Sherman MkVc Firefly 17-pdr question

[Mike Cecil]

I've had another thought: what is the distance from the back of the 17-pdr breech block to the turret ring on a Sherman Firefly, compared to the length of the longest 17-pdr round?

Maybe that was the restricting feature - the extra 8 or so inches further back required to move a 17-pdr round into alignment with the chamber of a vertical breech, compared to a horizontal breech.

Thoughts?

Mike

[James P]

You also have to factor in the human fit and ergonomics, I think there is a bit more to making the machine fit the man (or man fits machine) then turning the 17 pdr gun by 90°, there is a stowage reconfiguration and no doubt the breech lever is different.

[Mike Cecil]

Hi James,

I'm sure it was not as simple as just the distance between breech ring and turret ring, but I have to start somewhere in getting to a better idea than just wiked-pedias blanket 'internal space considerations' and I don't have access to any of the original development reports.

Mike

[Jakko Westerbeke]

IIRC this has some answers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__Y8YJeas4I though I don’t feel like watching all of it again to find them

[Mike Cecil]

Thanks Jakko, the visuals certainly provide some good information.

Mike