The typical responses given are "muh armor" and "muh 720 HP"
I have tested this unit against the OKW P4, which costs the exact same, and in every engagement the M4A3E8 wins by the grace of God or the devil alone, since both vehicles bounce off of each other so constantly.
But this wouldn't be a generalist tank if we didn't examine anti-infantry capability, so here you are.
Anti-infantry tests
Panzer 4J:
![](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/321528473489244160/639577017972555778/P4vE8_inf_1.jpg)
![](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/321528473489244160/639577026298380288/P4vE8_inf_2.jpg)
![](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/321528473489244160/639577032833105930/P4vE8_inf_3.jpg)
![](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/321528473489244160/639577038260404275/P4vE8_inf_4.jpg)
T-34/76:
![](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/321528473489244160/639577159882506240/T34vE8_inf_1.jpg)
![](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/321528473489244160/639577165800669208/T34vE8_inf_2.jpg)
![](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/321528473489244160/639577172016627712/T34vE8_inf_3.jpg)
![](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/321528473489244160/639577178454884372/T34vE8_inf_4.jpg)
![](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/321528473489244160/639577184037634084/T34vE8_inf_5.jpg)
Panther:
![](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/321528473489244160/639577098318774272/P5vE8_inf_1.jpg)
![](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/321528473489244160/639577105528651777/P5vE8_inf_2.jpg)
![](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/321528473489244160/639577110662610966/P5vE8_inf_3.jpg)
![](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/321528473489244160/639577116664659978/P5vE8_inf_4.jpg)
(finally fucking hit something)
![](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/321528473489244160/639577122821898270/P5vE8_inf_5.jpg)
Panther (MGs upgraded. Note the M4A3E8's MG attachment costs more than even any of the other Sherman MGs despite being the exact same thing. Epic.):
![](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/321528473489244160/639577128781873172/P5vE8_inf_6.jpg)
![](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/321528473489244160/639577134779727924/P5vE8_inf_7.jpg)
![](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/321528473489244160/639577140798554163/P5vE8_inf_8.jpg)
Versus P4 head on (tank v tank)
Highlights:
![](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/321528473489244160/639577044916895755/P4vE8_tank_1.jpg)
![](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/321528473489244160/639577050860093442/P4vE8_tank_2.jpg)
![](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/321528473489244160/639577071558852609/P4vE8_tank_5.jpg)
![](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/321528473489244160/639577083777122324/P4vE8_tank_7.jpg)
![](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/321528473489244160/639577090139750400/P4vE8_tank_8.jpg)
Rifle company is actually half-decent, and so I'm tired of hearing that as the stupid excuse for why people say they never see this tank, or because "everything else is too good and needs nerfing etc".
This tank cannot kill infantry effectively, it is slower and more sluggish handling than any of the tanks
it competes against, and banks on it having 80 hp more and a higher chance of bouncing P4 shots when it comes to buying this thing (a Panther will still penetrate it at all ranges 100% of the time, not to mention outfight it in general with better health, armor, and ROF.) It's saving grace would be that it is at least better than the regular M4A3 at fighting Panzer IVs, but it is still only barely capable of doing that.
If they could at least lower the gun's reload time to be equal to the M4 Sherman, that'd be nice. As it is there is no point in building the E8 since it's about as effective as an upgraded Panther is versus infantry, and barely any more effective versus armored targets than a M4A3. One could also raise the AOE distance; you could even nerf the scatter in such a way to make the shot be identical to the Panzer IV's. That would be an improvement.
The idea of this being some hidden gem in the USF roster overshadowed by the M4A3 and M36 respectively is a joke, no matter what you think of those two units.