Sloping back gun tractors
OK, I'm only a modeller (but with 30 years in the army behind me). Everything I have read says that the sloping back to the various gun tractors were designed to make it easier to decontaminate the vehicles in the case (which seemed quite likely at times) of chemical warfare. Once chemical warfare seemed to be less likely, square back FATs were produced.
In addition, a limber beside the gun was a lot less conspicuous than a gun tractor. If the gun line came under enemy fire, it would seem safer for the gun tractor to be some distance away at the wagon lines and thus less likely to be targetted.
Chris
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