View source for M7 Priest

{{Short description|American self-propelled artillery vehicle}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name               = M7 Priest
| image              = M7 Priest at APG.jpg
| image_size         = 300
| caption            = M7 preserved at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
| origin             = [[United States]]
| type               = [[Self-propelled artillery|Self-propelled gun]]
| is_vehicle         = yes
| is_artillery       = yes
| service            = 
| used_by            = [[United States Army]]<br />[[Argentine Army]]<ref>{{cite magazine|first1=Xavier|last1=Tracol|title=Blindorama : L'Argentine 1926–1945|magazine=Batailles et Blindés|language=fr|date=October 2011|publisher=Caraktère|issn=1765-0828|issue=45|pages=4–7}}</ref><br />[[Austrian Armed Forces|Austrian Army]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Rearming Austria: WWII weapons|date=14 June 2015|url=https://wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com/2015/06/14/rearming-austria-wwii-weapons/|website=wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com}}</ref><br />[[Belgian Army]]<br />[[British Army]]<br />[[Canadian Army]]<br />[[French Army]]<br />[[Israel Defense Forces]]<br />[[Italian Army]]<br />[[Norwegian army]]<br />[[Pakistan Army]]<br />[[Philippine Army]]<br />[[Philippine Constabulary]]<br />[[Republic of China Armed Forces]]<br />[[Bundeswehr]] (West German Army)<br />[[Yugoslav People's Army]]<ref>{{cite magazine|first1=Iztok |last1=Kočevar|title=Micmac à tire-larigot chez Tito: L'arme blindée yougoslave durant la Guerre froide|trans-title=The Yugoslav armored arm during the Cold War|magazine=Batailles et Blindés|language=fr|date=August 2014|publisher=Caraktère|issn=1765-0828|issue=62|pages=66–79}}</ref>
| wars               = [[World War II]] <br />[[Korean War]]
| designer           = 
| design_date        = 
| manufacturer       = [[American Locomotive Company]] (M7) <br />Pressed Steel Car (M7B1)<br />Federal Machine and Welder (M7)
| unit_cost          = 
| production_date    = April 1942 – July 1945<ref name="M7 Priest 105mm HMC">{{cite book | last = Zaloga| first = Steven J. | title = M7 Priest 105mm HMC | publisher = Osprey Publishing | date = 2013 | location = Oxford, United Kingdom | page = {{page needed|date=February 2019}} | isbn = 978-1-78096-023-4}}</ref>
| number             = M7: 3489, M7B1: 826 <br /> M7B2: 127 converted from M7B1<ref name="M7 Priest 105mm HMC"/>
| variants           = M7, M7B1, M7B2
| traverse           = 
| elevation          = 
| length             = {{convert|19|ft|9|in|m|abbr=on}}<ref name=Icks/>
| width              = {{convert|9|ft|5|in|m|abbr=on}} with sandshields
| height             = {{convert|8|ft|4|in|m|abbr=on}}<ref name=Icks>Icks, AFV No. 26</ref><br />{{convert|9|ft|8|in|m|abbr=on}} over AA machine gun
| weight             = 50,640 lb (22.97 metric tons)
| suspension         = [[Vertical volute spring suspension|Vertical volute spring]]
| speed              = 24 mph (39 km/h) on road<br />15 mph (24 km/h) off-road
| vehicle_range      = 120 mi (193 km)
| primary_armament   = 105 mm M1/[[M101 howitzer|M2 howitzer]] <br /> 69 rounds
| secondary_armament = 1 × 0.5 in (12.7 mm) [[M2 Browning machine gun]] <br /> 300 rounds
| armour             = 12–62 mm<ref name=Icks/>
| engine             = [[Wright R-975|Continental R-975 C1]]/C4 <br /> [[Ford GAA]] (M7B1)
| engine_power       = 400 or 340 hp<br />(298 or 254 kW)
| pw_ratio           = 
| crew               = 8<ref name="M7 Priest 105mm HMC"/>
}}

The '''105&nbsp;mm howitzer motor carriage M7''' was an American [[self-propelled artillery]] vehicle produced during [[World War II]]. It was given the  service name '''105&nbsp;mm self propelled, Priest''' by the [[British Army]], due to the pulpit-like machine gun ring, and following on from the [[Bishop (artillery)|Bishop]] and the contemporary [[Deacon (artillery)|Deacon]] self-propelled guns.

