When to use it?
The Sherman can be quite a shock unit as it doesn't loose when facing one or two Panzerfausts like the M8, though they do some damage. It can be a good idea to get a tank as soon as possible as support against any harassment units like the Puma or the AC. Its also really good for circling Marder III and Stugs. Moving it in to destroy you opponents cover is also a good idea. Giving some punch to a charge with the Sherman is a common strategy which involves a meat shield of rifles giving Line of Sight (LoS) for the main gun and spotting dangers, and the Sherman to take out any threats.
The Sherman has many roles to fill as its the only non doctrine battle tank. It requires a lot of help against armor, but it definitely rapes infantry like no tomorrow. Since it can take a few shots it works very well in combination with 57mm AT guns. No matter how many tanks or infantry AT you have, your 57mm AT guns are
the bread n' butter anti vehicle weaponry for the Americans. Use the Sherman to give the line-of-sight, letting the 57mm gun deal damage from maximum range. So if you are up against masses of vehicles, its a really good idea to get a Sherman and a few AT guns.
The less effective but more immediate and cheaper (if you haven't built a motorpool yet) heavy AT combination is to get a couple M10s, which you can use to swarm an unsuspecting tank. Use the sherman to take the first couple shots while your M10s roll in from behind.
How to use it?
The Sherman needs a lot of looking after. It can deal a lot of damage, but due to its weak armor it can easily be killed. I recommend having one or two Engineers around the tank at any time as well as a rifle squad with stickys. Having flamers on the Engineers is a bonus since the Flamers can toast any infantry rush while the wounded Sherman makes its getaway. If you see a T3 strat from a Wehr player or your facing PE, a good investment is to get the M1A1C 76mm Gun. Its increased penetration really makes a difference. In my opinion the Sherman is one of the best infantry support tanks, due to its versatility and speed. It can swiftly move from one flank to another and protect against small and large assaults. But the most important thing is to have proper infantry support with your Sherman.
Using the speed of the Sherman is key, if you can't win, get the hell out of there and save your unit. Against any units with fixed turrets, its easy to circle them and beat them, with a little effort and some proper support. Make sure to hunt down any severely wounded tanks if possible with your Sherman as it has the stopping power and speed to do it.
Against Panzershrecks, keep your Sherman kiting the infantry at long distance because shrecks have ugly accuracy at anything more than close range. Don't be afraid of them, the Sherman has excellent splash damage and can wipe out squads in no time. Just be sure to never get arrogant and forgo kiting by just rushing in head first. For one, you're leaving your support behind and two, the closer you get, the harder it will be to retreat. Never throw away Shermans, they're an expensive investment.
