HULL DECLARES ‘WAYS MUST BE FOUND’ TO GET QUICK, FULL AID TO BRITAIN (4/25/41)

Microfilm-New York Times archives, Monterey Public Library | 4/25/41 | Turner Catledge, Reginald M. Cleveland, Hanson W. Baldwin

[PzLdr]

The Grant’s main flaw was having the heavy 75mm cannon in a sponson box on the hull [like the French Char ‘B’(?)]. Leaves the gun with very limited traverse. The height of the tank wasn’t that beneficial, either.

[BroJoeK]

PzLdr: "The Grant’s main flaw was having the heavy 75mm cannon in a sponson box on the hull [like the French Char ‘B’(?)]. Leaves the gun with very limited traverse. The height of the tank wasn’t that beneficial, either."

Understood and agreed.
No one has ever claimed the Grant was a great tank, that's why it was discontinued as soon as Shermans became available.
But in its defense: in 1942 Grants were more than a match for German early-model tanks.

[PzLdr]

One would have thought the U.S might have learned from the mistakes of the French, though. This is almost a year since the Third Republic got whomped.

[PAR35]

The Char had its big gun mounted in the hull, not in a sponson. Look at the 1 minute mark on this YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNgVsCl3eVQ

The smaller gun was mounted in a turret on top.

Or see some still pictures on the Wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Char_B1

[PAR35]

I got home late last night, and then had trouble with FR. Here are some interesting pictures of the Corinth Canal operation on Feldgrau (scroll down the page for the pictures):

http://www.feldgrau.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=27776

[CougarGA7]

Those are some interesting pictures. Here's one I've seen a few times on the bridge.