Sherman MkVc Firefly 17-pdr question

[Tim Bell]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

To the Sherman gurus ....

Why did the Brits need to reconfigure the 17-pdr with a horizontal sliding block breech for the Sherman Firefly when the production AT gun used a vertical sliding block? Was it, as Wiked-pedia states, due to internal space considerations?

Was this same horizontal breech configuration used in all other 17-pdr-equipped Brit tanks or was the vertical block of the AT gun used in some? The Centurion Mks 1 & 2 used the 17-pdr Mk.6 which had the horizontal sliding block breech.

Thanks

Mike

Mike

Horizontal sliding breech on Mk4 and Mk7 which went into Firefly.

The only components which are the same as AT gun are Barrel and Muzzle Brake (assuming you have the Mk1 to Mk7 barrel).

The difference between the Mk4 and Mk7 is the breech spring for the semi-auto mechanism - the earlier version was prone to sticking.

The 17pdr in the Mk1 Centurion is pretty much the same gun as the Firefly too.

Hope this helps

Tim