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M7 (Priest)

History

The M7 "Priest" (officially the "M7 105mm Howitzer Motor Vehicle") was the primary mobile artillery system of the Allied ground forces during World War II. It is designed to support armored operations in all theaters, and its tracked performance can be used wherever it is needed. Often giving way to more popular siblings such as the M4 Sherman, the M7 Priest was no less valuable when it found success on the elusive front lines of World War II - its 105mm gun gave it much-needed American, British and NATO deployments during her tenure.

The British deployed their own slightly modified version of the vehicle, and the Canadians developed an armored personnel carrier based on the base design. In addition to her actions in World War II, the priestess lived a long and healthy life in action, culminating in extensive fighting in the upcoming Korean War (1950-1953). Early M7 Priests were based on the M3 General Lee chassis, while the chassis of the M4 General Sherman medium tank was soon adopted.

At the end of World War II, the M24 Chaffee light tank became the standard Chaplain type.

M7 Requirements and Development

Since the beginning of World War II, the need for self-propelled artillery systems has become increasingly apparent. The Germans quickly recognized this need and developed outdated and even captured systems to meet the requirement - often just to pair a powerful field gun or tank killing weapon with a makeshift device on a proven tracked hull system . Perhaps the only difference between the parties involved is theory - the Germans chose to use their self-propelled artillery systems for direct fire, while the Allies generally kept their systems in indirect fire behind the front lines.

The U.S. Army itself has conducted some trials of fitting the 105mm field gun to the existing chassis of its half-tracks, with limited success. What is really needed is a full-track unit that will utilize existing components to facilitate production and minimize costs, while providing unmatched off-road performance and fire support for infantry and armored operations during a given operation. The chassis of the M3 Lee medium tank was chosen as the starting point because it was available in a certain amount and the track mass of its hull provided the required off-road capability - a component that would allow the new weapon system to better support the intended armored vehicle Traverse the muddy and mountainous European terrain.

The upper hull was extensively repainted and rearranged to accommodate the form and function of the M1A2 105mm howitzer.

A pilot vehicle was designed under the designation "T32" and two prototypes were built. Self-defense will be handled with a modest addition of a single Browning M2. 50 caliber air-cooled machine gun in a raised cupola.

Twenty-four 105mm shells will slide over the superstructure along the inside of the left and right side walls and under the floor, each in a separate protective barrel. The armor is 51 mm (2 in) thick at its thickest point and is powered by a single Continental R975 C1 Series 9 radial engine producing 350 hp at 2,400 rpm. The suspension is handled by a vertical coil spring system. The T32 underwent a series of similar tests at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, culminating in the launch of the "M7" in February 1942.

Production is scheduled to start in April this year.

Start of M7 production and origin of pastor's name

From April 1942 to August 1943, the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) was responsible for building 2,814 M7 systems. Ninety of these early examples were shipped on Lend-Lease to the British 8th Army fighting in Egypt and were immediately nicknamed "Clerics" thanks to the .50 caliber machine gun.

The British quickly dismantled 22 105mm shells and installed vital radio communication equipment in their place.

During the transport of these early systems, many modifications have been made, resulting in three slightly different forms. The most notable modification concerns the ammunition bay, which now provides more space for up to 69 rounds of 105mm ammunition.

M7 Pastoral Journey

In terms of design, the M7 uses the same lower hull as the M3 Lee medium tank series. She showed the same six-wheel track system, mounted in pairs on the sides of the fuselage and supported by a suspension system.

The drive sprocket is located at the front and is connected to the drivetrain, which in turn is connected to the engine mounted in the rear compartment of the vehicle. The superstructure is a large, solid board-side structure that sits on top of the hull. Glacis panels are slightly sloped and contoured to the front superstructure fairing.

The driver is located on the left side of the superstructure and manages the mobility functions of the vehicle. He gets a rectangular viewing port that can be opened or closed as needed. The 105mm gun and firing system are located to his right and offset to the right of the vehicle's centerline. Since the main guns themselves are located within the superstructure walls, this means that lateral movement is limited.

