The Sherman 75mm

[Bob Cohoon]

I think changing the length on the 75mm barrel would have increased muzzle velocity, but this probably increases chamber pressure too, so tests and calculations would have had to be made to see if the breech block, chamber, recoil mechanism, mounting, etc. could stand this. I guess the priority at the time was developing the new 76mm design which was suppose to be the answer to equalizing things. The 76mm with HVAP(hyper velocity armor piercing) ammo,scarce at the time, cold perform about the same as the Panther 75mm.The M18 tank destroyers had this and the Sherman 76mm crews would try and trade for a round or two of this for emergencies, I read that in the book "M4 Sherman".

[John McGillivray]

Increasing the barrel length of the 75mm gun, without changing the ammunition, would only yield a small increase in performance.


75mm M2
Barrel length (length of tube): 84in
Muzzle velocity: 1,860fps
Armour Penetration: 60mm at 500 yards/30deg.

British 75mm Mk V
Length of tube 107.8in
MV: 2,030fps
AP: 68mm @500yards/30deg

75mm M3
Length of tube 110.625in
MV: 2,300fps
AP: 70mm @500yds/30deg

6pdr Mk III
Length of tube: 96.2in
MV: 2,800fps
AP: 81mm

6pdr Mk V
Length of tube: 112.2in
MV: 2,965fps
AP: 83mm @500yards/30deg