I just had to look that up The rim diameter of the 105 mm is 119 mm; I couldn’t find that of the 75 mm, but as it’s an almost straight case, it probably won’t be much more than about 8 cm. That would make it about 3 cm larger diameter at most.
Anyway, even if the rounds didn’t fit well through the pistol port, I would expect single rounds to be handed up to someone on the tank who then passes them inside, rather than a full ammo box to be on the engine deck.
Sorry, I don’t have (scans of) original Sherman drawings, except for one that shows the rear half of the turret roof. That, I have only because it was posted in a thread about one of my models
When I look at the top-down of your turret, I didn’t note a bulge. Did I miss it? Also, note when the TC vision cupola “shows up” (in the two lower RH corner representations).
Again, we’ve gone WAY too historical in this discussion. Your build is stunning.
No you did not miss it- I just checked and there is no bulge on the right side of the turret. Is it possible that there were M4 105 turrets without the bulge?
Hi Richard-
I don’t think so.There are minor variations amongst the more than 10 manufacturers of turret castings. But that clearance inside for the traversing handwheel and gearbox was (oddly), not fixed by relocating the gearbox and GTD (gun turret drive). They all just cast around it.
You must (when possible) visit the Armor & Cavalry Collection on Fort Benning. The 100,000 sqft “Tankodrome” is remarkable. We have one of nearly every Sherman variant somewhere in the facility or in a restoration room. That includes the recovery variants, the artillery systems, and a weirdo or two.
Thanks for the feedback. It is a fascinating subject, because before I volunteered as an Armor Archaeologist, I thought there were only 5 basic types, all made the same. LOLZ.
BTW- I was able to work with Don Moriarity (the original Armor Archaeologist) on Cobra King: the Jumbo that was First into Bastogne. Talk about making the hair on your neck stand up!
I was just looking through my Son of Sherman Volume 1 book and I found the diagrams for the turrets with the bulge, 75mm as well as 105 turrets and the text explaining it.its clearly there on the head on view of the turret Just did not notice that detail.
If you Facebook, the US Army Armor & Cavalry Collection has a page. They schedule open house nearly every month. If you get the itch, LMK and I’ll show you around.
Visiting Ft. Benning/Moore to see the collection is top of my bucket list. But I will have to settle with the newly opened TMVM here in Tucson. No Shermans on display yet, but i know they have one in the backlot, waiting to be restored.
That’s my tank. Or at least the one I’m responsible for discovering its history.
She’s an M4A3 75W that was converted to CB-H5 (NOT POA-CWS-H5, that’s an Army designation) flame tank standard in the summer of 45 in preparation for the invasion of Japan.
Prior to that, she was named “Lucky” and served as Lt Leonard Blake’s command tank leading 3rd Platoon, C Company, 5th Tank Battalion on Iwo Jima.
I’ve added two pics here, one of her on Iwo on 1 March 1945, the other in June 2023. We will be moving her back to Quantico in July, where she’ll undergo a full external restoration and ultimately will be on exhibit here at the National Museum of the Marine Corps.
Ted, last time I was at Benning was in ‘89. I don’t remember visiting the museum at the time. How has it changed? Was it moved? My memory is foggy when it comes to those things.
The rim diameter of the 105 mm is 119 mm; I couldn’t find that of the 75 mm, but as it’s an almost straight case, it probably won’t be much more than about 8 cm. That would make it about 3 cm larger diameter at most.
