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Nicholas Moran has just released a two part review of Firefly he had access to in Sweden, of all places. How the big guy ever levered himself into the gunner's position is fairly miraculous, but also points to the discomfort
Firefly crews had to endure for the sake of being able to put significant holes in Tiger tanks..

and here's Pt 2, where he squeezes himself inside the wee turret..

I always enjoy his commentaries, but I wish he'd dispense with the irritating background music...

thanks for the links

These are a great series of videos and I hope they keep them coming.
His lecture on the myths of ww2 American armor should be required viewing for any keyboard expert who refers to a Sherman as a Ronson.

They are a very good series , I'm hanging for him to do a Pz3.

Y es, he's a pretty unique resource..

After watching that video, which is excellent by the way, I can see why US Army Ordinance chose the 76. Especially given the similar performance of the rounds.

Cruiser133 wrote:After watching that video, which is excellent by the way, I can see why US Army Ordinance chose the 76. Especially given the similar performance of the rounds.

The 17-Pounder had far greater penetrating power, where it counted, especially with improved APDS rounds which could just about KO the King Tiger. Incidentally, Eisenhower regarded the 76mm as a failure. ... and here's a reference to his views in an article on the 76mm:
"...Often sources will include the rather disheartening quote from General Eisenhower regarding the 76mm gun, "You mean our 76 won't knock these Panthers out?... Ordnance told me this 76 would take care of anything the Germans had. Now I find you can't knock out a damn thing with it." Of course, this statement is a bit of an exaggeration. The 76mm was a significant improvement over the 75mm gun (in regards to AP penetration, if not in HE power) and gave the Sherman a much improved punch versus the more common German vehicles such as the Pz IV, Stug III and the Hetzer as well as it's primary post war opponent, the T34/85..."
When the 17-pounder was fitted into the grown up version of the Cromwell, The Comet (lengthened, widened and with a more commodious turret fitted) the overall package was one of the best in WW2... arguably.

According to the chieftain, who is not American, the apds round was bit of a failure and he considers the 76 overall better which US ordinance agreed with. You have to see the firefly was a stop gap and quite the rube Goldberg setup and retired after the war where the 76 soldiered on for years later.

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No question the 17 pounder was an excellent gun and as usual the Brits showed extreme ingenuity to meet an obvious need.

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