How about a colonial/Canadian angle?
During the 1930s, Canadians recognize that the motherland will not be able to supply the Canadian Army during the coming world war, so Canadian factories gear-up to equip the Canadian Army.
Montreal Locomotive Works still produces thousands of Valentine light tanks, but with cast, bulged (ala British cruisers) that improve elbow room for the three turret crew manning the 6-pounder gun in the turret.
After casting the first batch of stepped glacis plates, MLW starts casting sloped glacis plates for all subsequent Valentine production.
By 1942, MLW recognizes that even 6-pounder guns are not enough to defeat the latest Panzers, so they import 17-pounder patterns and tooling from Britain. MLW only builds a few Valentine Archers, but takes lessons-learned to develop a Ram III medium tank based on a Sherman hull and suspension.
The Ram 3 prototype is converted from a Ram 2 and resembles the Sherman Fireflies converted in Britain albeit with a wedge-shaped mantlet extending well forward of the original trunnions, but the Ram 3A features a longer turret with the bustle cast in place. Ram 3A turrets also sport a variety of external turret baskets (ala Centurion) to compliment all the tool boxes on their hulls.
Meanwhile, CARDE has been busy developing lower velocity HE and smoke shells for 17-pounders. They only achieve 2,000 feet per scone at the muzzle but carry enough explosive to defeat most soft-skinned targets. Initially Ram 3 gunners flip back and forth between two separate aiming reticles, but Ram 3Bs combine the two sights (AT and HE) in one reticle.
Late war, MLW and Continental co-operate on a new bell-housing that allows them to lay radial engines flat in the lower hull. The turret basket sinks a foot deeper into the hull, allowing the entire hull to be so shalos that side sponsons almost disappear. New sponsons are barely high enough to support the turret ring.
To make room for fuel and ammo, the Ram 3 loses its bow-gunner.
During the 1930s, Canadians recognize that the motherland will not be able to supply the Canadian Army during the coming world war, so Canadian factories gear-up to equip the Canadian Army.
Montreal Locomotive Works still produces thousands of Valentine light tanks, but with cast, bulged (ala British cruisers) that improve elbow room for the three turret crew manning the 6-pounder gun in the turret.
After casting the first batch of stepped glacis plates, MLW starts casting sloped glacis plates for all subsequent Valentine production.
By 1942, MLW recognizes that even 6-pounder guns are not enough to defeat the latest Panzers, so they import 17-pounder patterns and tooling from Britain. MLW only builds a few Valentine Archers, but takes lessons-learned to develop a Ram III medium tank based on a Sherman hull and suspension.
The Ram 3 prototype is converted from a Ram 2 and resembles the Sherman Fireflies converted in Britain albeit with a wedge-shaped mantlet extending well forward of the original trunnions, but the Ram 3A features a longer turret with the bustle cast in place. Ram 3A turrets also sport a variety of external turret baskets (ala Centurion) to compliment all the tool boxes on their hulls.
Meanwhile, CARDE has been busy developing lower velocity HE and smoke shells for 17-pounders. They only achieve 2,000 feet per scone at the muzzle but carry enough explosive to defeat most soft-skinned targets. Initially Ram 3 gunners flip back and forth between two separate aiming reticles, but Ram 3Bs combine the two sights (AT and HE) in one reticle.
Late war, MLW and Continental co-operate on a new bell-housing that allows them to lay radial engines flat in the lower hull. The turret basket sinks a foot deeper into the hull, allowing the entire hull to be so shalos that side sponsons almost disappear. New sponsons are barely high enough to support the turret ring.
To make room for fuel and ammo, the Ram 3 loses its bow-gunner.
