Browning .30 Cradle e6160, British Shermans

[Alex van de Wetering]

The e6160 cradle seems to be pretty common on period pictures of British Shermans, but somehow it's hard to find detailed info and measurements.

Does anyone know of any drawings available, or even better....does someone have one and be willing to take some measurements and pictures?

Alex

[Jakko Westerbeke]

To be honest, given that scan it shouldn’t be too hard to make basic drawings of it anyway. All you really need is the distance between the pins that attach the gun to the cradle, which is easy enough given a good side view of an M1919 and its total length, and you can work out everything else. Or at least takes decent stab at it.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Originally Posted by Jakko Westerbeke

To be honest, given that scan it shouldn’t be too hard to make basic drawings of it anyway.

I agree, and that's probably what I will do for my own model. But, I also have an interest in the real thing, so I would love to see some more info on the cradle and how the parts attach and have some actual measurments to work with.

[Alex van de Wetering]

My question regarding info on the .30 cradle, led to some interesting discussion on the fitment of .30 vs .50 machine guns fitted to the turret roof of British and Canadian Shermans during WW2.
I have no written evidence, but purely based on period pictures, my observation is that US Shermans in NWE almost exclusively used the .50 on the turret roof, while British Shermans used both .50 as well as .30.....and a lot of pictures of Canadian Shermans don't show a turret roof mounted machine gun at all(?).

Attached are two shots of the Overloon Sherman Crab with the e6160 cradle fitted to the roof. Both pictures were taken shortly after WW2.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Attached are some IWM pictures.

IWM NA 14737
British Sherman III (M4A2) in Italy 1944 with an e6160 .30 cradle

IWM BU 272
British Sherman V (M4A4) and a Firefly Vc, both with .30

IWM A 23671
13/18th Hussars Sherman IIIs on board LCT for D-day. All showing .30 mounts

IWM B 9461
A British Sherman V with a .50

IWM B 8830
A polish Sherman V with .30, followed by a Vc with .50

source: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections

[Alex van de Wetering]

Canadian Shermans.

IWM B 14681
Fort Garry Horse Sherman V's and Vc's.
source: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections

PA-131042
Sherman V in Holland 1945
source: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/CollectionSearch

Shermans in Holland, close to Arnhem
source: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/CollectionSearch

MIKAN No. 3574213
Sherman V in Italy with a .50 mounted on the turret roof
source: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/CollectionSearch

[daninnm]

i NEED ONE OF THE SHERMAN??? MOUNTS TO COMPLETE THE TURRET MOUNT IN STAGHOUND No. 523 I AM FINISHING UP???? ANYONE - I HAVE TONS OF PARTS TO TRADE FOR GMC 270S AND THE STAGHOUND ITSELF AS WELL AS CASH - ANYONE HAVE THE ONE IN THE PICTURE?????
daninnm fyv-05 tew-69 205-syx

[daninnm]

Can anyone help with a location and 'for sale' ID??? I can trade another cradle or many Dodge or CCKW engine parts....or cash of course.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by daninnm

Can anyone help with a location and 'for sale' ID??? I can trade another cradle or many Dodge or CCKW engine parts....or cash of course.

Hi Dan, consider putting up and advert on the forum here or on the G104 mailing list here: https://groups.io/g/G104

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Photo caption - Sherman tanks of Guards Armoured Division passing through Fouilloy on their way to Arras, 1 September 1944. IWM BU 272

[daninnm]

I need one of the mounts in the picture or my Staghound......anyone???