m4a3c

Interior Views - Turret

M4A3 (105)

In this photo we are looking at the turret ring and can see the manual traverse mechanism turret. The traverse handle can be seen at the top if the picture. Power traverse and gyrostabilisation were not originally considered a necessity for howitzer tanks but once some combat experience had been gained efforts were quickly made to introduce power traverse, however the war in Europe had finished before such equipped tanks were shipped. Also seen at the bottom of the photo is part of another 105mm ammo bin.

M4A3 (76)W

This photograph is taken from above the turret ring looking down on the manual traverse control handle. This photo is from the 76mm armed M4A3 and shows quite well the adjacent azimuth indicator. The small hole in the side of the azimuth indicator is where an instrument light was attached. This vehicle is fitted with power traverse and the cable on the left maybe the one which goes to the gunners control handle.

M4A3 (105)

In this view we are looking at the turret ring behind the traverse mechanism of the 105mm howitzer equipped M4A3. At the top of this photo is the underside of the turret traverse mechanism shown in the previous image. The device with the handle is the turret traverse lock below which can bee seen an armoured ammunition stowage bin.

M4A3 (76)W

This photograph is looking under the gun breach at the 76mm gunners controls just forward of the area we have previously been studying. The wheel in the centre of the picture is the gun elevating had wheel and behind it is an associated gearbox. To the right of the picture we can see once again the manual traverse mechanism and the pistol grip handle controls the turret traverse as well as containing a trigger for the main gun. The fixture below the elevating wheel is the hydraulic traverse motor.

M4A3 (76)W

Moving upward above the controls shown in the previous photo and looking forward to the gun mantle we can see in front of us the m57 telescope mount. To the right of this is the linkage to the periscopic sight the mount of which is just visible at the top right below which is the turret control box. This being the 76mm M4A3 we can see below the control box the top of the traverse drive unit (howitzer tanks did not receive power traverse before the end of the war). To the left is the gun recoil guard with the black recoil cylinder behind.

M4A3 (105)

This is a close up of the gunner's direct telescopic sight mounting, this time for the 105mm.

M4A3 (76)W

We're now on the opposite side of the tank looking towards the gun mantle. Clearly visible at front left is the 0.3" calibre machine gun next to the left-hand recoil cylinder (note the filler plug hole which is visible as a white dot). The black box on the left-hand edge of the photograph is the stabiliser oil reservoir. The sprung fitting mounted from the roof is the turret cradle lock which in this case would appear to be engaged. The white framework is the recoil guard and the instrument mounted on top of the armament is the M9 elevation quadrant. The elevation quadrant and azimuth indicator shown earlier were used to help lay the gun when firing indirectly.

Exterior Views

Interior Views - Lower Hull