US055)
includes one M4A3E8 Easy Eight (Uparmoured) & one Tank Commander.
The M4A3E8, better known as the Easy Eight, marked the pinnacle in the Sherman design. Essentially the same as the M4A3 (76mm), the Easy Eight model introduced a new track and suspension system.
The Horizontal Volute Suspension System (or HVSS, for short) made it much easier to replace damaged road wheels and a new wide track was developed to improve the tank’s offroad performance. Together this gave the Sherman a much improved ride and far better flotation over soft ground.
To help counter the German weapons of the period, such as the simple-to-use hand-held Panzerfaust anti-tank launcher. To deal with these threats, US tankers made their own improvements to their Shermans, such as adding extra armour plating, sand-bag improvised armour, additional machine-guns, and taking aboard dedicated riflemen as tank escorts to keep the enemy at bay.
The Uparmoured M4A3E8 Easy Eight in Flames of War
Mobility: Standard tank
Armour Front: 8
Armour Side: 5
Armour Top: 1
Co-ax 0.50cal MG, Hull MG, .50cal AA MG, Protected ammo,Tank telephone, Wide tracks
M1 76mm gun (late)
Range: 32”/80cm
Rate of Fire: 2
Anti-tank: 13
Firepower: 3+
Stabiliser
Tank Telephones
By the end of 1944, most Sherman tanks working with infantry had been fitted with field telephones on the rear to allow the infantry to point out targets to the tanks.
If a Tank team with Tank Telephone and an adjacent Infantry team did not move in the Movement Step, and the Infantry team is not Pinned Down, the Infantry team can use the Eyes and Ears rule (see page 195 of the rulebook) to Reveal one Gone to Ground enemy team to that Tank team as if the Infantry team was a Recce team. If other tanks in the platoon fire, they must either have their own Infantry team pointing out the target or continue to treat the target as Gone to Ground.
Protected Ammo
Many tanks are destroyed not by the enemy shell but by their own ammunition being hit by white-hot fragments of armour and exploding. The chances of this were minimised by providing a safe place for stowing ammunition within the vehicle such as an armoured compartment or inside a water-filled jacket.
If forced to bail out, crews of tanks with protected ammunition are far more confident when it comes to remounting their vehicle quickly.
Tanks with Protected Ammo re-roll all failed Motivation Tests to Remount Bailed Out vehicles in the Starting Step (see page 102 of the main rulebook).
Wide Tracks
Some excellent tank designs have successfully utilised wider tracks, allowing them to cross almost any Terrain.
If a vehicle with Wide Tracks becomes Bogged Down while attempting to cross Rough Terrain, roll again. On a roll of 4+ the vehicle immediately frees itself and continues moving.
