25 pdr. Sexton Self Propelled Gun:
Design/Production
Based on the needs of the British Purchasing Commission the Ram tanks that were being produced were altered to take a 25 pdr. Was very similar to the US M7 Priests. Built by Montreal Locomotive starting in 1943 and finishing in 1945.
Description
The driver was placed on right and gun was offset to the left. 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.
Early vehicles had welded superstructure. Later models had cast nose, towing hook for ammo trailer, auxiliary generator, mounts for AA MGs.
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.
Usage
It was used almost exclusively for artillery support of armored divisions.
| Sexton | |
|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, driver, gunner, gun layer, loader, radio operator.2 61,2,3 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 57,000 lb2,3 25,855 kg1,3 22.7 tons4, 25.45 tons1 |
| Length w/gun | 20' 1"1,2,3 6.11 m4, 6.12 m3, 6.121 m1 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 8'1,2,3 2.44 m4, 2.438 m1, 2.44 m3 |
| Width | 8' 11"1,2, 9'2 2.717 m1, 2.72 m3, 2.74 m4 |
| Ground clearance | 1' 5" |
| Ground contact length | |
| Ground pressure | |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| 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: Bren .303 MG, AA.2 |
| 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) | Front: 504 Size 374 122, 251,2 |
| Hull Front, Upper | |
| Hull Front, Lower | |
| Hull Sides, Upper | |
| Hull Sides, Lower | |
| Hull Rear | |
| Hull Top | |
| Hull Bottom | |
| Turret Front | |
| Turret Sides | |
| Turret Rear | |
| Turret Top | |
| Engine (Make / Model) | Wright Continental R-975-C11 radial air-cooled Continental R-975 radial air-cooled.2 Continental radial3 |
| Cylinders | 93 |
| Net HP | 4003,4 |
| Transmission | |
| Fuel type | |
| Octane | |
| Capacity | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 25° left1,2,4, 15° right1,2,4 |
| Max Speed | 25 mph1,2,3 40.2 kph3, 40.23 kph1, 42 kph4 |
| Cross Country | 20 mph2 |
| Road radius | 125-140 miles2, 180 miles1,3 290 km1,3 |
| Turning Radius | |
| Elevation Limits | +40° to -9°1,2,4 |
| Fording depth | 3' 4"3, 3' 6"2, 3' 10" 1.01 m3 |
| Trench crossing | 7' 5"2, 8' 3" |
| Vertical Obstacle | 2'2 |
| 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 |
| Production | 1943-1945: 2,1501 |
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
- Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
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