Why the M4 Sherman has Armored squares on it's sides

Sources:

A comment left on and older video

The layout of the M4 Sherman Tank

[Mehumatti]

But it also gave the germans a spot to aim for

[pepsidoggo]

They're there to give me false hope

[abufauzan]

Even tho this added armor is still vulnerable to german heavy AT guns (the 88 and friends), and the widespread thought for these squares only eases the germans to aim, the added armor is still good against light AT weapons. You have to remember that the 88 isn't the only thing the germans use.

Also, in a realistic setting, you mostly wont go for the weakspot (hitting the target is already hard enough) and penning a tank usually is already enough for the crew to bail out (spall)

[lexus]

The "here is the ammo please don't shoot here" plate

[eggdude-nq]

My Panzer 4 appreciates the squares of "ammo here, please aim somewhere else"

[really]

Eventually the squares of armour disappeared (i think) due to the ammunition being moved to a less vulnerable place

[woundwortrxtr]

Thank you, Americans, for telling us exactly where to aim

[David-uchy]

Fun fact. 30 shells is the perfect number for shermans unless its french

[darkadmiral]

They added these squares to mark where i need to aim

[Iamwtfboi]

They removed them when they made wet ammo storage a thing

[shadowtrooper]

The funny part is that I aim for these squares because I assumed they were thinner. 😂

[hyfy-trjy]

Those plates are "Shoot me here" indicators

[GHGXD]

ah yes the sherman "shoot here" squares

[Russiangamerpro]

That makes sense that means it will be easily to know where the ammo rack is that

[captainvin]

The "oh shit we shoulda put more armour here" plates

[diegodelizsoto]

Its the “aim at with literally any german gun” box

[ethanspaziani]

The crews were Tired of being blown up

[johnathanh]

And the name is appliqué armour.
Added after the fact.
It was a temporary measure until the introduction of 'wet' storage/stowage.
For the British, they stopped 'over provisioning' the tanks, as the logistics proved reliable, and tactical air power kicked in.
It was disliked because it was believed to give an aiming point for enemy gunners.

[AnAverageWarThunderPlayer]

It literally also shows where it is as well

[TheNewOrder-DaysOfConflict]

My Vietnamese friends said it is a spot to let the Germans know where to shoot