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Grand Blanc Tank Arsenal Built Tanks and Tank Destroyers
Grand Blanc built M4A2 Sherman Tank Photos   Grand Blanc Built M4A3 Tank Photos   Grand Blanc M10 Tank Destroyer Photos

Fisher Body-Built M4A3 Sherman Tank Photos
Grand Blanc, MI
1942-2013

This page updated 7-5-2021.

The M4A3 was just one of several types of tanks and tank destroyers built at Grand Blanc, MI during WWII.   The M4A3, M10, M36B1, M36B2, and M26 also included in its output.  For the complete story on this important tank arsenal, see my Grand Blanc, MI Tank Arsenal page shown above.

Fisher Body marked its serial numbers on the rear towing eyelets.  I have included photos of the serial number for those M4A3s that I was able to photograph.  In some cases, the paint was too thick over the numbers, or the numbers were not legible.  For many, there was no evidence of a serial number.  For the remaining, the readability of the numbers ranges from minimal to excellent.

Both Fisher Body at Grand Blanc, MI, and Chrysler at Warren, MI built the large hatch M4A3 Sherman tanks starting in February 1944 and continuing until the end of the war.  They were built in various versions.  The M4A3 tanks produced by the two companies are almost identical for interchangeability in the field.  It is nearly impossible to identify which company built which tank.  Almost.  Each company added differing welds on either side of the transmission on the glacis, which allows one to identify the manufacturer, if necessary.  For Fisher Body, the weld consists of five individual welds that form a square. 

The large hatch M4A3 became the preferred tank of the US Army once it became available.

The five individual welds forming a square at the intersection of the glacis and differential is the Fisher Body identification.  A Chrysler has a "C" shaped weld.

Some Fisher Body Sherman M4A3 tanks have the five weld beads in the vertical position.

Type:  M4A3E8(76)
Serial Number:  48751
US Registration Number:  30812348
Date Built:  March 1944
Location:   US Cavalry Museum, Fort Riley, KS
Date of Photo:  9-18-2017
Date Photo added:10-2-2017
Comments:  The patch on the front of the left side indicates this probably suffered combat damage in Europe during WWII. 

Type:  M4A3(75)
Serial Number:  48779
US Registration Number:  3082175
Date Built:  May 1944
Location:  VFW Post 482, Curwensville, PA
Date of Photo:  5-29-2018
Added to page:  7-7-2018

Type:  M4A3E8(76)
Serial Number:  48923
US Registration Number:  3081520
Date Built:  March 1944
Location:   US Army's Basic Combat Training Museum at Fort Jackson, SC
Date of Photo:  4-4-2014

This Fisher Body-built M4A3 seen at Fort Jackson, SC was originally built in March 1944 with a 75mm main gun and VVSS suspension.  It was later converted to the 76mm cannon and HVSS suspension.  Originally it would have looked like the two M4A3's pictured below.  Author's photo.

Author's photo.

Author's photo.

Type:  M4A3(75)
Serial Number:  48936
US Registration Number:  3081532
Date Built:  March 1944
Location:  Downtown, Bastogne, Belgium
Date of Photo:  5-12-2008

Type:  M4A3(76)
Serial Number:  49322
US Registration Number:  3081919
Date Built:  April 1944
Location:   American Legion Post 25, Selinsgrove, PA
Date of Photo:  5-29-2018
Added to page:  7-13-2018

Type:  M4A3(75)
Serial Number:  49578
US Registration Number:  3082175
Date Built:  May 1944
Location:  Middletown Veterans Memorial Park, Middletown Township, PA
Date of Photo:  6-1-2018
Added to page:  7-7-2018

Type:  M4A3(75)
Serial Number:  49619
US Registration Number:  3082216
Date Built:  May 1944
Location:  The Citadel, Charleston, SC
Date of Photo:  3-23-2017
Added to page:  5-2-2017
 

Type:  M4A3(75)
Serial Number:  49730
US Registration Number:  3082327
Date Built:  May 1944
Location:  NJ Army National Guard, Vineland, NJ
Date of Photo:  9-22-2016

Type:  M4A3(75)
Serial Number:  49855
US Registration Number:  3082572
Date Built:  June 1944
Location:  U.S. Army Armor and Cavalry Collection, Fort Benning, GA
Date of Photo:  9-18-2018
Added to page:  9-28-2018

Type:  M4A3(75)
Serial Number:  50068
US Registration Number:  3082665
Date Built:  August 1944
Location:  U.S. Army Transportation Museum, Fort Eustis, VA
Date of Photos:  6-30-2021
Added to page:  7-5-2021

Type:  M4A3E2(75) Jumbo
Serial Number:  50331
US Registration Number:  3082928
Date Built:  May 1944
Location:  American Heritage Museum, Hudson, MA
Date of Photo:  6-14-2019
Added to page:  8-25-2019

Type:  M4A3E2(75) Jumbo
Serial Number:  50418
US Registration Number:  3083015
Date Built:  June 1944
Location:  American Legion Post 101, Carbon Hill, AL
Date of Photo:  3-13-2018
Added to page:  3-26-2018

Type:  M4A3E2(75) Jumbo
Serial Number:  50429
US Registration Number:  3083026
Date Built:  June 1944
Location:  U.S. Army Armor and Cavalry Collection, Fort Benning, GA
Date of Photo:  9-18-2018
Added to page:  9-23-2018
Comments:  This has a 76mm gun rather than the original 75mm.  The 75mm gun was given to M4A3E2(75) "Cobra King" that will be on display at the new National Museum of the U.S. Army.

Type:  M4A3E2(75) Jumbo "Cobra King"
Serial Number:  50487
US Registration Number:  3083084
Date Built:  July 1944
Location:  National Museum of the United States Army, Fort Belvoir, VA
Date of Photo:  6-29-2021
Added to page:  7-5-2021
Comments:  This may be the most famous of the 49,234 Sherman tanks built during World War Two.  At least the U.S. Army thinks so, because of the many Sherman tanks to which it has access, it chose this Fisher Body Grand Blanc-built M4A3E2(75) to be the first display visitors see when they enter the Global War Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Army.  It can actually be seen from outside of the gallery entrance as a visitor walks towards it.  It was important enough for the army to have it removed from the armor collection at Fort Benning, GA and moved to the Museum's construction site.  There, Cobra King was placed by crane and the rest of the building was built around the tank.

Cobra King was "discovered" while it was on display at the Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany in 2009.  It was only after an Army chaplain at Ross Barracks started asking questions about the history of the tank that its true identity and historical importance became known.  Army historians verified this was the first American tank to reach the besieged American forces at Bastogne on December 26, 1944.  Cobra King was later put out of action while in combat rescuing prisoners at a POW Camp in Germany. 

Between 1908 and 1986, Fisher Body was a division of General Motors.  The General Motors Foundation donated one million dollars to the Museum's building fund to have Cobra King be a prominent display in this museum.

Type:  M4A3(75)
Serial Number:  62075
US Registration Number:  30115097
Date Built:  September 1944
Location:  Florida National Guard Armory, Ocala, FL
Date of Photo:  7-29-2017
Added to page:  7-31-2017
Comments:  The gun and mantlet on this tank are fake.

Type:  M4A3(75)
Serial Number:  62113
US Registration Number:  30115135
Date Built:  September 1944
Location:  U.S. Army Armor and Cavalry Collection, Fort Benning, GA
Date of Photo:  9-19-2018
Added to page:  9-23-2018
 

Type:  M4A3E8(76)
Serial Number:  62889
US Registration Number:  30115911 The number on the tank is incorrect for this serial number.
Date Built:  September 1944
Location:  Museum of Missouri Military History, Jefferson City, MO
Date of Photo:  7-6-2017
Added to page:  7-12-2017
Comments:  This M4A3(76) was originally built with a VVSS suspension.  The HVSS is post WWII modification added 2-14-1950. 

The five welds identify this as a M4A3 built by the Fisher Tank Arsenal in Grand Blanc, MI.

This is a photo of a photo on the curator's laptop.

Serial number 62889 is evident on the data plate.

The serial number is also evident on the tow lug.

Type:  M4A3E8(76)
Serial Number:  62999
US Registration Number:  30116021 
Date Built:  October 1944
Location:  American Legion Post 793, Cecil, PA
Date of Photo:  5-31-2017
Added to page:  6-14-2017
Comments:  This M4A3(76) was originally built with a VVSS suspension.  The HVSS is post WWII modification.

Type:  M4A3E8(76)
Serial Number:  63212
US Registration Number:   30116234
Date Built:   December 1944
Location:  Bangert Park, Florissant, MO
Date of Photo:  May 15, 2016

Type:  M4A3E8(76)
Serial Number:  63230
US Registration Number:  30116252
Date Built:  December 1944
Location:  National Guard Armory, Carthage, MO - The location of the Armory is rather unusual as it is surrounded by a golf course.
Date of Photo:  May 25, 2018

Type:  M4A3E8(76)
Serial Number:  65870
US Registration Number:  30125192
Date Built:  February 1945
Location:  Fort Leonard Wood, MO
Date of Photo:  5-24-2018
Added to page:  6-5-2018
Comments:  Manufactured as a M4A3(75)HVSS. 

Type:  M4A3E8(76)
Serial Number:  65944
US Registration Number:  30125266
Date Built:  February 1945
Location:  Fort Indian Gap Military Museum Vehicle Display, Fort Indiantown Gap, PA
Date of Photo:  6-1-2017
Added to page:  6-14-2017
Comments:  Manufactured as a M4A3(75)HVSS.  It was a great afternoon for photos for this M4A3(76), and the nine other pieces of equipment on outside display at Fort Indian Gap.

The M4A3 was at the far end of this group of five armored vehicles.  From left to right:  M1, M113, M60, M46 and the M4A3.

The Fisher Body identification welds on this M4A3 are the most distinctive I have seen on a Grand Blanc built M4A3.  This welder took pride in his work.

Type:  M4A3E8(76)
Serial Number:  65997
US Registration Number:  30125319
Date Built:  February 1945
Location:  U.S. Army Armor and Cavalry Collection, Fort Benning, GA - Patton's Park
Date of Photo:  9-18-2018
Added to page:  9-23-2018
Comments:  This was originally built as an M4A3(75) HVSS.

Type:  M4A3E8(76)
Serial Number:  66001
US Registration Number:  30125323
Date Built:  February 1945
Location:  Fourth Infantry and Fort Carson Museum, Fort Carson, CO
Date of Photo:  9-19-2017
Added to page:  9-26-2017
Comments:  This was originally built as an M4A3(75) HVSS.

The serial number 66001 is shown here on the left rear tow lug.

This particular Fisher Body built Sherman has vertical ID welds.  This type seems to be in the minority. 

The M4A3 is one of many pieces of armor on display in front of the Fourth Infantry Division and Fort Carson Museum.