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When was the original 75mm gun replaced with the 76mm? I'm beginning research for a future build, and I am a total Sherman newbee. I see most kits have either the 75mm gun or the 105mm Howitzer, and very few seem to have the 76mm gun. Here's a Dragon M4A4 with the 75mm gun: http://www.dragonusaonline.com/item_detail.aspx?ItemCode=CHC9102
I'm familiar with the M4A3 (up to the M4A3E8), but not the A4. I would think this would be a very late variant, and would expect it to sport the 76mm gun. Was the 75mm used throughout the war? Would a late 1944 Sherman have a 75mm gun or the 76mm gun? Could it have either? 
I appreciate any help you guys can offer.
OK some Sherman facts which may help.
The M4 - had 75mm guns and 105 mm guns (these were on the late 47 degree glacis hull and the turrets were high bustle turrets. late M4 75's had a composite hull or Hybrid as the brits named it. The M4 was also converted by the Brits into the Firefly with a 17 pdr gun (76.2mm)
The M4A1 - had 75mm guns on the small hatch cast hull & starting in 44 had the 76mm gun in the t23 turret. Initially these turrets had a split loaders hatch but eventually ended up with a one piece loaders hatch.
The M4A2 had 75mm turrets and starting in 44 had the late 47 degree glacis big hatch hull with both 75 and 76mm guns. The 76mm were in the T23 turret and were only used by the USSR during the war and post war by Canada with HVSS suspension. production ceased in late 44
The M4A3 had 75mm guns in both 56 and 47 degree hulls and in 44 the definitive 76mm armed M4A3 appeared with both HVSS and VVSS suspension. A 105mm armed version with the late hull and both VVSS and HVSS suspension was also fielded.
The M4A4 had the 75mm gun for its entirecareer excepting the British modification into the Firefly
The 76mm gun was never fitted to the M4A4 and it was the first variant to go out of production in early 44.It was an early fielded model and only used by Brits, Polish and Canadians as a gun tank It never had the later hull types either.
As for kits of 76mm armed Shermans there are quite a few in 35th
Italeri -
M4A1 76mm from the 70's
M4A3 76mm VVSS from the early 80's. Strangely they labelled this as M4A2 Jumbo!
ACADEMY - 76mm M4A2 VVSS
DML - M4A3 76mm HVSS based on Italeri parts with T66 track and field applied armour - mid 90's
M4A3 76mm HVSS Korean war - mid 90's with t80 track
M4A2 76mm VVSS USSR was the first uber sherman kit from DML and quite good. T 49 track
M4A1 76mm COBRA - Early production M4A1 76 - quite good
M4A3 76mm HVSS Cyber Hobby - Avoid this one as it is a hybrid of the older suspension parts and the later 76mm parts
M4A3 76mm VVSS Battle of Bulge - later superceded came with US Paras and tank crew figures - Individual links T48 with EEC
M4A3 76mm HVSS Thunderbolt VII - very good - New band tracks
M4A3 76mm Premium edition - the pick IMHO an upgrade of the Battle of the bulge kit but no figure sets - new DS track in one piece
I'm pretty sure thats it apart from tyhe matchbox and Heller reboxings of the Italeri M4A1 and M4A3 .
The 76 mm Shermans first saw action during the August 44 COBRA battles with the US (M4A1 76mm) then they were in great demand and started to reach the troops in late 44. Both the A3 and A1 versions were issued and the A3 HVSS version started to appear in small numbers around Christmas 44. 75mm armed M4A3 continued to be issued alongside the 76mm ones up until VE day. The 76mm was standardisedc post war although a large number of 75mm still served.
The Poles, South Africans and the Brits used the M4A1 76mm (Brits and SA in Italy and Polish in NWE). The USSR used the M4A2 76mm including HVSS versions from 45.
Cheers
Al
