Sherman tank: pistol port locking mechanism - photos wanted
 

Hi,
I am hoping someone has good photos of how the pistol port handle rotates into a female retainer welded just above the pistol port opening, when the handle is in its locked position. Given it's such a small part, the photos I have just don't give enough detail to its construction. Sketches would be fine in the absence of a decent photo.
Many thanks for your help,
Patrick

Do you mean locked like this?

Attachment 138938

Pistol port locking mechanism
 

Yes, that's it. I have that diagram but what I need is a close up of that locking mechanism on a real tank. It appears to be a solid block of steel that the handle engages, but I would very much like to find photographic proof of this. I need someone with access to a Sherman to give me a close up photo of this, free of any obstructing handle.
Thx for posting,
Patrick

Bloody “restorers” …

Attachment 138942

This is the inside of the turret of the Sherman (ex-Crab) at Westkapelle, Netherlands, while it was being restored a few years ago. The people doing the work basically cut everything off the inside of the turret wall because it would get in the way of painting it (which I was not happy with when I discovered it) but I hoped they had left the latch that I think you’re after. Looking through my photos, though, you can see they did cut it off. They left the socket, though.

Ah, I see someone did some harvesting of parts :nono:

Surprised they did not paint/ coat the interior, given the conditions it has to survive in...

Patrick

Hopefully these are of some use.

Attachment 138945 Attachment 138946 Attachment 138947

Regards

Tim

They did paint the interior, for exactly that reason. That’s why they cut all the parts off: to make sure they could get paint everywhere on the actual turret wall. I still consider it unnecessary destruction of things that survived for eighty years, though.

Good to hear they painted the interior and indeed sad they destructed it to do so :(

Pistol Port
 

Thanks to all for answering my inquiry, and to Tim for finding the clearest photos of this handle and locking mechanism I've ever seen. Thank you! I can only hope that this is the interior of your 17pdr, which would tell me it's in great shape.
Cheers, Patrick

Here’s the other side of the turret as it was back then:

Attachment 139017

And five months later:

Attachment 139018

(I took this photo to show the thinner sections of armour on the right front, but it shows the paint well, too.)