== Design and development ==
During the early stages of World War II, [[United States Army|US Army]] observers realized that they would need a self-propelled artillery vehicle with sufficient firepower to support armored operations. Lessons learned with half-tracks (such as the [[T19 howitzer motor carriage]] (HMC) with a 105&nbsp;mm howitzer on the [[M3 half-track]] chassis) also showed that this vehicle would have to be armored and fully tracked. It was decided to use the [[M3 Lee]] [[chassis]] as the basis for this new vehicle design, named T32.<ref name="Bishop, p. 120">Bishop, p. 120.</ref> The pilot vehicles used the M3 chassis with an open-topped superstructure, mounting an [[M101 howitzer|M2A1]] 105&nbsp;mm [[howitzer]], with a machine-gun added after trials.

The T32 was accepted for service as the M7 in February 1942 and production began that April. The British Tank Mission had requested 2,500 to be delivered by the end of 1942 and a further 3,000 by the end of 1943, an order which was never fully completed.<ref>Icks, R. ''Hellcat, Long Tom and Priest'' AFV Profile 26. Profile Publishing</ref><ref name=CEp138/>

As the M4 Sherman tank replaced the M3, it was decided to continue production using the M4 chassis (the M4 chassis was a development of the M3). The M7 was subsequently supplanted by the [[M37 105 mm howitzer motor carriage]] (on the "light combat team" chassis that also gave the [[M24 Chaffee]] light tank).<ref name=CEp138>Chamberlain & Ellis ''British and American Tanks of World War II'' 1969 p. 138</ref>

==Operational history==
A total of 3,489 M7s and 826 M7B1s were built. They proved to be reliable weapons, continuing to see front-line service in the US and other armies well past the end of World War II.<ref name="M7 Priest 105mm HMC"/><ref name=Yeide/>

=== North Africa ===
During the [[North African campaign]], 90 M7s were received by the British [[Eighth Army (United Kingdom)|Eighth Army]] in North Africa, which was also the first to use it, during the [[Second Battle of El Alamein]], alongside the [[Bishop (artillery)|Bishop]], a self-propelled gun based on the 87.6&nbsp;mm calibre [[Ordnance QF 25-pounder]] gun-howitzer.<ref name="Bishop, p.121">Bishop, p. 121.</ref>

The British Commonwealth armies had [[Logistics|logistical]] problems in supplying the M7, as it used US ammunition that was not compatible with standard British artillery pieces or tank guns, and had to be supplied separately.<ref name="Bishop, p.121"/> Whereas the [[Sexton (artillery)|Sexton]] – a rival self-propelled gun developed in Canada - featured the standard British QF 25-pounder (on an M3 or M4 chassis).<ref name="Bishop, p. 120"/>

Despite supply problems, British Commonwealth forces used the M7 throughout the campaigns in North Africa and [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italy]].

=== Northwest Europe ===
During the [[invasion of Normandy]], from June 1944, the artillery regiments of the British [[3rd Division (United Kingdom)|3rd]] and [[50th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|50th]] divisions, and the Canadian [[3rd Canadian Division|3rd Division]] were equipped with the M7; however, these were replaced by towed 25-pounder guns in early August.<ref>John Keegan, ''Six Armies in Normandy'', The Viking Press, New York, 1982, pp. 126–27</ref>

[[File:The British Army in the Normandy Campaign 1944 B6657.2.jpg|thumb|left|M7 Priest passes by a [[Humber scout car]] as it moves into position to support an attack on [[Battle for Caen|Caen]], 8 July 1944.]]

During the [[Battle of the Bulge]], each US armored division had three battalions of M7s, giving them unparalleled mobile artillery support.<ref>Collins, Michael. King, Martin. ''Voices of the Bulge: Untold Stories from Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge''. MBI Publishing Company, 2011. p. 193</ref>

===Pacific War===
The M7 was also used by US and British forces in [[Pacific War|Pacific and Asian theaters]].

