Quote:
Originally Posted by easo
the Sentinals were a technical advancement for their time as they were the first production tank to use both cast hull and turret together.
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I think the Ram may have beaten-out the Sentinel as the first production tank with a cast turret and hull. The first Ram prototype was completed on 30 June 1941 and they were in full production by the end of the year. Actually the pre-war French Hotchkiss and Souma tanks had cast hulls and turrets, but their hulls were not cast in one piece.
Did the later Sentinels (AC3 and AC4) with the 25 pounder and 17-pounder guns use the same 54-inch turret ring as the AC1. A 60-inch ring was considered necessary for the Ram's 6-pounder and a three-man crew (although 40 were up-gunned to 75mm).
Roger