Military fanatic self-propelled gun

It is the M7 105mm self-propelled artillery. It was used during World War II. The more common name is "Priest"

The M7 Priest self-propelled artillery (M7 Priest) was used by the US military in the First World War. A self-propelled artillery developed during World War II. When it entered the service of the British army, the British gave it the title of "Pastor". This is because it has a pulpit-like machine gunner position and follows the name of the British "Bishop" self-propelled artillery. The British final naming plan also adopted the name of the 105mm? SP Pastor self-propelled artillery. The naming of the Priest self-propelled artillery also established the tradition of the British army naming self-propelled artillery after clergy in the future, such as the later "Sexton" and "Abbot" self-propelled artillery. The M7 Priest self-propelled artillery (M7 Priest) is a self-propelled artillery developed by the US military during World War II. When it entered the service of the British army, the British gave it the title of "Pastor". This is because it has a pulpit-like machine gunner position and follows the name of the British M7 Priest self-propelled artillery model

The name of the British "Bishop" self-propelled artillery, and the British final naming scheme The name 105mm? SP Pastor self-propelled artillery was also adopted. The naming of the Priest self-propelled artillery also established the tradition of the British army naming self-propelled artillery after clergy in the future, such as the later "Sexton" and "Abbot" self-propelled artillery. After developing and gaining experience in the war, the US military understood that it needed a self-propelled artillery with powerful firepower to cover infantry operations. In addition, after learning the lesson that the armor of half-track vehicles was too weak, the US authorities hoped to thicken the armor of this self-propelled artillery and replace it with full tracks. The authorities also decided to use the chassis of the M3 Li Zhong tank as the basis of this self-propelled artillery, and named it T32 self-propelled artillery. After revision, the M3 medium tank chassis used to manufacture self-propelled artillery added an open top design and mounted a 105mm howitzer, in addition to a Browning machine gun. In February 1942, the T32 self-propelled artillery was renamed the M7 self-propelled artillery and began production. Application Although the earliest M7 self-propelled artillery was manufactured for U.S. military operations, according to the "Lend-Lease Act" proposed by the United States, the United States promised to provide war supplies to its allies, so 90 M7 self-propelled artillery were shipped to North Africa to assist the British Army. The Eighth Army fought. This British army first used these self-propelled artillery in the Second Battle of El Alamein to conduct actual combat tests for this self-propelled artillery. Later, the M7 self-propelled artillery achieved great success in the North African battlefield. Therefore, the United Kingdom requested 5,500 of the self-propelled artillery from the United States. However, due to the large number of requests, this request could not be completed until the end of the war. However, there are also some problems with the initial production of the M7 self-propelled artillery. Because the early M7 self-propelled artillery was produced for the US military, some parts did not meet the standards of the British army. This means that the M7 self-propelled artillery used by the United States and shipped to the United Kingdom need to be manufactured separately, making the logistics work of the US military more complicated. This problem could not be fully solved until 1944, when the British improved the M7 Priest self-propelled artillery into the "Sexton self-propelled artillery". Before this time, the British army had been using M7 self-propelled artillery in the North African battlefield, the Italian battlefield and the Normandy campaign. When the sexton self-propelled artillery came out, these M7 self-propelled artillery were improved into "Kangaroo armored personnel carriers". In the US military, the M7 self-propelled artillery has achieved great success in combat. Each US armored division is also equipped with three M7 self-propelled artillery to provide them with effective fire support. The United States produced a total of 3,490 M7 self-propelled guns. Even after World War II, the US military continued to use this self-propelled gun. For example, during the Korean War, the United Nations Army used this self-propelled artillery to fight the North Korean Army. Derived model model? Description M7 self-propelled artillery? The first M7 self-propelled artillery was improved from the M3 medium tank. In order to maintain a vague outline for camouflage, the United States deliberately limited the lifting angle of the howitzer on the M7 to 35°. In May 1942, less than a month after the production of the M7 self-propelled artillery, it was modified again in order to increase the upper limit of the shells from 24 rounds to 69 rounds. The U.S. authorities plan to place 7 rounds on the left side of the body, 5 on the right side, and the remaining under the armor plate. In addition, the M7 self-propelled artillery has undergone more modifications on the basis of the M3 medium tank, achieving more similarities with the M4 Sherman, the main tank of the US military. M7B1 self-propelled artillery? This model was improved on the basis of the M4 medium tank, and the standards were unified from September 1943 to January 1945. The United States even announced that this model would replace the production standards of the old M7 self-propelled artillery. M7B2 self-propelled artillery? This model was mainly used in the Korean War. Since the limitation of the howitzer's lifting angle became a thorny issue during the war, the US authorities widened its lifting angle to 65°, and the machine gun's rotation angle was also increased to 360°. This is because of the rugged geographical environment in North Korea, where enemies often ambush on high ground, so it is necessary to widen the elevation angle of the main gun. Kangaroo armored personnel carrier? An armored personnel carrier made by disassembling the main gun from the M7 self-propelled artillery. In order to transport a large number of Canadian soldiers to the European battlefield, the British converted the replaced M7 self-propelled artillery into armored personnel carriers. In addition to the two crew members, this model can also carry twenty additional soldiers.

A total of 102 M7 self-propelled guns have been converted to this model.