What would the correct sprocket to use on a M4a3 105mm sherman? Would the old style work or do I need the new style solid ones?

Hey hell
Am looking at some pics of a few M4 105mm which have the older zigzagged version, so based on this, it wouldn't look out of place
Cheers
Brad

This spectacularly destroyed French one seems to have the flat plate type (originally, not the restoration)

http://www.chars-francais.net/archives/m_4/archive_m4_bourg_la_reine.htm

Definitely an M4A3 as it has the engine door props on the hull roof.

EDIT: Not a 105! Look down the thread for a real M4A3 105

Here is one of the examples I was looking at
Coincidence that they've both gone bust :-)
Oh, by the by, this particular one has been cannibalised for it's glacis plate armour to 'up-armour' another Sherman. HTH
Cheers
Brad

Brad, the Sherman in your picture looks like an M4 105. I think I can see the armoured cover for the air intake standing up behind the turret.

David
I'm still a little confused here. I may be wrong but I thought the desigation M4 was applicable to all 105mm Shermans. Your link is of a standard 75mm Sherman? The revised hatches and 47degree glacis indicate that my pic shows the standard 105mm combination I thought. All pics I've seen have referred to the tank as a M4 105mm, and all have had the zigzagged sprocket. Think we need a 3rd party in here! :-) :-)
Cheers
Brad

No problem... it works like this:

There are two Sherman variants fitted with the 105mm

First in service was the M4 105 mm with a late 47 degree hull - this was the only late M4 version with a flat glacis, late 75mm versions had the composite/hybrid hull with the cast front. This entered service in Normandy and can sometimes be seen with the split commanders hatch

Then, slightly later, the M4A3 105 appeared, probably at the same time as the other late-hull M4A3s (around September 1944). This almost always has the vision cupola for the commander.

The French one in my link is definitely an M4A3 as the small rectangular plates used to support the open engine doors can be seen behind the turret. I think yours is an M4 as it has the large armoured cover behind the turret seen on M4s and M4A1s. I'm pretty positive that I can see the reinforcing struts on the underside of the hatch in your picture.

Shermans - phew!!

Cheers for that! Learn something new every day... So there was an M4 hull that had a late glacis! Only on 105mm though... But back to your link. Were you just showing an M4A3 example with the solid sprocket, (as it is a 75mm Sherman) and to suggest that the 105mm would carry the same sprockets?
P.S. Checked the pic I posted, and yes, you are spot on with the rear hull!

Ooops! thanks for pointing out my mistake, I thought it was an M4A3 105mm

Okay, this one is an M4A3 105, and to carry on the tradition, it's been knocked out. Has sprockets with cut-outs.

http://www.chars-francais.net/archives/m_4/archive_m4_cherbourg_12cuir.htm

Got there in the end

Aww c'mon, I like 'zigzagged' better! :-)

how about 'scalloped' then :-) I think MMiRs classification was 'fancy'

Okay, I looked through Hunnicutt last night and all the howitzer tanks had the sprockets with cut-outs - today i will call them 'fretted'

All of the sprockets were interchangeable and authorized for use through the end of the Sherman's life. The trend was toward those made from plate with plain, circular centers as time went on. About the only thing you have to worry about is using these too "early", say on an M3.

By way of clarity, there were actually only three types, distinguished by the metal processing method:

The type with scallops and dimples on the face were cast steel. http://www.ferreamole.it/images/tankdozer/tankdozer04.jpg

The type with scallops and radial flutes (as in Bradley J's 12/15/05 4:11 post) were forged steel.

The plain surfaced types - with http://image12.webshots.com/12/3/36/4/148033604tWWpcL_fs.jpg or without http://ardencim.free.fr/Arlon06.JPG scallops on the ID - were cut from steel plate.

KL

I was shooting for a later Ardenne type around 44'. All my souces showed the "un-scalloped" :-) ones but I couldn't find an M4A3 105mm pic that showed a good sproket shot. I went ahead with the solid because this is a Christmas gift and I'm rushing to get it done. I wish I had gone with the scalloped ones though!