During the [[Burma campaign]], the Priest played a significant role, in particular, at the [[Battle of Meiktila]] and the advance on Rangoon (1945).

From early 1944 it was used in the [[South West Pacific theater]], by the US [[Sixth United States Army|Sixth Army]] in the later stages of the [[New Guinea campaign|campaign in New Guinea and surrounding islands]]. The M7 also saw action in the [[Philippines campaign (1944–45)|Philippines campaign]], with the US [[Eighth United States Army|Eighth]] and Sixth armies.

=== After World War II ===
'''Korean War'''<br />
M7 Priests remained in use during the [[Korean War]], where their flexibility, compared to [[towed artillery]] units, led the US Army on the path to converting fully to self-propelled howitzers.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gourley|first1=Scott R.|title=The Korean War's Land Battle Legacy|url=http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/the-korean-wars-land-battle-legacy/|website=Defense Media Network|access-date=30 March 2016}}</ref> The limited gun elevation of the M7 (35 degrees) hampered its ability to shoot over the tall Korean mountains, so 127 M7B1s were modified to permit the full 65 degrees elevation in a model known as the M7B2. After the Korean War, many of these were exported to [[NATO]] countries, notably Italy and Germany.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Zaloga|first1=Steven J.|title=M7 Priest 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage|date=2013|publisher=Osperey Publishing|isbn=978-1-78096-025-8|page=45|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yrSdCwAAQBAJ&q=israeli+m7+priest&pg=PA46|access-date=31 March 2016}}</ref>

'''Israel'''<br />
Israel acquired a number of M7 Priests during the 1960s and employed them in the [[Six-Day War]], the [[War of Attrition]] and the [[Yom Kippur War]] where three M7 units, the 822nd, 827th and 829th Battalions in the IDF [[Northern Command (Israel)|Northern Command]], supported operations in the [[Golan Heights]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Asher|first1=Dani|title=Inside Israel's Northern Command: The Yom Kippur War on the Syrian Border|date=2014|publisher=University of Kentucky Press|location=Lexington, Kentucky|isbn=978-0-8131-6766-4|edition=2016 US|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zyONCwAAQBAJ&q=180mm+gun+syria&pg=PT29|access-date=31 March 2016}}</ref>

'''West Germany'''<br />
The new [[West Germany|West German]] {{Lang|de|[[Bundeswehr]]|italic=no}} received 127 Priests as its first self-propelled artillery vehicle. They entered service in 1956 and were used until the early 1960s.

==Surviving vehicles==

===Australia===
* Australian Armour and Artillery Museum, in [[Cairns, Queensland|Cairns]], in a World War II US Army paint scheme.

===Austria===
* An M7 which was used in the Austrian ''Bundesheer'' (Army) after World War II is in the private Robert Gill Collection in Austria.<ref>[http://www.militarymuseum.at/collection/#/overview/ militarymuseum.at Vehicle register] (listed under "Various [[self-propelled gun|SPG]]")</ref>
[[File:M7 Priest at the HGM.jpg|thumb|alt=Austrian Bundesheer SPG M7 Priest at the Heeresgeschichtliches Museum in Vienna, Austria.|Austrian Bundesheer M7 Priest at the Heeresgeschichtliches Museum in Vienna, Austria.]]

===Belgium===
* M7 at the Tank Museum Brussels (Belgium)

===Germany===
* [[Deutsches Panzermuseum Munster]] (German Tank Museum, Munster).
* Generalfeldmarschall-Rommel-Kaserne, [[Augustdorf]] Germany
* {{ill|Major-Radloff-Kaserne|de}}, [[Weiden in der Oberpfalz|Weiden]] Germany

===Israel===
* Unrestored hulk in kibbutz Kineret, Israel.

