- Yes
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105 mm Self Propelled Gun, Priest
Design and Service History:
The 105 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M7 was a self-propelled gun based on the M3 Lee/ M4 Sherman chassis, produced by America during the second world war. It was provided through lend-lease to the British, where it served under the name 105 mm Self Propelled Gun, Priest, with the name coming from the pulpit-like machine gun ring present on the vehicle, along with keeping in line with the naming conventions of British SPG of the time, which was based on members of the church, like Bishop and Decon.
The M7’s development began in the early stages of World War II, when US army observers realized they would need a self-propelled artillery vehicle, with powerful firepower in order to support armoured operations. Lessons would be learned through the use of Halftracks such as the T19 howitzer, which indicated the ideal vehicle would have to be both fully tracked and armoured. This would lead to a vehicle based on the M3 Lee chassis named the T32, which possessed an open-topped superstructure and mounted the M2A1 105 mm howitzer, complimented by an M2 .50 cal machine gun which was added after trials.
The T32 pilot was deemed sufficient for the Army’s needs and was accepted for service as the M7 in February 1942, which production beginning in April of that year. This SPG instantly attracted the interest of the British Tank Mission and they requested 2,500 to be delivered by the end of 1942, followed by a further 3,000 by the end of 1943, though this order would never be fully completed as the more desirable Sexton SPG became readily available. As production continued the M3 lee chassis was replaced by that of an M4 Sherman, and both variants would be provided to the British through lend-lease, before production concluded with a total off 3,489 M7s being produced.
The British would find the M7 to be a reliable weapon, and it would go on to see major front-line service, even if logistical problems regarding ammunition stopped it being whole heartedly adopted, and eventually discarded in favour of the competing Sexton design. Despite this the Priest would see service on numerous fronts, starting during the North African campaign, where 90 Priests were received by the British Eighth Army, where they would play a pivotal role during the Second Battle of El Alamein, alongside Bishop SPGs. Here the supply issues presented themselves, but the M7 would continue to serve with the British through North Africa and into Italy, where they were slowly supplemented by the more logistically friendly Sexton.
The Priest would also serve in North-West Europe, and British examples would take part in the fighting that followed the invasion of Normandy in June 1944. Artillery regiments of the British 3rd and 50th divisions were equipped with the M7, though due to logistical reasons, they were replaced by towed 25-pounder guns in early August. The Priest would also see service during the Burma campaign, where it served in a significant role during the Battle of Meiktila and the advance on Rangoon (1945) during Operation Dracula.
Vehicle specification:
Mass 50,640 lb (22.97 metric tons)
Length 19 ft 9 in (6.02 m)
Width 9 ft 5 in (2.87 m) with sand shields
Height 8 ft 4 in (2.54 m), 9 ft 8 in (2.95 m) over AA machine gun
Crew 8
Armor 12–62 mm
Main armament 105 mm M1/M2 Howitzer (69 rounds)
Secondary armament 1 × 0.5 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine gun (300 rounds)
Engine Continental R-975 C1 (400 Hp, 298kw)
Suspension Vertical volute spring
Operational range 120 mi (193 km)
Maximum speed 24 mph (39 km/h)
Additional historical photos:
M7 Priest passes by a Humber Scout Car as it moves into position to support an attack on Caen, 8 July 1944:
Priest of 3rd Infantry Division in UK, 1944:
THE BRITISH ARMY IN ITALY 1944; A Priest 105mm self-propelled gun in action at Anzio:
other photos:
Sources:
- M7 Priest - Wikipedia (Wiki page for vehicle)
- M7 Priest | Weaponsystems.net (Additional info)
- https://www.warhistoryonline.com/instant-articles/m7-priest-spg.html (Additional history)
- M7 Priest self-propelled artillery (additional history)
- M7 (Priest) Self-Propelled Gun (SPH) (More design spec)
