Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Ground Power Series HG4704 M7 Priest HMC “Minnesota” Co.A, 399th Armored Field Artillery Bttn. 8th Armored Division Bohemia 1945

Authentic Detailing Pre-Painted by professionals Accurate paint colors Markings Tampo (pad) applied Fully Assembled Die-Cast Model True to Scale (1:72) Weathering and insignias Turret turns Main gun elevates Metal chassis, turret and main gun Realistic tracks Tracks replicate real track droop

The U.S. Army required a fully-tracked Howitzer Motor Carriage capable of keeping up with armored divisions. The lower chassis and suspension of the M3 Lee and later the M4 Sherman was selected to have a 105mm Howitzer placed on top with a crew area open to the elements. In 1942 the new SPG was delivered as the M7 HMC (Howitzer Motor Carriage). British forces referred to the M7 as the “Priest” because of the high rounded .50- caliber Machine Gun position resembled the pulpit of an Anglican priest.

The 8th Armored Division the “Thundering Herd” was constituted on April 1, 1942. The 8th had three Armored Field Artillery Battalions 398th, 399th and 405th. Each battalion included three Firing Batteries, A, B and C. Each Battery had two sections of three M7s, three M3A1 Halftracks and one ¼ ton truck. The 8th AD arrived in France on January 6, 1945, entered combat on January 19, 1945 and eventually arrived in Czechoslovakia on June 6, 1945. They began occupation duties of cleaning up small pockets of German resistance.

Specifications for the M7 HMC (Howitzer Motor Carriage) Type - Armored Artillery Crew - 7 Performances Engine - Continental R975 C1, 9 cylinder., Gasoline 400 hp Maximum Speed - 39 km/h Power/weight - 17.3 hp/t Range - 190 km Dimensions Length - 6.02 m Width - 2.87 m Height - 2.95 m Weight - 23000 kg Armor Maximum - 108 mm Minimum: 13 mm Suspension: Vertical volute spring suspension (VVSS)

Armament Main - 1 x 105 mm Howitzer M2A1 Secondary - 1 x .50cal (12.7 mm) M2HB MG