- Joe_D

Jeff,
"Weed", The searchlight mounts on the gun were retained for TASC devices like the Telfare .50 cal and Laser training device which was used on snakeboards. The Telfare was just an M2 put on single shot with an extra long charging handle and solenoid. The interupter was retained to protect these devices. We would use the Telfare with the M85 and 240 for gunnery training to save rounds. As far as the receptacle is concerned, it was easier to cap them then grind/cut. Why the later model A3 true TTS has them is a good question. I believe it was because we were still making A1's at the time (Export) and all turrets are the same until the decision was made what it would be. Kinda like Chevy and GMC.
"Jeff", The rangefinder ear could have been removed or filled. They did it (Filled) with the CEV (M728). It had no rangefinder. The 5 A3's (US Army)that had reactive armor packs put on removed the left ear and plated the hole over. One idea is it was for OPSEC/Deception. Another one is it was easier to keep the ear instead of fabricating a plug/plate. I'm leaning towards the latter. Look at the ears in these pictures. The one on the right (LRF) had the turret ground to allow line of sight. The left didn't, If the coincedence range finder was installed you couldn't see through it. It's also another way to tell if the turret was ever an A1. All tank turrets had to have the holes machined. I pretty sure CEV production had ceased by the time A3's came out.

Joe D