OQF 75mm vs M3 75mm

FLOZi · #1 (**permalink**) May 8th, 2007, 07:36 PM

Hello folks, long time since i popped in here.

I know the OQF 75mm was a bored-out 6pdr firing US ammunition (with the HE filler removed), I was wondering how much the performance differed with the standard US M3 as used in the Sherman, and which particular rounds were issued.

wikipedia suggests that the OQF was longer, and therefore with a greater MV and penetration. As well as:

Quote:

A much improved anti tank shell was developed. This was a APCBC (Armour Piercing Capped, Ballistic Cap) shot design. It had a muzzle velocity of 2,600 ft/s (790 m/s) as opposed to 2,030 ft/s (620 m/s) for the older M61 APC shell. US documents1 showed the round as available for both the M3 75 mm and ROQF 75 mm. Other sources2 indicate the shell saw use by the British only. The performance of the new shell was a vast increase: penetrating 102 mm at 500 yards (460 m) at 30 degree angle of impact. Actual availability and usage of this round is unclear. According to some British tables M72 AP had a penetration performance of 114 mm at 100 yards and 102 mm at 500 yards, so it is possible the 30 degrees angle of impact is a transposition error for 0 degrees. This is interesting as US M72 has a penetration performance of 101 mm at 100 yards.

Obviously, wikipedia is never the most reliable of sources, and I was wondering (hoping) if anyone here knew any better.

Tony Williams · #2 (**permalink**) May 13th, 2007, 02:46 PM

The British 75mm was actually a couple of inches or so shorter than the US M3 (although longer than the M2) but the difference was too small to matter.

No 75mm made 2,600 fps - the figure is around 2,030 fps. Penetration was around 70mm/500 yards/30 degrees.

FLOZi · #3 (**permalink**) May 15th, 2007, 02:19 AM

Thanks for confirming Tony - both here and Tank-Net.