What is this vehicle?

[25-5]

I came upon this picture of a tank like vehicle with some strange gizmo on the back. Taken in 1943 El Guettar Valley. Thought this would be the place to find out what it is and it's purpose.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[browningautorifle]

That looks like a recovery vehicle to me. Just an armored tow truck for those that don't "Hablar"...

M31 Tank Recovery Vehicle...???

Between October 1942 and December 1943 a total of 509 of the now almost redundant petrol M3's were converted to the M31 TRV's with a further 300 diesel types later converted as the M32B1 & B2. They were used on all fronts from late 1942 by the US Army and were also supplied in small numbers to the British and Free French. Some were also used by the Canadians in Italy.
In late 1943 133 M31's were converted to the Prime Mover role for heavy artillery and were redesignated

[Bob Womack]

That one looks more like it is based upon the M7 Priest self-propelled gun.



Bob

[Peter Laidler]

Withoiut any doubt it's what we call an Armoured Recovery Vehicle or in short, an ARV. I would imagine that the top section of the overhanging scaffolding stuff will swing out, rearwards and form a crane for engine changes and barrel changes. What looks like a barrel at the front is probably a dummy to hide it's specialist role.

[CINDERS]

They went by the nik name of the "Priest" due to the pulpit like structure on the Rt side of the machine though looking at the one in the pic I surely would not like to be standing way up there manning that MG no matter how much lead it could pour in the direction of the enemy. Also the jerry cans on the Rt fender one would think they contained just water and not fuel as from memory the original M3's had a radial petrol engine which unfortunately gave them the nik of Ronsons
Also if you look at the last wheel on the roller gear the very back one appears to be losing its rubber covering as a matter of interest the tracks for the Sherman and its derivatives had a very good track life which the Axis powers seemed to omit from their designs

[browningautorifle]

it is based upon the M7 Priest

Quite possibly Bob, it was hard to get the exact match for it. The script at least explains their train of thought...

[Peter Laidler]

Can I assume that all those wheel stations were the same and interchangeable BAR? Bolt-on?

[Bob Womack]

Quite possibly Bob, it was hard to get the exact match for it. The script at least explains their train of thought...

Sorry- I didn't mean to sound as if i was disagreeing - I just went out and did a search of M3 images and didn't see the pulpit so I tracked down the M7. Curiosity...

Bob

[browningautorifle]

No sweat Bob, I'm not real good at identifying some of those... What amazes me is some can't utilize search engines at all, it's all out there...

[Frank LE]

Sorry gentleman, definetly an Armoured Recovery Vehicle but not based on the M7 Priest.
It is the Grant ARV I (T2 (M31) Tank Recovery Vehicle) based on the M3 Grant Tank.

Attachment 61764