After the end of the Second world war, the Americans carried out another, a few modernization of tanks “Sherman” modifications M4A1 and M4A3 (probably several hundred tanks were modified). The combat vehicles were rearmed from 75mm M3 guns to 76mm M1, and the upgrade was carried out without replacing the turret. Updated “Sherman” got indices E6 and E4, becoming М4А1Е6 and М4А3Е4 respectively. Some tanks were equipped with bulldozer dumps and received the word “Dozer” in addition to the index"
In 1949, the United States initiated the Mutual Defense Assistance Program. Allies and potential allies were provided with various kinds of monetary and materiel support in an effort to build up their defenses against the perceived threats of the Cold War. Many countries received tanks, most of which were WW II surplus. Sherman variations were created specifically for the MDAP program – the M4A1E6 and the M4A3E4. The M4A1E6 was a “small hatch” M4A1(75) with VVSS in which the original 75mm was replaced with a 76mm gun. Surviving M4A3E4s are most numerous in the countries that once made up Yugoslavia. Perhaps the most famous examples are the ones featured in the 1970 film “Kelly Heroes”.
