Sherman Firefly turrets

The Sherman Firefly was a World War II British variant of the Sherman tank, fitted with the powerful British 17 pounder anti-tank gun as its main weapon. Originally conceived as a stopgap until future British tank designs came into service, the Sherman Firefly became the most common vehicle with the 17 pounder in World War II (source : Wikipedia)

Sherman Vc Brussels

Sherman Vc Brussels

Sherman Vc Brussels

The standard M4 Sherman turret was quite heavily modified to fit with British requirements :
-The standard 75mm gun was changed with a redesigned 17 Pdr gun that had a particular recoil system, designed especially for the Sherman turret
-A new mantlet was designed to protect the 17 Pdr gun and to be fitted on a slighly modified M34A1 gun mount

-An armoured box (a "bustle") was attached to the back of the turret to house the radio
-A new hatch was cut into the top of the turret over the gunner's position, because the 17 pounder's larger breech and recoil system significantly reduced the ability of the loader to quickly exit from the tank through the commander's hatch, if the tank was hit

turret 1    turret 2

turret 1    turret 1

These photos above clearly show the additions/modifications that were applied to M4 Sherman turrets in order to convert them as Firefly turrets.

turret 5    turret 6

turret 7    turret 8

Some photos of the loader's hatch, that show the particular hinge and shock absorber added by the Brits.

turret 8    turret 8

turret 8    turret 8

turret 8    turret 8

These pictures show how the armoured box (a.k.a. the "bustle", which contains the radios) is constructed, and how the access to the radios is done through the original bustle ofd the Sherman turret.

turret 8    turret 8

These two photos show the specific mantlet, which is different from the standard M34A1 mantlet, and the slighly modified M34A1 gun mount (with an enlargened opening for the barrel).

turret 8    turret 8

turret 8    turret 8

These photos show the gun breech and the specific recoil system that was created to be able to house the 17 Pdr in the Sherman standard 75mm turret. The last photo shows the typical 17 Pdr muzzle brake.

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