The M37 105 mm howitzer motor carriage is a 105 mm

howitzer The howitzer () is an artillery weapon that falls between a cannon (or field gun) and a mortar. It is capable of both low angle fire like a field gun and high angle fire like a mortar, given the distinction between low and high angle fire break ...

self propelled gun developed by the United States. It saw combat in the

Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...

and remained part of the U.S. military until being replaced in the late 1950s. Approximately 316 were built.

Development and production history

The M37 105 mm howitzer motor carriage (named T76 105 mm HMC during development starting in 8 July 1943) was developed by the US on an extended

M24 Chaffee The M24 Chaffee (officially light tank M24) was an American light tank used during the later part of World War II; it was also used in post–World War II conflicts including the Korean War, and by the French in the Algerian War, War in Algeri ...

base, and was intended to be the successor to the 105 mm

M7 Priest The 105 mm howitzer motor carriage M7 was an American self-propelled artillery vehicle produced during World War II. It was given the service name 105 mm self propelled, Priest by the British Army, due to the pulpit-like machine gun r ...

. It used the same 105 mm Howitzer M4 as the ones mounted on some

M4 Sherman The M4 Sherman, officially medium tank, M4, was the medium tank most widely used by the United States and Western Allies in World War II. The M4 Sherman proved to be reliable, relatively cheap to produce, and available in great numbers. I ...

medium tank A medium tank is a classification of tanks, particularly prevalent during World War II, which represented a compromise between the mobility oriented light tanks and the armour and armament oriented heavy tanks. A medium tank's classification ...

s. The M37 HMC was an open topped vehicle using

torsion bar A torsion bar suspension, also known as a torsion spring suspension, is any vehicle suspension that uses a torsion bar as its main weight-bearing spring. One end of a long metal bar is attached firmly to the vehicle chassis; the opposite end ...

suspension with tracks 16 in (41cm) wide. Though the gun performance was similar to that of the M7 Priest, the use of the lighter chassis from the M24 Chaffee made the self-propelled gun easier to handle.

Service history

Standardized for production in January 1945 with all units being built by the Cadillac Division of General Motors, the M37 was built too late to see action in

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. However, it would see action with US forces as an artillery piece during the

. Out of the 448 units ordered, 316 M37 HMCs were built, at least 150 post war. The M37's thin armor (0.5 in or 1.27 cm) could provide protection from small arms fire and artillery splash, but nothing greater. Its "pulpit" machine gun, like that of the M7 Priest, could be used for anti-aircraft purposes, and its 105 mm Howitzer M4 was able to turn a total of 51.7 degrees. Though its basis, the M24 Chaffee, was fast, the M37 was much more sluggish due to the amount of ammunition it carried (126 rounds), its recoil system, and the weight of the 105 mm howitzer M4. After the war, some units would see service in foreign countries, such as in the

Spanish Army The Spanish Army () is the terrestrial army of the Spanish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is one of the oldest Standing army, active armies – dating back to the late 15th century. The Spanish Army has existed ...

. Both the M37 as well as the M7 would be replaced in the late 1950s by the M52 HMC, a self-propelled gun built on the M41 light tank.

References

{{reflist Self-propelled howitzers of the United States Self-propelled artillery of the United States Cold War armored fighting vehicles of the United States Self-propelled artillery Military vehicles introduced from 1945 to 1949