Identify this

[Andy Mac]

and ps I actually dont know what it is !!!

[tanjman]

Its an M7 Priest

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ameri ... -_JPG1.jpg

[Sardaukar]

*made irrelevant by correct answer above*

[Reg]

I'm looking very suspiciously at the vertical stowage box mounted on the mud guard behind the rear deck.

Note the position of the stowage box on top the rear deck in the M7 Priest picture in the post above.

Sexton Self-Propelled Gun:

In 1942 a number of British artillery units in the Middle East were equipped with the American Priest 105mm (4.13-in) self-propelled Howitzers. While this was an excellent weapon, the 105mm round was not a standard British calibre and thus required special supply arrangements. It was obvious that if the Priest could be fitted with a 25-pdr gun, supply would be much easier. Although the Americans happy to produce a prototype they were not prepared to devote resource for their war effort, for something which they would not use, as they were not intending to adopt the 25-pdr as a standard US weapon. Thus the British requested that a similar design be built in Canada, using the chassis of the RAM tank then in production, which did in fact use components of the US M3 medium tank.

The first 124 vehicles produced were designated Sexton I and can be distinguished by the tapering rear deck. The later Sexton II has a vertical box at each rear corner, one of, which contained the vehicle batteries and the other an auxiliary generator for charging them.

Based on the presence of the battery box, I'm going to suggest this is actually a Sexton Self Propelled Gun Carriage.

[Gunner98]

I'm thinking Sexton as well based on the uniforms of the soldiers - I think Brit tropical or Australian - not sure. Had a ride around in one a few years ago - way cool.

B

[Andy Mac]

Its mate of mines Grandfather he was in the Argylls I think it was either 1st Bn or 7th/8th so I am struggling to figure out a Sexton (which is what I half thought it might be) or maybe a 4.2 mounted on a carrier could have been operated by a normal leg inf bn

[Andy Mac]

I thought it might be a Kangaroo in Italy or NW Europe but that was an out and out guess

[crsutton]

Sexton, no doubt.

[Andy Mac]

Thanks guys now the next question why would an Argyll & Sutherland Highlander be using a Sexton ? Any thoughts welcome

1st Bn stayed as Inf all the way through
2nd Bn destroyed in Malaya
5th Bn became the 91st Anti-Tank Regiment so that would mean Achilles or Archers or 6/17 pounders

The 6th Battalion became 93rd A/T Regt so that would mean Achilles or Archers or 6/17 pounders

The 7th and 8th Battalions formed part of the 51st Highland Division and stayed as Inf

The 9th Battalion was Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment so 40mm

[Gunner98]

Well you might have a point:



This is called the 'Priest Kangaroo' which apears to be a de-frocked priest and I imagine there were striped down Sextants as well.

B

[crsutton]

Yeah, actually if you look at the original photo, the vehicle seems to have the rounded front of the priest kangaroo rather than the sharp angled front of the sexton. You might have something there gunner98

[Sredni]

Are those artillery rounds above the serial number?

[Gunner98]

Good eye.

They look like the cardbord tubes that 105mm rounds come in - not sure what the 25Lbr shells came in. Might lead us back to a Priest (105mm) or Sextant (25lbr).

A puzzler Andy Mac..

[JeffroK]

51 Highland Div would have been associated with either the Kangaroo or Sexton in NW Europe.

My vote is for a Sexton.
It lacks the "pulpit" of a priest
The serial number is similar to other Sextons.

If someone is really good, the Kangaroo was based on the Ram and the Sexton on Lee/Grant or Sherman. Any differences to spot.

PS, the Normandy summer was hot (for English types that is) so shorts wouldnt be unusual when behind the lines.

[Nemo121]

If you look at the crew compartment rear and side-rear you can see that there's additional armour there to build up the height of the crew compartment protection. Also, on the side it looks like there are attachments for schuerzen. In addition the armour covering the upper running gear seems to be a field-mod.

Its definitely a Sexton, not a priest. Identification is made trickier by the field mods but its definitely a Sexton.


If you look at the picture you can see that any "curve" people are seeing in the top portion of armour is actually a crease in the picture and even if it weren't it is occuring far, far too far to the rear for it to be a curve in the armour of the Sexton or Priest. Compare the location to the running gear on the picture and then on the Sexton and M7. The curve cannot be the sponson because the sponson is flat-bottomed and has a drum shape as opposed to the sphere shape which appears to be present - I believe due to a crease.

[Andy Mac]

Doh mystery solved just checked with my mate

Apprently his Grand Father was in RHA not Argylls....

So Sexton it is

Thanks all