Sexton

The Sexton ( sexton or gravediggers ) was a British self-propelled gun in the Second World War .

Genesis

The British Army in early 1941 sought a suitable armored vehicle for the installation of the British standard 25-pounder cannon. The experience with the Bishop showed its poor suitability, so another solution had to be found. In the U.S. under the name T originated some 51 self-propelled guns, the M7 Priest . In some of the states lacked the capacity for mass production of the British artillery support.
The project received more attention, as of 1942 the construction of British armored forces was forced. It demands of the tank commanders were (in particular the fighting in North Africa) for mobile artillery that could keep up with the tanks, loudly.
Upon further search of the relevant committee met with Canada , where the Montreal Locomotive Works in Sorel with the Cruiser Tank Ram Mk I chassis forth from one to the M3 Lee / Grant built (like the M7 Priest) similar tanks. The Ram was already considered obsolete, so that its production capacity has been released. In this neatly polished chassis 1942, the British 25-pounder gun was set. An open structure provided a good side Richtsfeld and full increase, so that in contrast to Bishop, the gun could take full effect. In the construction of a lot of experience and advantages of the M7 Priest were processed. The combination was known as Sexton, which was used mainly as a field artillery weapon to support tank battalions. The vehicle was a total of 112 rounds of ammunition, which in addition to explosives and smoke grenades 18 tanks were explosive shells. Production began in 1943, by 1944 he had almost completely replaced the M7 Priest from the British Army. 1944 and 1945 the Sexton was also used in North West Europe. Until the end of 2150 total production pieces were built. The main variant is the purpose-built command tanks without the cannon, but with additional radios. As a reliable, robust and effective weapon of Sexton remained until the 1950s in the service of the British and Canadian army and until recently in the service of other nations.

Specifications

Parameter	Data
Producer	Montreal Locomotive Works
Weight	25,85 t
Crew	6 (commander, driver, gunner, loader, gunner and radio operator)
Arming
Main weapon	a 25-pounder (87.6 mm) with 112 shots (page leveling range: left = 25 °, 40 ° right)
In addition to arming	2 × 7.7 mm MG Bren mit 50 Magazinen, 2 × 9-mm- Sten-MPI , 12 Handgranaten , Signalpistole, 12.7-mm-MG Browning M2
Motor	air-cooled 9-cylinder radial engine Wright Continental R975-4, 400 hp / 298.3 kW
Fuel	Gasoline
Top speed	42 km / h (road)
Range	290 km
Plating	up to 32 mm
Mass
Long	6,12 m
Width	2,72 m
Height	2,44 m
Ground Pressure	0,81 kg/cm^2
Climbing ability up to	0,61 m
Ford depth	1,22 m
Grave to overcome	2,51 m
Introduction	1941
Use	1941 to 1956 (Canada until 1959, importing nations partly to the present)
Construction time	1941 to end of 1945
Quantity	2150

Sexton Mk.I

The first 125 vehicles produced

Sexton Mk.II

Additional boxes for batteries and associated generator at the rear.

Sexton GPO

When Sexton GPO ( G un P osition O fficer / command tank) removed the gun to make room for a radio No. 19 to provide for directing the artillery fire.

Use

• Polish 1st Armoured Division – Nordwesteuropa
• 11th Armoured Division - North West Europe
• - Italy