Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Ground Power Series HG4705 M7 Priest HMC A Troop, 22nd Battery 24th Field Rgt. Royal Artillery May 1944 “Anzio”

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 battle at Anzio took place from January 22 - June 4, 1944. Anzio was meant to bypass the Gustav Line in southern Italy and capture Rome. Due to the lack of landing craft Operation Shingle was reduced to two divisions; the British 1st Division and the U.S. 3rd Division. It was poorly planned, poorly executed with no alternate plans of attack. This politically motivated operation required more resources than were planned for and took resources away from Operation Overlord. The Allies entered Rome on June 4, 1944 at the cost of 94,000 Allied casualties.

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