Source:http://ftr.wot-news.com/2014/12/19/m4-improved-upcoming-tier-5-us-premium/
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Hello everyone,
大家嚎， 

another tier 5 medium tank appeared on the supertest – this time an American one, the M4 Improved. While we wait for the leaked photos and statistics, let’s have a look at the history of this vehicle (I sure hope it is the right one, but I think so).
另一辆5级中坦出现在了超测服上—这次是个美国的，M4增强版。在等待数据和具体截图泄露出的时候，先来看看这辆车的历史情况（我希望是同一个，但是我觉得就是）

At this point, some of the old FTR readers might remember that they saw this tank before. That’s right – it was actually amongst the huge batch of vehicles, whose descriptions and icons were leaked a year and a half or so ago. Naturally, that is no longer valid – this is the the HD version.
这个时候很多FTR的老读者也许能记得他们以前见过这个车。没错—大概是一年半之前有泄露过的一大批车辆标记以及介绍的时候有提到过。自然，那些东西以及没啥用了—这个是HD版。 

The initial request for an improved version of the Sherman was made as early as December 1941. A day after the infamous Pearl Harbor attack, Aberdeen was instructed to propose an improved Sherman version with better armor and mobility. Aberdeen complied and the proposal was submitted on 13.3.1942. The vehicle proposal had following characteristics:
早在1941年的十二月就有过谢尔曼进行增强的要求。在珍珠港空袭之后，阿伯丁得到指示说让他们弄一个装甲和机动性更好的谢尔曼。阿伯丁遵照指示，在1942/3/13把计划提交了上去。这辆车的当时建议的属性是这样的：

– frontal armor remained the same except for the lower part, which was sharply angled instead of rounded, providing better protection equivalent to 63,5mm of armor, frontal armor is sloped 60 degrees from horizontal
正面装甲除了首下以外都没变，首下变成了斜角装甲而不是圆的，可以提供相等于63.5mm厚的装甲的防护，正面装甲的倾斜角度是60°（相对于水平面来说）

– thickness of rear armor increased to 50,8mm
车身后部的装甲厚度提高到了50.8mm

– turret was welded from rolled plates due to expect shortage in foundry capacity
由于预计到了铸造能力的不足，炮塔是通过轧制钢焊接起来的

– armament was standard 75mm M3 gun
主炮是标准的75mm M3炮

– to improve mobility, new Wright G200 engine, producing 640 horsepower was proposed
为了加强机动性，有提议说使用新的怀特G200引擎（出力为640马力）

– in order to keep the ground pressure the same (since the powerplant and the armor weighed more), Aberdeen proposed to utilize a modified M6 heavy tank suspension (HVSS type)
为了保证对地面的压力是一致的（鉴于发动机和装甲变重了），阿伯丁的建议是利用M6重坦的改造版悬挂（HVSS型的）

– the vehicle was weigh 37,92 tons and maximum speed of 56 km/h
这辆车的重量是37.92吨，极速是56km/h 

This vehicle was never put into production, as further development of several components was required. Detroit Arsenal then produced another proposal of the modified Sherman of different properties, but that’s a story for another time. Unless it’s the Detroit version in WoT, but that would be too strong for tier 6.
这辆车从来没有投入过生产，因为部分零件需要额外进行生产。底特律兵工厂之后生产了一辆属性不同的谢尔曼改造版，但是那都是后话，后话。当然除非他们把那辆底特律的车放进了WOT，那咱另说，但是那辆车对于6级都有点强了。 

Basically, what we have here is a mobile Sherman with better armor, but stock gun.
其实这玩意就是机动性和防护变好了的谢尔曼，但是炮是白板炮。 

Source: R.P.Hunnicutt – History of the American medium tank (vol.1 – Sherman)
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