M4A3VC "Sherman Firefly"

  Unit Properties of  General Information
 * Nation:     Commonwealth
 * Category:   Tank
 * Class:      Medium tank
 * Role:       Anti-Tank, Infantry Support
 * Primary Armament: 76mm (2.95 inch) l/55 Ordnance QF 17pdr (AP/HE)
 * Secondary Armament: 2 x 7.62mm Browning M1919 machine guns (1 co-axial, 1 hull-mounted) 1 x .50cal Browning M2HB (Anti-Aircraft mounting)
 * Armor:    76-20mm (3-0.78 inches)
 * Crew:       5


 * MP price:   45
 * Speed:      38
 * Fuel:       ?

The Sherman VC Firefly was a British modification to the Sherman M4A3 medium tank. Not satisfied with the AP performance of the 75mm gun, some enterprising officers decided to try to fit the 17-pounder into the Sherman, even though their superiors told them it couldn't be done. In order to perform this feat, the 17 pounder had to be turned on its side and adapted for left-hand loading. The British rushed the Firefly into production, just in time for D-Day. It proved to be just as powerful as the Panthers and Tigers, and German tank commanders were instructed to prioritize Fireflies first as targets, this lead to Fireflys having the front of their barrel painted white to try and hide the length of the 17pdr. The Firefly enjoyed great success on the western front, being able to deal with all enemy armor, even the infamous King Tiger. It was a Sherman Firefly of the 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry that probably was credited with destroying the tiger tank of the infamous Tiger ace Michael Wittmann, killing him.

In Game
The Sherman Firefly is a very powerful tank destroyer, the 76.2mm QF 17 pounder gun having penetration properties higher than that of the Panther's gun, the 75mm KwK 42 L/70. Although it is powerfully armed the same cannot be said about the armor. It is no thicker than a normal Shermans armor, thus making it weak and susceptible to penetration from virtually all sizes of caliber of 50mm or larger. For this reason it is best used as a "tank sniper" of sorts, sitting behind the lines to pick off enemy tanks at long range. At most ranges the Firefly must shoot first to avoid being knocked out itself; it packs a punch but cannot withstand hits from nearly all cannons. The gun's superb accuracy helps in that role.

It is one of the best vehicles available to the British team of which there are not many. The user should focus on the Firefly, Tortoise and Centurion if they wish to succeed in tank-against-tank combat online.


 * Note
 * In real-life, the British tended to remove the .50 cal from Shermans, as it added to the already high silhouette of the Sherman.