Bishop (artillery)

Ordnance QF 25-pdr on Carrier Valentine 25-pdr Mk 1 "Bishop"
Bishop in the Western Desert, September 1942
Type	Self-propelled artillery
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
In service	1942
Used by	British Commonwealth
Wars	Second World War
Production history
Designed	1941
Manufacturer	Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company
Produced	1942–1943
No. built	149
Specifications
Weight	17.5 t (38,580 lb)
Length	18 ft 6 in (5.64 m)
Width	9 ft 1 in (2.77 m)
Height	10 ft (3.0 m)
Crew	4 (Commander, gunner, loader, driver)
Elevation	-5° to +15°
Traverse	8°
Armour	hull: 0.31–2.36 in (8-60 mm) superstructure: 0.51–2 in (13–51 mm)
Main armament	QF 25 pounder gun-howitzer with 32 rounds
Secondary armament	0.303 inch Bren light machine gun
Engine	AEC A190 diesel 131 hp (98 kW)
Power/weight	7.4 hp/tonne
Suspension	coil sprung three-wheel bogies
Operational range	90 mi (145 km)
Speed	15 mph (24 km/h)

The Bishop was the nickname of a British self-propelled artillery vehicle based on the Valentine tank, armed with the 25 pounder gun-howitzer, which could fire an 87.6 mm (3.45 in) 11.5 kg (25 lb) HE shell or an armour-piercing shell. A result of a rushed attempt to create a self-propelled gun, the vehicle had numerous problems, was produced in limited numbers and was soon replaced by better designs.

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 with the formal title: "Ordnance QF 25-pdr on Carrier Valentine 25-pdr Mk 1".

The vehicle was based on the Valentine II hull, with the turret replaced by a fixed boxy superstructure with large rear doors. It was nicknamed the "Bishop" for its high mitre-like superstructure.

Into this superstructure the 25-pounder gun-howitzer was fitted. As a consequence of the gun mounting the resulting vehicle had very high silhouette, which is a disadvantage in desert warfare. The maximum elevation for the gun was limited to 15 degrees, reducing the range to 6,400 yards (5,900 m), about half that of the same gun on a wheeled carriage. The maximum depression was 5 degrees, traverse was 8 degrees, and the vehicle could also carry a Bren light machine gun. By July 1942 80 Bishops had been built; 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 105 mm SP howitzer, named "Priest" in British service.