British - QF 25 Pdr - Self Propelled Gun (Bishop)

The British QF 25-Pounder Self-Propelled Gun “Bishop” was an early attempt to provide mobile artillery support to British armoured units during World War II. Introduced in 1941, it was based on the chassis of the Valentine infantry tank, with the turret replaced by a fixed, boxy, fully enclosed superstructure mounting the proven QF 25-pounder (87.6mm) field gun/howitzer. Armour thickness ranged up to 60mm, providing good protection for the crew, but the high profile and limited gun elevation restricted its range to about 5,900 metres—significantly less than the towed version. The Bishop was crewed by four to six men and was primarily used for indirect fire support, though it could also engage targets in a direct-fire role if necessary. It first saw combat with the 8th Army in North Africa, including at the Second Battle of El Alamein, where its mobility allowed artillery to keep pace with advancing tanks. However, its design limitations soon led to it being replaced by more capable self-propelled guns such as the American M7 Priest. Despite its short service life, the Bishop represented an important step in Britain’s development of effective mobile artillery.

Multi part resin model.

Printed by Imperator Models on License from Wargame 3D.