Stuart tanks and the American motoring public...

[Jolly]

Ran across a tidbit I didn't know...In 1939, Oldsmobile was the first mass produced American car to offer an automatic transmission. It was a transmission developed by Cadillac, but since Oldsmobile did much of the testing, they got to offer it first. Then Cadillac.

But WW2 happened, and the fledgling automatic transmission was needed for the redesign of the M3 Stuart. Starting in early 1942, the M5 started rolling off the production lines, powered by twin Cadillac V8's and the hydramatic transmission, which greatly simplified training. Tankers loved the new transmission and bragged on it.

Which is one of the reasons why Americans weren't that hesitant to adopt automatic transmissions. The were familiar with them from the war and GM played it up, advertising the hydramatic as "battle tested and proven". The M5 Stuart was one of the driving forces in American's acceptance of automatic transmsssions.

[Doctor Phibes]

Was the acceptance of the Ford Pinto related in any way to their familiarity with the M4 Sherman?

[Jolly]

Are you really sure you want to get into a discussion about the M4?

[Jolly]

Here, let's start with Colonel Moran...

Link to video

[Renauda]

The British modified Sherman known as the Firefly was great tank in its day.

[Jolly]

BTW, the Sherman was the ONLY tank which fought in every major theater of WW2.