This is exactly what Israel did in the late 1960s up until 1973, making the M-51 the last series production Sherman. In many ways it's the Sherman dream team, combining the gorgeous flowing cast hull with the T23 turret and HVSS suspension. Incidentally, that cast hull is often ascribed to the pen of the great Harley Earl, who was responsible for some of the most beautiful cars ever built (Buick Y, 59 Caddy, Corvette), and he was most certainly "there at the time" when the Sherman was being drawn up. It certainly does have Earl's signature flowing lines.
Choosing the big hatch cast hull and HVSS suspension as the best of Sherman design (and rightly so), the IDF initially upgunned with a T23 turret and the 75mm from their French AMX13 lights. The 75mm proved ineffective against Egyptian and Syrian T54/ T55 and so the IDF sought to upgun to 105mm in a T23 turret.
The first and most logical choice was the British L7 which Israel already employed to deadly effect on their Centurions. Initial trials proved there was absolutely no way an L7 could fit a Sherman and so attention was turned to the French D1508 anti tank gun. With a Firefly-esque turret bustle extension and a reduction in barrel length from 56 to 51 calibres, the 1508 was successfully fitted into the T23 turret.
The 105mm Supers had a relatively brief service life from 1967 to 1973, but nonetheless they acquitted themselves well in the Golan Heights and the Yom Kippur conflict. They were hampered mainly by the availability of only HEAT rounds, with no fin round ever becoming available, and so were made obsolete by the fitment of ERA packs to Egyptian and Syrian T tanks.
All the same, it's the last of a proud lineage of an excellent tank that became a byword for the free world's stand against the forces of darkness.
I shall be working from the very nice Academy kit, new tooled wayyyyyyyy back in 1997 but still looking fresh as a daisy.
Tracks will be from AFV Club, and I shall use the M2 from the Academy US Machine Guns set.
