Tank: In 1941 the federal government awarded a contract to the Lima Locomotive Works to construct a facility for the manufacture of tanks.  A 125,000 square foot addition was added to the Shovel & Crane shop of the LLW and the first tank order was for 100 ME "Grant" medium tanks for Britain.  Shortly thereafter the focus shifted to the new M4 "Sherman" medium tanks and these Lima made tanks became the first of their type to enter the North African and European theaters in 1942.  In all, 1,655 Sherman tanks were produced at the Loco Works during World War II.