M7B1 Howitzer Motor Carriage “Priest”

The initial attempt to mount a 105mm M1A2 howitzer on an M3 half-track failed to deliver the desired results, prompting the development of a new class of tracked vehicles based on the M3 Lee tank platform. In addition to the main artillery piece, this new vehicle was also equipped with a .50 calibre (12.7mm) Browning M2 machine gun, mounted atop a circular steel structure positioned on the front right of the vehicle.

Two prototypes (T32) were accepted in February 1942 and swiftly entered production under the designation M7 Howitzer Motor Carriage (HMC). It was powered by a Continental R-975 C1 radial engine producing 350 hp, and retained the aforementioned 105mm M1A2 howitzer.

Due to the urgent need to re-equip the British Eighth Army during a period of intense pressure in North Africa, Winston Churchill appealed to U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who promptly diverted around 300 Sherman tanks and one hundred M7 units from American armoured divisions. This equipment arrived in time for the Battle of El Alamein, where the Royal Armoured Corps’ new self-propelled howitzers demonstrated their effectiveness and versatility through their impressive rate of fire. They also earned the nickname “Priest” due to the shape of the M2 machine gun mount, which was said to resemble a pulpit.

The need for more vehicles of this type led to the development of the M7B1, seen here – a model very similar to its predecessor but based on the chassis of the M4A3 medium tank and powered by a more powerful and reliable Ford GAA V8 engine delivering 500 hp.

The M7 quickly became a competent and popular combat platform, inheriting the reliability of the M4 Sherman from which it was derived. As it operated in the same manner, driver training and unit deployment were greatly simplified. Moreover, the shared mechanical base facilitated spare parts logistics and mechanic training, improving both reliability and operational readiness.

The Pressed Steel Car Company was awarded the production contract and delivered the first M7B1 units in March 1944. A total of 826 of these self-propelled howitzers were built by February 1945. They served extensively in Europe from D-Day onwards and also saw action in the Pacific theatre until the end of the war.

Following the conflict, many were distributed among Allied nations and went on to participate in numerous post-war theatres of war, beginning with the Korean War between 1950 and 1953.