Editing M7 Priest (section)

==Variants==
[[File:American tank M7 105-MM - JPG1.jpg|thumb|right|M7 at the Tank Museum Brussels (Belgium)]]
;M7
:The first M7s produced were based on modified M3 Lee medium tank chassis. To maintain a low silhouette, the howitzer elevation had to be restricted to 35°. In May 1942, after only a month of production, the vehicle was altered to increase its ammunition stowage from 57 to 69 rounds. This was achieved by placing seven rounds on the left wall and five on the right.<ref name="M7 Priest 105mm HMC"/> The M7 also went through a fairly rapid shift from being based on the M3, to having more commonality with the [[M4 Sherman]]. The first major example was an adoption of the M4's three-piece housing, single-piece casting and suspension. In British service, some M7s carried a radio set, which took the place of 24 rounds of ammunition.<ref name=Yeide>Norris, John (2012) [https://books.google.com/books?id=F5E7AwAAQBAJ&dq=M7+Priest&pg=PT281 World War II Tanks and Trucks] The History Press. {{ISBN|0-75249-073-7}}</ref>
;M7B1
:Completing the shift, the M7B1 was fully based on the [[M4 Sherman|M4A3 Sherman]] chassis. 826 M7B1 were produced from March 1944 to February 1945.<ref name="M7 Priest 105mm HMC"/>
;M7B2
:During the [[Korean War]], the limited elevation of the howitzer became noticeably problematic. 127 M7B1 were modified to permit an elevation of 65° to increase the effective range of the howitzer. The machine gun mount also had to be raised to give a 360° firing arc.<ref name="M7 Priest 105mm HMC"/>
[[Image:M7-priest-korea.jpg|right|thumb|Howitzer motor carriage M7 in Korea (1951)]]
;"Defrocked Priest"
:As one part of the Allied effort to capture [[Falaise pocket|Falaise]] and break out from the Normandy beachhead, 72 M7s had their main guns removed in the field for service as [[armoured personnel carriers]] and were first used in [[Operation Totalize]]. These field modified vehicles were referred to as "Defrocked Priests", "Unfrocked Priests" or as "Holy Rollers". The work was done in one week by 250 personnel from 14 British and Canadian [[Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers|Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineer]] units.<ref>Ken Tout, ''A Fine Night For Tanks – The Road to Falaise'', Sutton Publishing Ltd., Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK, 1998, pp 40 – 41</ref> 36 vehicles each were allocated to the 4th Infantry Brigade of the [[2nd Canadian Division]] and the 154th (Highland) Brigade of the [[51st (Highland) Division]], which led the attack.<ref>''Advanced Squad Leader'', British Vehicle Notes, The Avalon Hill Game Co., Baltimore, MD, 1988, p. H63</ref>
;Kangaroo
:A Canadian armored personnel carrier conversion of the M7 for use by British and Commonwealth units in northern Europe.<ref>Jones, Richard. ''Tanks''. Zenith Imprint, 2004. P.44</ref> The [[Kangaroo (armoured personnel carrier)|Kangaroo]] could carry 20 infantry plus a crew of two. A total of 102 were converted between October 1944 and April 1945. The name "Kangaroo" became generic for all conversions of armored fighting vehicles into personnel carriers, including [[Ram tank]] conversions.<ref name=Yeide/>
;25pdr howitzer motor carriage T51
:M7 fitted with 25 pounder gun in July 1942.<ref name=CEp139>Chamberlain & Ellis, p139</ref>