British ammunition for M2 & M3 tank guns?

[MikeC]

Question for the brains trust, please: did the UK and/or Canada manufacture 75mm ammunition for the M2 & M3 tank guns (Lee/Grant tanks for the M2 or M3, and M3 for the Sherman). If so, what natures and what propellant was used, please?

 

[Hoeksel]

I only can tell you about the corresponding 75 mm M18 shell case from my former collection, both GB and CA made these dated WW2, I had several in my collection.

 

[Gspragge]

Here are two examples;

 

[M8owner]

That is rather interesting that England chose to use the American Mark 1 HE design with a French fuze. Of course, the Mark 1 was originally a French design from WW1.

 

[pzgr40]

Few people know that the shellcase for the sherman m4 75 mm tank gun is exactly the same as for the french 75mm m1897 field gun.

 

[Gspragge]

I knew that ! The American WW2 37mm M16 & M17 cases are a direct copy of the French 1902 37mm case "Tube Cannon" originally
for Naval subcalibre practice. The M63 HE projectile is a direct copy of the French 1916 37mm HE base fuzed D shell.

 

[jeff w]

I only can tell you about the corresponding 75 mm M18 shell case from my former collection, both GB and CA made these dated WW2, I had several in my collection.

In addition to AP and HE, Canada also produced over 2,000,000 rounds of 75mm smoke shells under US contract.
Britain also produced some 75mm uncapped AP with no tracer. Doubtful it ever saw combat - they tested it in Cairo vs German armor and it performed poorly.

Can anybody post a picture of a British 75mm M18 cartridge case? I don't recall ever seeing one.
Wondering if it was just experimental...

 

[jeff w]

I knew that ! The American WW2 37mm M16 & M17 cases are a direct copy of the French 1902 37mm case "Tube Cannon" originally
for Naval subcalibre practice. The M63 HE projectile is a direct copy of the French 1916 37mm HE base fuzed D shell.

Just for clarification (according to Tony Williams data tables) French M1902 case was 37x200R with a 57.5mm rim diameter. M17 case was 37x223 with a 51.1 rim, M16 rim was 55.3