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Re-armament of Shermans in the the field w 76mm gun?

Discussion in 'Armor and Armored Fighting Vehicles' started by Terry D, Mar 14, 2021.

  1. Terry D

    Terry D Well-Known Member

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    This post is provoked by a video from Nicholas Moran, AKA the Chieftain. In the course of discussing the development of the late-war Sherman with the 76mm in the T23 turret, Moran at one point seemed to imply that some M4s were up-gunned in the ETO by shoving the 76mm into the original small turret. I imagine such vehicles would have been pretty close to the postwar M4A1E6/M4A3E4. Of course the M4 had been designed with a rather Catholic turret which could in a pinch take the 3-Inch gun or a 105mm how. Now, does anyone here know anything about any such field modifications? Did they happen, or am I misunderstanding Mr. Moran? I have Zaloga's Osprey book on the Sherman and he doesn't say anything about the matter. And yes, I do know some Sherman Jumbos were re-armed with the 76mm in the ETO, but they had the T23 turret.
     
    Last edited: Mar 14, 2021
  2. RichTO90

    RichTO90 Well-Known Member

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    Technically I would not call them field modifications, they were depot modifications. In 1945, the ETOUSA Ordnance developed such a modification on one test vehicle using the facilities of a Heavy Ordnance Maintenance Company (Tk). The method proved possible, but was time consuming, so instead the accumulated 76mm "spares" were utilized to convert M4A3E2, which was an easier proposition. I am not sure that any other than the one pilot vehicle were ever converted until the postwar MAP conversion.
     
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  3. Terry D

    Terry D Well-Known Member

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    There is a good discussion of the whole thing here: Request. M4A3(75w) Re armed 76mm lost photos
     
  4. RichTO90

    RichTO90 Well-Known Member

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    I should never go by memory of what I've written...even just a few months ago. Yes, an upper limit of 30 conversions completed is probably accurate.
     
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