In the picture is the m7 hmc in Norway, photographed at Hasloemoen camp. this was restored in 1983 and is the only known surviving Norwegian m7
TYPE: Tank destroyer
AMOUNT IN NORWEGIAN SERVICE: 9
TIME IN SERVICE OF THE NORWEGIAN ARMY: 1945 - ca 1970
ARMAMENT
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1x 105mm M2A1 cannon
-Mounted: M4 in hull right front
-Ammunition capasity: 69 rounds
-Traverse: 45° (15° left and 30° right) manually adjusted
-Elevation: +35° to -5° manually adjusted -
1x 12.7mm M2 Browning machine gun LV MITR
-Ammunition capasity: 300 rounds
-Traverse: 360° manually adjusted
-Elevation: +75° to -30° manually adjusted
TECHNICAL DATA
Mass: 22.97 tons
Length: 6.02 m
Width: 2.87 m with sandshields
Height: 2.54 m
Height over machine gun: 2.95 m
Crew: 7
-Chief of section in hull left front
-Gunner-corporal in hull left center
-Cannoneer in hull right front
-Cannoneer in hull left rear
-Cannoneer in hull right center
-Cannoneer in hull right rear
-Driver in hull left front
Engine: Continental R-975 C1/C4
Cylinders: 9
Eigne type: Star eigne
Eigne power: 450 Hp
Suspension: Vertical volute spring
Combat weight: 23,000kg
Height over AAMG: 295cm
Length with sandshields: 602cm
Howitzer overhang forward with sandshields: 0"
Width with sandshields: 287cm
Tread: 211cm
Ground clearance: 43cm
Fire height: 190cm
Ground pressure, zero penetration: 10.4psi
PERFORMANCE
Operational range: 193 km
Maximum speed On road: 39 km/h
Maximum speed off road: 24 km/h’
Max trench: 230cm
Max grade: 60%
Max vertical obstacle: 61cm
Min turning diameter: 19m
Max fording depth: 100cm
Cruising range: 190km, roads
ARMOR
Steel type: Rolled and cast homogeneous steel welded
Upper front: 13mm 30°
Lower front: 108 - 51mm 56°
Upper sides: 13mm 0°
Lower sides: 38mm soft 0°
Rear: 13mm 0°
Front floor: 25mm 90°
Rear floor: 13mm 90°
HISTORY
The M7 is a standard towed 105mm M2A1 cannon mounted on an M4 Sherman chassis (earlier version was on the M3 Lee chassis). The need for self-propelled missiles arose already in the first years of the war. The M7 was, among other things, used by the British 8th Army in North Africa, with great success during the Battle of El Alamein. The M7 was included in British and American installations on all front sections in Europe. Was used by the Americans until the end of the 50s.
The M7 was nicknamed Priest because the machine gun mount looked like a pulpit.
Norwegian usage
6 came to Norway with American forces in 1945 and were left behind when the Americans left. The wagons were stored at Ski. A further 3 wagons were received as arms aid after being used during the Korean War. Already in 1951, attempts were made to set up a battery at the AR2, but this was only successful in 1957.
At Haslemoen, the garage doors were too narrow to get the wagons under the roof, nor were the garage doors at the workshop wide enough. There were major challenges in getting the equipment into operation after 12 years of storage. All maintenance had to be done outside under a stretched tarpaulin, and there were almost no spare parts.
In 1960, 22 M7s were received as weapons aid, the carriages had been overhauled in France before delivery. Battery N/Fabatt/Brig N at Setermoen was set up as a self-propelled battery.
The wagons were phased out around 1970, and replaced with the new M109G wagons
Norway also used another, further upgraded wagon, with the changes i have written below
M7B2 Upgrades
During the Korean War, the wagons had a need to be deployed in hilly and uneven terrain. The limited elevation of the gun became a problem, and the M7B2 is a modification that allows elevation of up to 65 degrees. In addition, the machine gun tower was raised to still be able to give the machine gun a 360 degree field of fire.
- increased elevation of the 105mm cannon from (+35° -30°) to (+65° to -5°)
- Machinegun tower raised a little to give it the possibility to be turnable 360°
Here is the M7B2 variant at Hjerkinn camp, Norway
PICTURES
Spoiler
SOURCES
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M7 Priest - Wikipedia
105mm HMC M7
Sherman Register - Norwegian M7 105-mm HMC
The book given out ny the Norwegian Defence Museum
“Motoriserte militærkjøretøy I norge 1905-2005”
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