Canada's 25 pdr. Sexton self propelled gun
Photos
Design
Based on the needs of the British Purchasing Commission the Ram tanks that were being produced were altered to take a 25 pdr.4 Was very similar to the US M7 Priests.
Early vehicles had welded superstructure. Later models had cast nose, towing hook for ammo trailer, auxiliary generator, and mounts for antiaircraft machine guns.
Fighting Compartment
There was a hatch on the left side for loading ammunition. The fighting compartment could be covered with a canvas. The gun was installed in a special cradle.
Crew
The driver was placed on right and gun was offset to the left.
Production
- Sexton: 2,1501,4
- Production: 1943 - 19451
- Manufacturer: Montreal Locomotive
Variants
- Sexton:
- Sexton GPO: Late 1943 gun was removed and extra radios, map tables, telephone cables, and Tannoy unit were added for gun position officers of Sexton batteries. 4
Usage
It was used almost exclusively for artillery support of armored divisions.4
Northwest Europe
The Sexton was primarily used in Northwest Europe from 1944 to 1945.4
After World War II
The Sextons were still being used by the British Army in the 1950s and even in some countries until the late 1990s.4
Specifications
| Sexton | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, driver, gunner, gun layer, loader, radio operator.2 61,2,3,4 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 55,660 lb4, 57,000 lb2,3 25,300 kg4, 25,855 kg1,3 25.45 tons1 |
| Length | 20' 1"1,2,3,4 6.12 m3,4, 6.121 m1 |
| Height | 8'1,2,3,4 2.438 m1, 2.44 m3,4 |
| Width | 8' 11"1,2,4, 9'2 2.717 m1, 2.72 m3,4 |
| Ground clearance | 1' 5" |
| Ground contact length | |
| Ground pressure | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 25 pdr (87.1 mm)1 25 pdr howitzer3,4 25 pdr howitzer Mk II2 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 2: 7.7 mm (.303 cal) Bren MG1,2 2: .303" Bren MG4 1: Browning MG4 |
| MG - antiaircraft | 2: .303" Bren MG2 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 1051 87: HE2,4 18: AP4 25: AP2 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 50 gun magazines.2 (1,500 rounds) |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 122, 251,2, 324 |
| Hull Front, Upper | |
| Hull Front, Lower | |
| Hull Sides, Upper | |
| Hull Sides, Lower | |
| Hull Rear | |
| Hull Top | |
| Hull Bottom | |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Wright Continental R-975-C11 Continental R-9752 Continental3 |
| Cooling | Air1,2 |
| Cylinders | Radial1,2, Radial 93,4 |
| Net HP | 4003,4 |
| Transmission (type) | |
| Fuel (type) | |
| Octane | |
| Capacity | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 25° left1,2, 15° right1,2 |
| Speed - Road | 25 mph1,2,3,4 40.2 kph3,4, 40.23 kph1 |
| Speed - Cross Country | 20 mph2 |
| Range - Road | 125-140 miles2, 180 miles1,3,4 290 km1,3,4 |
| Turning Radius | |
| Elevation Limits | +40° to -9°1,2 |
| Fording depth | 3' 4"3,4, 3' 6"2 1.01 m3,4 |
| Trench crossing | 6' 3"4, 7' 5"2 1.91 m4 |
| Vertical Obstacle | 2'2,4 0.61 m4 |
| Suspension (Type) | Vertical volute.2 |
| Wheels each side | 6 |
| Return rollers each side | 3 |
| Track length | |
| Tires | |
| Track width | 15.5"2 American tracks: 16.5"2 |
| Track centers/tread | 6' 11"2 |
Sources:
- The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
- British and American Tanks of World War Two, The Complete Illustrated History of British, American, and Commonwealth Tanks 1933-1945, Peter Chamberlain and Chris Ellis, 1969
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- Armored Fighting Vehicles, 300 of the World's Greatest Military Vehicles, Philip Trewhitt, 1999
