Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Ground Power Series HG4706 M7 Priest 105mm HMC 68th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, Nettuno, Anzio beach-head, Feb 1944

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.

On January 22, 1944 the Allies landed on the beach near Anzio and Nettuno, Italy. Everything was going well until early February when German forces started to counterattack and pushing the Allies back toward the beaches. The German push was finally halted by heavy ground artillery as well as offshore shelling and air attacks. The back and forth fighting continued through February into early March before the German troops were finally forced to fall back and allow the Allied Forces to advance.

Specifications for the M7 HMC (Howitzer Motor Carriage)

Type - Armored Artillery Crew - 7 Performance 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