[EncDescription_data/units/spg/usa/m10_(wolverine)_afrika]
3-inch Gun Motor Carriage M10 Wolverine 76mm Anti-Tank Self-Propelled Gun

The history of self-propelled tank destroyers in the US is rather unusual. By 1940, the ongoing combat in Europe proved that tanks played a crucial part in modern warfare, and therefore highly mobile anti-tank guns were needed to counter the threat. At the same time, the attempts to realize the new vision encountered multiple problems with existing vehicle chassis and anti-tank guns. First attempts were less than successful. For example, the M6 Fargo Gun Motor Carriage was merely a 37mm M3 gun installed on top of a Dodge WC-52 weapons carrier jeep. Another tank destroyer, the M3 GMC, was an ancient M1897A4 75mm gun installed on the M3 Half-Track; another M3-based tank destroyer, the T48 with the M1 57mm gun, was exported to the UK, and eventually ended up in the Soviet Union. Both of these tank destroyer saw action in the Pacific and in Tunisia, but it quickly became clear that a more capable tank destroyer was needed, combining good off-road capabilities and adequate crew protection.

Work on a new tank destroyer design began in April of 1942, based on the M4 Sherman hull. Compared to the base M4A2 with a diesel engine, the hull ended up going through considerable changes, for example the sides becoming sloped in the process. After a short design phase, the new tank destroyer went into production in June of 1942.

The M10 had a rather novel design for its time, more resembling a full-fledged tank than a tank destroyer, both internally and externally. One of the peculiar features was a fully traversable open turret, housing a powerful 3-inch (76mm) M7 gun, originally an anti-aircraft weapon. Compared to the Sherman, the Wolverine’s armor was somewhat thinner, which was however remedied by having the armor sloped. Altogether, the M10 was a very successful design, combining a powerful gun, great maneuverability, and a comfortable and well-protected crew compartment. The Wolverine first saw action in Tunisia, where they were very much needed, being virtually the only armored vehicle in the American arsenal capable of engaging the Tiger tank. Subsequently, the M10 saw action in Italy, France and Germany. Many of the tank destroyers were sent to the UK, where they were equipped with a 17-pdr gun, and designated Achilles. 52 Wolverines were also sent to Russia, where two self-propelled artillery regiments were formed around them, that saw action in Byelorussia.

A total of 4,993 M10s and 1,731 M10A1s (based on the M4A3 Sherman, the last 300 of which were equipped with a M36 GMC turret) were produced between September 1942 and December 1943. After that, the M10 was supplanted by the M36 GMC, based on the M10 but equipped with the more powerful 90mm M3 gun.

[EncDescription_data/units/spg/uk/Bishop_afrika]
The rapid manoeuvre warfare practiced in the North African Campaign led to a requirement for a self-propelled artillery vehicle armed with the 25 pounder gun-howitzer. In June 1941 the development was entrusted to the Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company. A prototype was ready for trials by August and 100 were ordered by November 1941. The result was a vehicle designated Ordnance QF 25-pdr on Carrier Valentine 25-pdr Mk 1 and universally known as Bishop.

The Bishop was based on the Valentine II hull, with the turret replaced by a fixed boxy superstructure with large rear doors. Into this superstructure the 25 pounder gun-howitzer was fitted. As a consequence of the gun mounting the resulting vehicle had very high silhouette, a disadvantage in desert warfare. The maximum elevation for the gun was limited to 15 degrees, lowering the range considerably to about 6,400 yards (about half that of the gun on its wheeled carriage), the maximum depression was 5 degrees and traverse 8 degrees. In addition to the main armament the vehicle could carry a Bren light machine gun. By July 1942 80 Bishops had been built, and as the last 20 were being built an order for a further 50 was placed, with an option for a further 200, but the tender was abandoned in favour of the American M7.

The Bishop first saw action during the Second Battle of El Alamein in North Africa and remained in service during the early part of the Italian Campaign. Due to the aforementioned limitations, compounding the Valentine's characteristic slow speed, the Bishop was poorly received almost universally. In order to compensate for insufficient elevation, crews would often build large ramps out of the earth - running the Bishop onto these tilted the whole vehicle back effectively gaining extra elevation for the gun and increasing its maximum range.

It was replaced in service by the M7 Priest (105 mm) and Sexton (25-pounder) when those became available in sufficient numbers, and surviving Bishops were diverted for artillery use.
[EncDescription_data/units/spg/ger/stug_40_f8]
As the StuG III was designed to fill an infantry close support combat role, early models were fitted with a low-velocity 75 mm StuK 37 L/24 gun to destroy soft-skin targets and fortifications. After the Germans encountered the Soviet KV-1 and T-34 tanks, the StuG III was equipped with a high-velocity 75 mm StuK 40 L/43 main gun (Spring 1942) and later - the 75 mm StuK 40 L/48 (Autumn 1942) anti-tank gun. These versions were known as the Sturmgeschutz 40 Ausfuhrung F, Ausf. F/8 and Ausf. G

[EncDescription_data/units/spg/usa/T19_HMG_afrika]
The T19 Howitzer Motor Carriage variant of the M3 halftrack was built by Diamond T in 1942. Only 324 were ever built. It was an expedient version mounting a 105mm howitzer in an almost standard M3 : the chassis was strengthened to take the extra loads, the windshield was hinged to fold forwards, a platform was built to take the gun and the fuel tanks were moved to the rear. 
In use it was found to be overloaded and very cramped. The armoured body offered little protection and there was no overhead cover. Despite these drawbacks the T19 allowed the US army to field a howitzer motor carriage in time for the North African campaign. It served as a stop-gap until the M7 Priest was ready. 
It was never standardized, that is it always retained its T19 designation and was never given a 'M' number. It saw active service in North Africa and Sicily and a few are believed to have soldiered on into Italy.

When the Priest appeared during 1942 there was no longer a need for the T19 and therefore those that had been shipped overseas and not destroyed in combat were eventually converted back to M3's.