To facilitate a lower profile, the main gun was initially limited to a 35-degree firing angle. To the right of the main gun mount is the pulpit/observation post, usually equipped with a Browning M2. 50 caliber anti-infantry/air defense heavy machine gun. The superstructure "opens to the top" for easy viewing of the battlefield ahead. This exposes the crew unnecessarily to enemy fire, fragmentation effects and the elements.

However, this design element is a common wartime practice for such weapon systems. Reported highway speed is 24 mph, and off-road it deteriorates to 15 mph. The range is about 120 miles.

The M7 Priest in WWII

The M7 made its debut in North Africa during the Second Battle of El Alamein (23 October 1942 5 November 1942) under British command in the battle against German General Erwin Rommel. Aside from being forced to use the American M1A2 main gun (and therefore American ammunition), the British results were excellent, which subsequently led to the ordering of thousands of cars. However, these were transported without American main guns, only with British-made ordnance immediately upon delivery. While beneficial to the British Army in the short term, the inability to provide their M7 crew with available British ammunition was a logistical problem.

Eventually, from 1943 onwards, the M7 was replaced in British Army service by the Canadian-made Sexton (built by the Ram tank, which itself was a Canadian development of the American M3 Lee), directly armed with the British Ordnance Factory QF 25-pound main gun. 25 pound The QF is basically the British equivalent of the American M1 gun.

After the British M7 was phased out (either by direct replacement or end of barrel life), they were used as unarmed armored personnel carriers. The Canadians went on to develop these M7s as 20-person, 2-person armored personnel carriers (APCs), commonly known as "Kangaroos"in some ways, they became the forerunners of today's purpose-built APCs.

From October 1944 to April 1945, some 102 prototypes underwent such modifications and first entered service with British and Commonwealth troops fighting in Caen during the invasion of France.

Improved Pastor

After months of extensive combat use, the M7 has been redesigned for the better. The most significant of these changes is the addition of foldable side and rear armor that is fixed along the superstructure. In fact, the crews of the first M7s faced many dangers on the battlefield due to the deep side armor protection of the superstructure. This disadvantage was somewhat improved by new side and rear armor fittings, although the crew still operated from the open-top fighting compartment. From March 1944 to October 1944, ALCO delivered more than 500 modified M7s to the U.S.

Army. However, there has been a switch from the M3 Lee to the M4 Sherman chassis - which produced the M7B1 just a month after the M7 base production.

M7B1

The M7B1 came online quickly. This version of the M7 SPG is designed to encourage more commonality of parts between the M7 series and the ubiquitous M4 Sherman medium tank. In contrast to the armor, the lower hull is made of mild steel sheet (produced from pressed steel). By September 1943, the use of the M3 Lee chassis in M7 production quickly diminished, and the Lee-inspired M7 was completely replaced in January 1945. The M7B1 exclusively uses the chassis of the M4A3 Sherman model and the Ford GAA engine.

The Pressed Steel Car Company produced 826 M7B1 models, which were standard M7 production by the end of 1943.

The US Marines in the Pacific often completely remove the 105mm main gun and use the M7 as a makeshift armored personnel carrier that can accommodate 13 Marines. This was evident in later operations in Okinawa, where these M7s were dubbed "Dry Priests". In total, the M7 consisted of about three U.S. battalions during World War II, with more than 4,500 reportedly built (sources vary from exact total).

Ultimately, the system will be deployed throughout North Africa, Europe (including Sicily) and throughout the Pacific.

M37 as a replacement

The M37 designation (officially "M37 105mm Howitzer Motor Carrier") was reserved for the "Cleric" using the M24 Chafee light tank chassis and was intended to completely replace the M7. These armor systems feature an improved gunner's workspace and ammo rack revisions, while being powered by twin Cadillac-branded engines. She was armed with a 105mm M4 main gun and received 126 rounds. Of the 448 ordered, only 316 were actually delivered.

The M37 became the production standard Priest in January 1945.

Korean Pastor

The M7B2 was developed during the Korean War to increase the height of the main gun for better maneuvering in the Korean mountains. As a result, her gun mount and machine gun ring were raised, creating a very different frontal look. The gun can now be raised to 65 degrees, also increasing the range of the main gun.

The machine gun ring, now with full 360-degree turn capability, protects all sides of the vehicle from infantry attack, one of the many dangers tank crews face during war.