M37 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage

The Carriage, Motor, 105mm Howitzer, M37 provided a mobile, compact M4 105mm howitzer platform with side armor for crew protection and secondary armament of one .50 cal. machine gun. The M37 HMC was intended to replace the M-7 Priest 105mm SP and was itself superseded in the late 1950s by the M-52 105mm Self-propelled Howitzer developed from the prototype Carriage, Motor, 105mm Howitzer, T98/T98E1. During development that began 8 July 1943, the M37 HMC was designated T76 105mm HMC. It was standardized for production as the M37 HMC in January 1945.

The M37 HMC was manufactured by the Cadillac division of General Motors, using the chassis of the M24 Chaffee light tank.

M37 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage (HMC) is moved from Aberdeen Proving Ground, 6 August 2009. Sixty ordnance treasures made the 200-mile trip down treacherous Interstate 95 to Fort Lee, VA, during Phase I of the Ordnance Museum relocation 3-7 Aug 2009
M37 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage (HMC) is moved from Aberdeen Proving Ground, 6 August 2009. Sixty ordnance treasures made the 200-mile trip down treacherous Interstate 95 to Fort Lee, VA, during Phase I of the Ordnance Museum relocation 3-7 Aug 2009.

Today in WW II: 1 Jul 1942 First Battle of El Alamein began, stopping Rommel's advance to Cairo [1-27 July].  More ↓
1 Jul 1943 US Women's Army Corps [WAC] established by Congress.
1 Jul 1945 Occupation forces from the US Britain and France enter Soviet-occupied Berlin.
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.

M37 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage (G238)

The M37 HMC was developed to supersede the M-7 Priest, to provide an improved mobile 105mm howitzer for artillery units in an armored division. Production of an order for 448 units began in October 1945, too late for World War II, with only 150 units produced before the contract was cancelled (316 units according to one source). They were however used in Korean War combat after the 1950 invasion.

M37 Howitzer Motor Carriage Specifications

Crew 7
Weight 46,000 lbs
Height 95 in.
Width 118 in.
Length 216 in.
Engine Two Cadillac 44T24 V8, gas
Horsepower (net) 110 bph each
Transmission Twin Hydramatic, 4 speeds forward, 2 reverse mated to 2 speed transfer case
Max road Speed 30-35 mph
Range 100 miles

Manuals for the M37 Howitzer Motor Carriage include:

  • FM 6-76 Service of the Piece, 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage, M37 (1945)
  • TM 9-717 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M37 (Oct 1947)
  • LO 9-717 Lubrication Order
  • ORD 7,8,9 SNL G238 Parts Lists

M37 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriag
M37 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriag.

M37 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriag
M37 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriag.

M37 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriag
M37 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriag.

M37 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriag
M37 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriag.