I was relating to a friend that the 50k odd shermans made came to 30 or something per day over the war. He said surely they surely didn't all see combat. So, how many were actually used? Did the Americans have much trouble transporting them all over the Atlantic fast enough for use, or to replace losses?
Hi OP, so a quick glance over at Wiki tells me that Sherman tanks have been in service from 1942 until today. While that may or may not be true, I'd like to get some clarity on your question: is there a specific era/engagement you're interested in (e.g. WWII) or are you asking about the entire lifespan of these tanks (and if so, note that this sub has a 20-year rule against discussing current events)? Thanks!
The most commonly accepted figure for the manufacture of Sherman tanks is 49,234, including the single T6 prototype. Here is a breakdown by specific model:
| Model | Amount |
|---|---|
| T6 | 1 |
| M4(75) | 6,748 |
| M4A1(75) | 6,281 |
| M4A2(75) | 8,053 |
| M4A3(75) | 1,690 |
| M4A4 | 7,499 |
| M4A6 | 75 |
| M4(105) (incl. HVSS)^a | 1,641 |
| M4A1(76)W (incl. HVSS)^b | 3,426 |
| M4A2(76)W (incl. HVSS)^c | 2,915 |
| M4A3(75)W^d | 3,071 |
| M4A3E2 | 254 |
| M4A3(76)W (incl. HVSS)^e | 4,542 |
| M4A3(105) (incl. HVSS)^f | 3,039 |
| Total | 49,234 |
Notes:
a: production switched from VVSS to HVSS at R/N U.S.A 30111868 in September 1944
b-d: production switched from VVSS to HVSS after 1 January 1945
e: production switched from VVSS to HVSS at R/N U.S.A 3031610 in August 1944
f: production switched from VVSS to HVSS at R/N U.S.A 30111383 in September 1944
Although there is no exact figure on the amount of Shermans produced that actually saw combat, a rough number can be extrapolated. Here is how Shermans were issued to the United States and her allies during WWII, from Zaloga's Armored Thunderbolt.
Type|Issued to US Army Overseas|Issued to US Army Stateside|Issued to USMC|In Depots 1945|Tests/Other|Lend-Lease :--|:--|:--|:--|:--|:--|:--|:-- M4(75)|3,573|372|0|240|414|2,149 M4A1(75)|2,932|374|0|249|1,780|946 M4A2(75)|48|1|493|62|36|7,413 M4A3(75) (no differentiation between dry and wet stowage)|2,765|580|330|579|500|7 M4A3E2|254|250|0|0|1|3|0 M4A4|0|6|1|37|11|7,443 M4A6|0|62|0|13|0|0 M4A1/A3 (76mm)|7,968|5,174|545|1|837|81|1,330 M4/-A3 (105mm)|2,009|556|289|1,119|114|593 Total|16,751|2,496|1,114|3,841|3,072|21,959
Interestingly, Zaloga's other "Sherman Lend-Lease Shipments 1942-1945" table a few pages away (below) does not jive with his table above. There are a couple odd omissions, such as the fact that France used M4A1(75)s, that China received 814 Shermans, and Brazil 53.
| Country | M4/M4A1(75) | M4A1(76) | M4A2(75) | M4A2(76) | M4A4 | M4(105) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | 3,128 | 1,330 | 5,048 | 20 | 7,168 | 593 | 17,287 |
| USSR | 0 | 0 | 2,040 | 2,095 | 2 | 0 | 4,135 |
| France | 0 | 0 | 383 | 0 | 274 | 0 | 657 |
| Other (all models) | 57 |
So at most, it can be estimated that the destinies of about 9,400 Sherman tanks did not involve seeing combat in WWII for the following reasons, along with some explanation and further details.
Unallocation. The end of the war in Europe essentially rendered the entire US 1945 production of Sherman tanks extraneous to the war effort. The latest Sherman tanks to see combat in Europe were generally manufactured in January 1945. It usually took 3-5 months from when a Sherman received its final touches at the factory to when it entered combat with the troops. After being finished, tanks were sent to tank depots and stored outside until an order for replacement tanks arrived from overseas or a newly activated unit was ready to receive its vehicles and ship overseas. When a tank was "selected" for shipment, the various fragile (machine guns, periscopes, tools, manuals, etc.) and dangerous (battery acid, oil, etc.) items that went with the tank were obtained and sealed into a large wooden box, and the box was placed on the rear deck of the tank. 76 mm gun tanks utilized two boxes, as the gun needed to be turned backwards to allow for easier shipment. The tank was then fitted with a brake-locking pawl and cables (that passed through the bow machine gun port) that allowed the brakes to be manipulated by dock workers. All openings on the tank were sealed with tape and then received a coating of Par-Al-Ketone, a rubbery waterproofing agent. After being loaded onto railcars and then onto ships, their journey to the front began.
Tests or other purposes. The Sherman tank served as the basis for many weird and wild prototypes and half-baked ideas. I have complied a photo gallery of various Sherman-based prototype vehicles here.
Training tanks. The main training version of the Sherman tank that the United States used was the small-hatch M4A3. It was found that the Ford GAA engine of the M4A3 was automotively superior, and so the 1,690 small-hatch dry-stowage M4A3s were all used for training in the United States (a very small number of these, presumably selected for their GAA engines, were sent overseas in 1945 to replace combat losses from the Battle of the Bulge)
Sources:
Armored Thunderbolt: The US Army Sherman in World War II, by Steven J. Zaloga
Sherman: Design and Development, by Patrick Stansell and Kurt Laughlin