===Philippines===
*  M7 in [[Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea]] markings and colors which took part in the  Battle of Yultong is on permanent static display at the [[Philippine Military Academy]] Baguio City, Benguet.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.moore.army.mil/Armor/eARMOR/content/issues/2021/Fall/4Condeno21.pdf | title=Filipino Armored Force in the Korean War (1950-1953) | website=www.moore.army.mil | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231021154555/https://www.moore.army.mil/Armor/eARMOR/content/issues/2021/Fall/4Condeno21.pdf | archive-date=2023-10-21}}</ref>

===United States of America===
* A M7 and M7B1 at [[The American Military Museum]], [[South El Monte, California]]
* Vermont National Guard Library and Museum, [[Colchester, Vermont]]
* [[General George Patton Museum of Leadership]], [[Fort Knox, Kentucky]]
* National Guard armory, [[Starkville, Mississippi]].
* A M7B1 and an M7B2 at the [[Texas Military Forces Museum]] in [[Camp Mabry]], [[Austin, Texas]].
* A M7 by the main entrance outside the barracks of West Virginia Army National Guard base Camp Dawson in Kingwood, West Virginia.
* Displayed outdoors at the Third Infantry Division Museum at Fort Stewart, GA.
* Display outdoors at National Guard Armory, [[Savannah, Georgia]]
* One M7 on outdoor display at the American Legion Post #382 in Sanford, NC
* One M7 on permanent static display at Camp Guernsey in [[Guernsey, Wyoming]].
* One M7B2 on display at the [[American Heritage Museum]] in [[Stow, Massachusetts]]
* One M7 on outdoor display at Fort Missoula in [[Missoula, Montana]].
* One M7 on outdoor display at the Museum of the Kansas National Guard in [[Topeka, Kansas]].

==Variants==
[[File:American tank M7 105-MM - JPG1.jpg|thumb|right|M7 at the Tank Museum Brussels (Belgium)]]
;M7
:The first M7s produced were based on modified M3 Lee medium tank chassis. To maintain a low silhouette, the howitzer elevation had to be restricted to 35°. In May 1942, after only a month of production, the vehicle was altered to increase its ammunition stowage from 57 to 69 rounds. This was achieved by placing seven rounds on the left wall and five on the right.<ref name="M7 Priest 105mm HMC"/> The M7 also went through a fairly rapid shift from being based on the M3, to having more commonality with the [[M4 Sherman]]. The first major example was an adoption of the M4's three-piece housing, single-piece casting and suspension. In British service, some M7s carried a radio set, which took the place of 24 rounds of ammunition.<ref name=Yeide>Norris, John (2012) [https://books.google.com/books?id=F5E7AwAAQBAJ&dq=M7+Priest&pg=PT281 World War II Tanks and Trucks] The History Press. {{ISBN|0-75249-073-7}}</ref>
;M7B1
:Completing the shift, the M7B1 was fully based on the [[M4 Sherman|M4A3 Sherman]] chassis. 826 M7B1 were produced from March 1944 to February 1945.<ref name="M7 Priest 105mm HMC"/>
;M7B2
:During the [[Korean War]], the limited elevation of the howitzer became noticeably problematic. 127 M7B1 were modified to permit an elevation of 65° to increase the effective range of the howitzer. The machine gun mount also had to be raised to give a 360° firing arc.<ref name="M7 Priest 105mm HMC"/>
[[Image:M7-priest-korea.jpg|right|thumb|Howitzer motor carriage M7 in Korea (1951)]]
;"Defrocked Priest"
:As one part of the Allied effort to capture [[Falaise pocket|Falaise]] and break out from the Normandy beachhead, 72 M7s had their main guns removed in the field for service as [[armoured personnel carriers]] and were first used in [[Operation Totalize]]. These field modified vehicles were referred to as "Defrocked Priests", "Unfrocked Priests" or as "Holy Rollers". The work was done in one week by 250 personnel from 14 British and Canadian [[Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers|Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineer]] units.<ref>Ken Tout, ''A Fine Night For Tanks – The Road to Falaise'', Sutton Publishing Ltd., Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK, 1998, pp 40 – 41</ref> 36 vehicles each were allocated to the 4th Infantry Brigade of the [[2nd Canadian Division]] and the 154th (Highland) Brigade of the [[51st (Highland) Division]], which led the attack.<ref>''Advanced Squad Leader'', British Vehicle Notes, The Avalon Hill Game Co., Baltimore, MD, 1988, p. H63</ref>
;Kangaroo
:A Canadian armored personnel carrier conversion of the M7 for use by British and Commonwealth units in northern Europe.<ref>Jones, Richard. ''Tanks''. Zenith Imprint, 2004. P.44</ref> The [[Kangaroo (armoured personnel carrier)|Kangaroo]] could carry 20 infantry plus a crew of two. A total of 102 were converted between October 1944 and April 1945. The name "Kangaroo" became generic for all conversions of armored fighting vehicles into personnel carriers, including [[Ram tank]] conversions.<ref name=Yeide/>
;25pdr howitzer motor carriage T51
:M7 fitted with 25 pounder gun in July 1942.<ref name=CEp139>Chamberlain & Ellis, p139</ref>

