105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M371-10

M37: General
Date of first acceptance September 1945 Total acceptances 150
Manufacturer American Car & Foundry Co. Crew
7 men:
  • Chief of section in hull left
  • Gunner in hull left rear
  • Four cannoneers in hull
  • Driver in hull left front
M37: Dimensions
Combat weight 46,000lbs
21,000kg		 Height over AAMG 112"
284cm
Length with rear stowage 216"
549cm		 Howitzer overhang forward 0"
Width 118"
300cm		 Tread 96"
240cm
Ground clearance 18"
46cm		 Fire height 66"
170cm
Ground pressure, zero penetration with T72 tracks 11.6psi
.814kg/cm²
M37: Armament
Type Mount Ammunition Traverse Elevation
105mm Howitzer M4 M5 in front hull 126 rounds
(6 ready)		 51.7°
(25.4° left and 26.3° right;
manual)		 +42.8° to -10.5°
(manual)
.50cal M2HB MG Concentric ring mount T107 or M68 at hull right front 990 rounds 360°
(manual)		 Manual
Aiming equipment
Panoramic telescope M12 or M12A2 and telescope M76G for gunner
M37: Armor
Assembly
Welding
Hull
Rolled homogeneous steel
Location Thickness Angle from vertical
Upper front .5"
1.3cm		 60°
Lower front .5"
1.3cm		 45°
Fighting compartment front .5"
1.3cm		 0°
Front sides .5"
1.3cm		 12°
Fighting compartment sides .5"
1.3cm		 0°
Upper rear .5"
1.3cm		 0°
Lower rear .5"
1.3cm		 45°
Front top .5"
1.3cm		 90°
Fighting compartment top Open
Front floor .5"
1.3cm		 90°
Rear floor .375"
.953cm		 90°
Howitzer shield .5"
1.3cm		 0° to 38°
M37: Automotive
Engine Twin Cadillac Series 44T24; 16 cylinder (8/engine), 4 cycle, 90º vee gasoline
Horsepower Net: 220@3,400rpm (110/engine)
Gross: 296@3,200rpm (148/engine)		 Torque Net: 480 ft-lb@1,200rpm (240/engine)
Gross: 560 ft-lb@1,200rpm (280/engine)		 Fuel capacity 110gal
420L
Transmission Twin Hydramatic, 8 speeds forward, 4 reverse
Steering Controlled differential, steering levers
Brakes Mechanical, external contracting
M37: Suspension
Type Road wheels Track return rollers
Torsion bar 5 individually sprung dual/track 4 dual/track
Drive sprockets Idlers Shock absorbers
13-tooth front drive Dual compensating at rear of track On first 2 and last 2 road wheels/track
M37: Track
T72
Center guide, single pin, rubber bushed, steel, parallel grouser
Width 16"
41cm		 Pitch 5.5"
14cm		 Shoes/track 80 Ground contact length 124"
315cm
T85E1
Center guide, double pin, rubber bushed, rubber, chevron
Width 14"
(16.5" with extended end connectors)
36cm
(41.9cm with extended end connectors)		 Pitch 5.5"
14cm		 Shoes/track 80 Ground contact length 124"
315cm
M37: Performance
Max level road speed 35mph
56kph		 Max trench 108"
274cm
Max grade 60% Max vertical obstacle 36"
91cm
Min turning diameter 46'
14m		 Max fording depth 42"
107cm
Cruising range ~100mi, roads
~160km, roads

The 105mm HMC M37 was based on a lengthened chassis of the M24 Chaffee light tank, and the vehicle was modified much the same way as the 105mm HMC M7, which used the medium tank M3 or M4 chassis. The M4 105mm howitzer was the same as that used in the howitzer-armed Shermans, and was mounted on the M37 to the right of the carriage's centerline, replacing the assistant driver's position. The .50cal machine gun ring mount was to the right of the howitzer mount.

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References

  1. Hunnicutt, R.P. Stuart: A History of the American Light Tank, volume 1. Navato, CA: Presidio Press, 1992. Reprinted with permission from Stuart, R.P. Hunnicutt ©1992, available from Presidio Press, 505B San Martin Drive, Suite 160, Navato, CA 94945.
  2. ORD 9 SNL G-236 (Includes SNL G-238) List of All Parts for Carriage, Motor, 155-mm Howitzer, M41 (T64E1) (SNL G-236); Carriage, Motor, 105mm Howitzer, M37 (T76) (SNL G-238). Washington, DC: War Department, 15 September 1947.
  3. FM 6-76 Service of the Piece, 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage, M37. Washington, DC: War Department, 15 April 1945.
  4. TM 9-324 105-mm Howitzer M4 (Mounted in Combat Vehicles). Washington, DC: Department of the Army, 22 August 1950.
  5. Catalogue of Standard Ordnance Items, second edition 1944, volume I: Tank and Automotive. Washington, D.C.: Office of the Chief of Ordnance, Technical Division, 1 June 1945.
  6. TM 9-2800-1/TO 19-75A-89 Military Vehicles (Ordnance Corps Responsibility). Washington, DC: Departments of the Army and Air Force, 13 February 1953.
  7. Sola, Samuel, Vincent Bobkowski, and Kara Crocker. Weapon Mounts for Secondary Armament. Santa Monica, CA: G. O. Noville & Associates, Inc., April 1957.
  8. The Armed Forces of A.C.F.. New York: Geffen, Dunn & Co., 1946.
  9. Chamberlain, Peter, and Chris Ellis. British and American Tanks of World War Two. Frome, England: Cassell & Co., 2000.
  10. Siemers, Cary. "USA's M7, M7B1, M37 105 mm Self Propelled Howitzer." World War II Tanks & Vehicles and Advanced Squad Leader. 11 February 2001. 18 February 2001 <http://www.shadowsfolly.com/WWII/USA/M7_M37SelfPropelled.htm>.
Last updated 28 Apr 2024.
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© Copyright 2001-24 Chris Conners