British 75mm gun
The British did have their own 75mm gun which was a cross between the American 75mm and the British 6pdr gun. The following is from the Chamberlain and Ellis book “British and American Tanks of World War II”
“75mm Ordnance Quick Firing Mks V and VA
Appearance of the American M3 and M4 medium tanks in British service in late 1942 showed up the inadequacies of the 6pdr. The 75mm gun mounted in these American-built vehicles was the first tank gun used by the British which had a ‘dual purpose’ capability – it could fire HE and AP shot as required, thus matching German tactical flexibility in this respect. As a result of this, the British General Staff asked in December 1942, if similar 75mm guns could be mounted in British tanks and the Ministry of Supply designed a suitable weapon, based on the American gun, which would fit the existing 6pdr mount and fire American ammunition. First vehicle mounting the 75mm gun, the Cromwell IV, appeared in October 1943 and plans were also being made to mount the weapon in the Churchill. At first, however, the 75mm gun proved unsatisfactory due mainly to an inadequate mounting, and teething troubles with this weapon were not finally overcome until March 1944. For the invasion of Europe in June 1944, the 75mm MV (medium velocity) gun was the principal British tank gun for the Cromwell and Churchill, but by then had been outmoded by better German guns, and German tanks (eg, the Panther) which had superior armour thickness.
Weapon details:
Calibre: 2.953 (75mm)
Length of tube: 107.8in
Overall length: 112.576in
Weight: 692lb
Muzzle velocity: 2,030fps
Weight of shot: 13 3/4lb (HE and AP)
Armour penetration: 68mm at 500 yards/30deg
Vehicles fitted: Centaur III, Cromwell IV-VII, Churchill VI and VII, Valentine X & XI, A33.”
Note that the British 75mm was fitted with a muzzle brake and resembled the 6pdr in appearance. The Churchill IV mounted the American 75mm M3.
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