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M7B2 Priest
Hello everybody. I’d like to suggest the M7B2 Priest for the US ground forces tech tree in War Thunder. This variant represents a significant upgrade to the iconic American self-propelled howitzer, tailored specifically for the mountainous terrain of Korea. It featured increased gun elevation and improved machine gun coverage, making it a uniquely modified version of the M7 Priest that served prominently during the Korean War.
History
The M7 HMC was standardized for production in April 1942 following the successful testing of the T32 prototype. Initially built on the M3 Lee medium tank chassis, the M7 replaced the turret and armored compartment with a large, open-topped superstructure. Early models shared many components with the M3 Lee, but over time, later production models, often referred to as late model M7s, incorporated more parts from the M4 Sherman. Eventually, a more refined version was built on the M4A3 chassis: the M7B1.
Both the M7 and M7B1 remained in service with the US Army after World War II and were deployed during the Korean War. However, it soon became apparent that the howitzer’s original +35° elevation was inadequate for the steep terrain of Korea, where hills and mountains often blocked effective indirect fire. The +35° elevation limit had originally been imposed to prevent the howitzer from recoiling into the vehicle’s floor plates. While a temporary solution in WWII Italy involved parking the M7 on earthen ramps to gain elevation, the Korean terrain, however, demanded a permanent fix.
The US Army responded by modifying the howitzer mount to allow increased recoil clearance, raising the gun’s elevation capability to +65°. Along with this change, the .50 caliber machine gun mount was repositioned higher, giving it a full 360° field of fire. These upgrades increased the overall height of the vehicle but significantly improved combat performance.
A total of 127 M7B1s were converted to the new M7B2 standard, and this conversion program was carried out exclusively by the Federal Machine and Welder company. The US Army found the M7B2 to meet their operational needs and deployed them successfully throughout the Korean War until the ceasefire in 1953.
After the war, the M7 series was gradually phased out. The 127 M7B2s were among the last Priests to remain in US Army service, eventually being placed into reserve and fully retired by the 1960s. Some units were sold to US allies, with West Germany being the most notable recipient of surplus M7B2s.
Specifications
M7B2 Priest
General Characteristics
Crew: 7
Dimensions
Length: 243.75 in (619 cm)
Width: 113 in (287 cm)
Height: 116 in (295 cm)
Tread: 83 in (211 cm)
Fire Height: 76 in (193 cm)
Ground clearance: 17 in (43 cm)
Ground pressure: 10.3 lb/sq in (0.72 kg/sq cm)
Powertrain
Engine: Ford GAA
Gross Horsepower: 500 hp @ 2,600 rpm
Transmission: 5-speed synchromesh (1 reverse)
Combat Weight: 25 US tons (22.7 t)
Performance
Power-to-Weight Ratio: 20 hp/US ton (17.4 hp/t)
Maximum speed: 26 mph (42 km/h)
Armament & Armor
Main Gun
105mm Howitzer M2A1 (Mount M4)
Ammo capacity: 69 rounds
Traverse: 45° total (15°L/30°R)
Elevation: -5° to +65°
Rate of fire: 8 rpm
Ammunition types:
M1 HE
M60 White Phosphorus
M67 HEAT
M84 Smoke
T24E1 APHE
Caliber: 105mm
Projectile Mass: 28.1 lb (12.74 kg)
Muzzle Velocity: 1,930 ft/s (588 m/s)
Explosive Type: Exp. D
Explosive Mass: 0.6744 lb (305.9 grams)
TNT Equivalent: 299.78 grams
Fuze Type: B.D. M66A1
Fuse Delay: 1.2 m
Fuse Sensitivity: 20 mm
Armor Penetration Chart & T24E1 Documents
Secondary Guns
12.7mm M2HB MG (ring mount)
Ammo: 300 rounds
Traverse: 360°
Elevation: -30° to +75°
Armor Protection
Construction: Welded RHA
Thickness:
Front:
Upper @ 30°: 0.5" (13 mm)
Lower @ 0-56°: 2.0-4.25" (51-108 mm)
Sides:
Upper: 0.5" (13 mm)
Lower: 1.5" (38 mm)
Rear: 0.5" (13 mm)
Floor:
Front @ 90°: 1.0" (25 mm)
Rear @ 90°: 0.5" (13 mm)
Related Suggestions
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M7B1 Priest
Hello everyone. I’d like to suggest the M7B1 Priest for the US ground forces tech tree in War Thunder. This Priest was built on the M4A3 Sherman chassis and powered by the Ford GAA engine, offering a little better mobility while retaining the iconic firepower of its predecessor.
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Sources
Sherman: A History of the American Medium Tank - R. P. Hunnicutt (1978)
US Self-Propelled Guns in Action - Armor Number 38…
Sources
Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestion! 😃
5 Likes
Added T24E1 APHE shell and its specs for the M7B2.
RAAAHHH!! I LOVE BIG GUNS!!! Wish this thing had PF rounds
A +1 from me! The fact that we don’t have any M7s in-game is just astounding. A long overdue vehicle
Cause the T24E1 doc is hard to read:Penetration (rounded to nearest mm)
So in short a quite punchy round, better than I would have expected!