==British SPG naming scheme==
A British self-propelled gun armed with the [[Ordnance QF 25-pounder]] in design from 1941 was nicknamed [[Bishop (artillery)|Bishop]] as its appearance was said to resemble a bishop's [[mitre]] and a replacement, the US 105&nbsp;mm howitzer motor carriage M7, was called "Priest", as part of its superstructure was said to resemble a pulpit. Following this line of names, a 1942 self-propelled gun armed with the [[QF 6 pounder]] was named [[Deacon (artillery)|Deacon]] and a 1943 weapon carrier with the QF 25-pounder was called [[Sexton (artillery)|Sexton]].

==See also==
* [[G-numbers]] (SNL G128)
* [[List of "M" series military vehicles]]
* [[M108 howitzer]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* Doyle, David. Standard Catalog of U.S. Military Vehicles. Krause Publications, 2003
* Bishop, Chris. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc., 2002
* Collins, Michael. King, Martin. Voices of the Bulge: Untold Stories from Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge. MBI Publishing Company, 2011
* Jones, Richard. Tanks. Zenith Imprint, 2004
* [https://archive.org/details/TM9-2800/page/n85/ TM 9-2800 Standard Military Motor Vehicles]. dated 1 September 1943
* [https://archive.org/details/TM9-731E TM 9-731E Carriage, Motor, 105-mm Howitzer, M7]
* [https://archive.org/details/TM9-1725 TM 9-1725 Ordnance Engine Model R975-C4 (Continental)]
* TM 9-1750A
* TM 9-1750B
* TM 9-1750C
* TM 9-1750D
* [https://archive.org/details/TM9-1750K TM 9-1750K Ordnance Maintenance, Tracks and Suspension, Turret and Hull for Medium Tanks M4, and Modifications]
* [https://archive.org/details/TM9-1751 TM 9-1751 Ordnance Maintenance: 9-cylinder, Radial, Gasoline Engine (Continental Model R975-C1)]
* [https://archive.org/details/TM9-1825A TM 9-1825A Electrical Equipment (Delco Remy)]
* [https://archive.org/details/TM9-1825B TM 9-1825B Electrical Equipment (Auto-Lite)]

==External links==
{{Commons|M7 Priest}}
* [http://afvdb.50megs.com/usa/m7priest.html AFV Database] ([http://afvdb.50megs.com/usa/pics/m7priest.html Pictures] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051218103314/http://afvdb.50megs.com/usa/pics/m7priest.html |date=18 December 2005 }})
<!-- Magazine has gone out of business
* [http://afvinteriors.hobbyvista.com/m7/m7a.html AFV Interiors]
-->
* [https://www.wwiivehicles.com/united-states/vehicle/self-propelled-guns/m7-priest-howitzer-motor-carriage.asp World War II Vehicles]
* [http://www.primeportal.net/apc/m7_priest.htm M7 Priest Walk Arounds at Prime Portal]
* {{Cite web | title=The National WWII Museum {{!}} A Salute To Freedom | url=https://salutetofreedom.org/ny.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317003918/http://www.salutetofreedom.org/ny.html | access-date=2025-06-24 | archive-date=2013-03-17}}

{{WWIIAmericanAFVs}}
{{WWIIBritishAFVs}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Self-propelled howitzers of the United States]]
[[Category:Self-propelled artillery of the United States]]
[[Category:World War II self-propelled artillery]]
[[Category:World War II armored fighting vehicles of the United States]]
[[Category:Cold War armored fighting vehicles of the United States]]
[[Category:Tracked self-propelled howitzers|M007]]
[[Category:105 mm artillery]]
[[Category:Military vehicles introduced from 1940 to 1944]]