Assault gun Sherman

kerick · November 04, 2025, 07:33:13 PM

I've been kicking around the idea of a version of the Sherman redeveloped as an assault gun for infantry support and knocking off tanks from defensive positions. Sort of like if the later part of WW2 had ground to a stalemate and there was a huge demand for anything that could shoot. Taking a hint from the Germans and Russians the US started making their own Assault gun.
I started on this project the other day. I took a turret from the spares box with the two full size round hatches and cut the top off. I cut the bustle off, cut the top of that off and glued it to the back of the turret to round it off. I don't know the maker of the kit but the plastic was very brittle. Lots of sanding to do!
Here's a couple of pics of what I was talking about.
The spare parts from various donors. There will be a mix of road wheel types, idler types and maybe the sprocket types.

The turret hatches so far. I'll probably add a plastic disc over the turret hole then add the cut off turret top. The 90mm gun from an M36 Jackson is enroute.

buzzbomb · November 04, 2025, 09:59:17 PM

Well for my 5.5 Cents worth, I reckon the turret top looks quite fine as it is. I perhaps would cut off enough of the front to give clearance to the fuel caps and then fair into the splash ring with some epoxy putty.

Would give a nice point of difference to similar builds

Weaver · November 05, 2025, 02:24:22 AM

Looks promising.

Off on a tangent: this has got me wondering What If the US army's tank destroyer doctrine had been different, resulting in the M10/M36/M18 being built as casemate types rather than turreted?

Old Wombat · November 05, 2025, 02:44:59 AM

Quote from: buzzbomb on November 04, 2025, 09:59:17 PMWell for my 5.5 Cents worth, I reckon the turret top looks quite fine as it is. I perhaps would cut off enough of the front to give clearance to the fuel caps and then fair into the splash ring with some epoxy putty.

Would give a nice point of difference to similar builds

Same again, garçon!

Captain Canada · November 05, 2025, 04:27:11 AM

Nice idea. Always fun to watch armour builds.

kerick · November 05, 2025, 06:12:38 AM

Thanks for the ideas!
I've cut off the back corners of the turret to blend it into the back of the bustle piece. I filled some gaps with plastic scraps to minimize filler. This will get me a bit more clearance by the filler caps. Still kicking around the plastic disc covering the turret hole. It would cover right up to the splash ring with cut outs for the fuel filler caps.
Next will be just how to mount the gun. I'll be better able to figure that out when I get my hands on it.

George the Cat · November 05, 2025, 06:22:16 AM

Definitely needs more front armour or the representation of some. It's an interesting idea. I could see these going ashore on D Day.

kerick · November 05, 2025, 08:10:44 AM

The kit comes with weld on plates for the sides. I'll definitely use those. Lots of spare track to add in different places. Frontal armor could get some add ons.
One thought is what to do with the bow gunners hatch? I could remove it and putty it over. Or leave it and call it an access hatch for the gun. I guess I'll see how the time goes on the diy bathroom job.

Wardukw · November 05, 2025, 07:23:57 PM

All of a sudden these assault gun Shermans have come out of nowhere and i like it

Since the very first time i saw a model of one i've wanted to build one but every idea i thought was had already been done so i haven't built one .
I'm enjoying tho the builds of you blokes so i'll sit back and enjoy

I'n going to enjoy this build Ken

zenrat · November 05, 2025, 10:02:04 PM

Having just finished the Dicker Max (pictures to follow) I feel almost obliged to join in (1/48 natch). I have no Sherman though.
Ido have a Stuart but I feel space inside is limited as it is without adding a breech.
Pz iv? No, already done IRL.
There are more. I will have a rummage in the stash.

Weaver · November 06, 2025, 01:05:35 AM

Quote from: zenrat on November 05, 2025, 10:02:04 PMHaving just finished the Dicker Max (pictures to follow) I feel almost obliged to join in (1/48 natch). I have no Sherman though.
Ido have a Stuart but I feel space inside is limited as it is without adding a breech.
Pz iv? No, already done IRL.
There are more. I will have a rummage in the stash.

I say again: M10/M36/M18

kerick · November 06, 2025, 07:54:18 AM

The Lee/Grant series was almost an assault gun to start with. Using a Jackson at least you would have the 90mm gun in hand already.

Wardukw · November 06, 2025, 10:09:06 AM

Quote from: Weaver on November 06, 2025, 01:05:35 AM
Quote from: zenrat on November 05, 2025, 10:02:04 PMHaving just finished the Dicker Max (pictures to follow) I feel almost obliged to join in (1/48 natch). I have no Sherman though.
Ido have a Stuart but I feel space inside is limited as it is without adding a breech.
Pz iv? No, already done IRL.
There are more. I will have a rummage in the stash.

I say again: M10/M36/M18

Use a M10/M36 are the same tank just with different turrets and guns ,, Ken's right tho ..least ya get the 90mm gun which is nice ,, the M18 tho is a damn small vehicle and ya wouldn't be able to get a big enough gun in it to make it worth while ..a M26 tho

M26 comes with all the goodies ,,space ,,suspension ,,plenty of scope to mount a 105mm gun or bigger ,,i wouldn't go with a 155 tho ,,well maybe a short 155mm built just for this project ,thats a big gun ,,if this was being used by another nation when you could look at a russian 122mm or even more weirder ,,say the Japanese were allies ,,then one of their 150mm guns..a 90mm is more a tank hunter then a assault gun .just look at the Stug 3 ,,that ended up with a Pak40 AT gun ..then another verison has the 150mm ,,i think FH 18 model gun ..with a muzzle break ,,even more boom boom ,,so the options can be quite an interesting list with more too ..British 25pdr

Weaver · November 06, 2025, 03:17:55 PM

No reason why you can't build two casemate vehicles with the same hull but different guns for different purposes: a 90mm+ high-velocity gun for the tank destroyer and a 150mm+ low velocity gun for the direct-fire assault gun version.

Another way to get a non-turreted Allied tank destroyer is to start with an M7 Priest. Fit it with an AT gun, appliqué armour plates on the front and, optionally, a roof and you're good to go. I inted to do something like this in 1/72nd at some point with a 17pdr.

kerick · November 06, 2025, 07:34:33 PM

Just the ammunition used can make the difference between anti tank or bunker buster. High velocity AT, maybe first generation SABOT rounds for the tanks and lower velocity HE for the bunkers. The US used a lot of M48s in Vietnam for infantry support with a 90mm gun. Not many tanks to shoot at until late in the war. Something to include in the backstory.