M37 105 mm howitzer motor carriage

The M37 105 mm howitzer motor carriage is a 105 mm howitzer self propelled gun developed by the United States. It saw combat in the Korean War and remained part of the U.S. military until being replaced in the late 1950s. Approximately 316 were built.

M37 105 mm howitzer motor carriage
A Spanish Army M37, El Goloso armour museum, Madrid, Spain
Type	Self-propelled artillery
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1950–1953 (U.S Army)
Used by	United States Spain
Wars	Korean War
Production history
Manufacturer	Cadillac
Produced	January 1945–1953
No. built	316
Specifications
Mass	46,000 lb (20.87 metric tons)
Length	5.49 m (18 ft 0 in) including rear storage
Width	3 m (9 ft 10 in)
Height	2.77 m (9 ft 1 in)
Crew	7
Elevation	42.8 to -10.5 degrees
Traverse	25.4° left and 26.3° right; manual
Effective firing range	Conventional
Feed system	hand
Armor	12.7 mm (0.50 in)
Main armament	105 mm Howitzer M4 in Mount M5 126 rounds
Secondary armament	.50 cal (12.7 mm) Browning M2HB machine gun in ring mount T107 990 rounds
Engine	Twin Cadillac Series 44T24 220 hp (164 kW) at 3,400 rpm (per engine)
Power/weight	12 hp (8.9484 kW) / tonne
Transmission	Hydramatic 8 speeds forward, 4 reverse
Suspension	Torsion bar
Fuel capacity	110 US gallons (420 litres)
Operational range	100 mi (160 km)
Maximum speed	30-35 mph (48-56 km/h) max road speed

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 base, and was intended to be the successor to the 105 mm M7 Priest. It used the same 105 mm Howitzer M4 as the ones mounted on some M4 Sherman medium tanks. The M37 HMC was an open topped vehicle using torsion bar 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. However, it would see action with US forces as an artillery piece during the Korean War. 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. 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.