Why no machine gun on the British Sherman? (1 Viewer)

[Eazy]

I've just noticed, on my British Sherman and all the promotional pictures, that there's no machine gun mounted on the turret, although there is a hole for it.

I've taken a gun off another vehicle and put it on the Sherman and i think it really adds to the effect.

I'm curious though as to why it was ommitted in the first place or maybe it's just my box that doesn't have one.

 

[binder001]

Probably because the British didn't often use the .50 cal HMG nearly as often as the US. The .50 would have been packed with the OVM (On Vehicle Materiel) supplied with the tank. British doctrine had the tank commander concentrating on his duties rather than manning the AA gun. Some photos show British tanks with the .50 mounted - but most do not. Andy is historically correct here.

 

[Njja]

I've just noticed, on my British Sherman and all the promotional pictures, that there's no machine gun mounted on the turret, although there is a hole for it.

I've taken a gun off another vehicle and put it on the Sherman and i think it really adds to the effect.

I'm curious though as to why it was ommitted in the first place or maybe it's just my box that doesn't have one.

It didn't come with one, I also noticed when I placed it beside my sherman.

Njja

 

[Eazy]

Probably because the British didn't often use the .50 cal HMG nearly as often as the US. The .50 would have been packed with the OVM (On Vehicle Materiel) supplied with the tank. British doctrine had the tank commander concentrating on his duties rather than manning the AA gun. Some photos show British tanks with the .50 mounted - but most do not. Andy is historically correct here.

Cheers Binder that makes sense.

I'm just so used to seeing the US verson that the British Sherman seems naked without it.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Andy's wood British Sherman came with a Vickers mounted in front of the commander's hatch, rather than a Ma Deuce on the back of the turret. I don't know whether the wood version or the present polystone version is correct.

 

[Tony Neville]

Eazy

and the rest of the guys

Dont worry you did not loose a peice this was part of the spec to miss of the machine gun. Two reasons 1 to be historically correct by most reference books (welldone binder on that) and 2 as part of the repaint and tweaks agreed to ensure some differences between the US and British version.

I have noticed that some dealers around the world are out already of the British Sherman. Just to let you know that we still have a couple in stock if you have missed out anywhere else around the world.

Cheers

Tony