A fellow I know has pointed me in the direction of an excellent four page article titled "Sherman Turret Changes" by Phil Dyer, from the British modeling mag, Military Modelling, Vol. 30, No. 8, the year 2000. Pages 52 through 55. Not only is there a nice written description on the evolution of the 75mm turret, but there are some excellent aerial view line drawings showing 8 evolutionary turrets. These are listed as:

1/ earliest
2/ General (early)
3/ General (late)
4/ Reinforced (early)
5/ Reinforced (late)
6a/ Raised/High Bustle (early)
6b/ Raised/High Bustle (late)
7/ Final

Each diagram shows the various parts that go with the turret under discussion, and then there is the written description with more information. This is an excellent article, and I hightly recommend you seek out a copy if you have any interest in the evolution of the Sherman tank, and aren't already an "expert". I have written to MM to see if back issues of this particular edition of the mag are still available. Will let you know what I find out.
Cheers,
Andrew

Hi Andrew

Please keep us informed. I lost most of my sherman refs some years ago in a move. So trying to pick up more info all the time.

If the Mil mod issue is avaiable I will get a copy myself. just post your thoughts of the issue here please.

regards
Andrew Deeley

I may have that issue, but it is far enough back I doubt it. I just opened a subscription, but years ago, the local sources for MILMOD pretty much dried up. I have found one Border's bookstore that carries it. Some of the good articles are on their website, but nothing from that far back.

To quote the local Guiness beer advertisement, this article is brilliant! With the 8 well drawn line drawings, the author goes through the history of the 75mm turrets, pointing out all the components that went into making each one at the given time of production, and offering explanations as to why things kept being changed. The drawings also show which components were available in the later "remanufactured" turrets. For example, drawing #2, "General, Early" started life with the commander's split gun ring hatch. However, the drawing shows that this early low bustle turret could later be seen, "remanufactured" with the all around vision commander's hatch and an oval loader's hatch.

This is by far the best short article I have ever seen on 75mm turrets. Hopefully it is still available via MM as a back issue.

Cheers,
Andrew

I picked up this issue at a model show a few months back and threw it in my magazine pile and forgot about it until i read this post. It`s in Their Modelling Military Vehicle special 2000.
Yes i concurr with Andrew, it really is a fantastic Sherman article and it should answer any questions about the various types and modifacations made to 75mm turrets.

I doubt if MM will keep back issues for that far back but i could be wrong. If not there is always Evilbay or the Scanner.

I have a CD from Tamiya on the M4 (and the T34 and Tiger, although I couldn't get either of them to run on my PC) which has loads of drawings of the various hull variants. Has anyone checked these out for accuracy? They look nicely done.... There are also some scans of (I think!) an M4A2 hull original drawings, with dimensions. Anyone else seen this CD?

Tim

www.fighting48th.com

Tim I haven't seen or heard of the CD to which you refer. Can you burn one? As long as you don't charge or profit, I do believe it is legal.

Or , I can ask Tamiya America where we can get 'em! Buuuut....That wouldn't be as much fun.

Patrick Leddy

Patrick, they appear on eBay all the time. That is where I got mine. It was only a couple of pounds as I recall. Your milage may vary of course.....

Tim

 

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