Sherman tank: pistol port locking mechanism - photos wanted

[Patrick Johnson]

Hi,
I am hoping someone has good photos of how the pistol port handle rotates into a female retainer welded just above the pistol port opening, when the handle is in its locked position. Given it's such a small part, the photos I have just don't give enough detail to its construction. Sketches would be fine in the absence of a decent photo.
Many thanks for your help,
Patrick

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Do you mean locked like this?

[Patrick Johnson]

Yes, that's it. I have that diagram but what I need is a close up of that locking mechanism on a real tank. It appears to be a solid block of steel that the handle engages, but I would very much like to find photographic proof of this. I need someone with access to a Sherman to give me a close up photo of this, free of any obstructing handle.
Thx for posting,
Patrick

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Bloody “restorers” …



This is the inside of the turret of the Sherman (ex-Crab) at Westkapelle, Netherlands, while it was being restored a few years ago. The people doing the work basically cut everything off the inside of the turret wall because it would get in the way of painting it (which I was not happy with when I discovered it) but I hoped they had left the latch that I think you’re after. Looking through my photos, though, you can see they did cut it off. They left the socket, though.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Jakko Westerbeke

Bloody “restorers” …

This is the inside of the turret of the Sherman (ex-Crab) at Westkapelle, Netherlands, while it was being restored a few years ago. The people doing the work basically cut everything off the inside of the turret wall because it would get in the way of painting it (which I was not happy with when I discovered it) but I hoped they had left the latch that I think you’re after. Looking through my photos, though, you can see they did cut it off. They left the socket, though.

Ah, I see someone did some harvesting of parts

Surprised they did not paint/ coat the interior, given the conditions it has to survive in...

[Tim Bell]

Patrick

Hopefully these are of some use.



Regards

Tim

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Surprised they did not paint/ coat the interior, given the conditions it has to survive in...

They did paint the interior, for exactly that reason. That’s why they cut all the parts off: to make sure they could get paint everywhere on the actual turret wall. I still consider it unnecessary destruction of things that survived for eighty years, though.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Jakko Westerbeke

They did paint the interior, for exactly that reason. That’s why they cut all the parts off: to make sure they could get paint everywhere on the actual turret wall. I still consider it unnecessary destruction of things that survived for eighty years, though.

Good to hear they painted the interior and indeed sad they destructed it to do so

[Patrick Johnson]

Thanks to all for answering my inquiry, and to Tim for finding the clearest photos of this handle and locking mechanism I've ever seen. Thank you! I can only hope that this is the interior of your 17pdr, which would tell me it's in great shape.
Cheers, Patrick

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

sad they destructed it to do so

Here’s the other side of the turret as it was back then:



And five months later:



(I took this photo to show the thinner sections of armour on the right front, but it shows the paint well, too.)