Field ArTillery - US Army Center Of Military History

wOrld war ii
Table 17—Nondivisional Cannon Battalion Organization, 1944
Aggregate Gun/Howitzer Weapons Weapons
Battalion Section per per
Battalion Type Strength a Strength a Battery Battalion
75-mm. pack howitzer, mountain 456 19 4 12
75-mm. howitzer, parachute 577 12 4 b 12 b
105-mm. howitzer, truck 482 10 4 12
105-mm. howitzer, tractor 478 10 4 12
105-mm. howitzer, self-propelled 520 7 6 18
155-mm. howitzer, truck 495 12 4 12
155-mm. howitzer, tractor 503 12 4 12
4.5-inch gun, truck 495 12 4 12
4.5-inch gun, tractor 503 12 4 12
155-mm. gun, truck 521 16 4 12
155-mm. gun, tractor 529 16 4 12
155-mm. gun, self-propelled 476 12 4 12
8-inch howitzer, truck 548 18 4 12
8-inch howitzer, tractor 556 18 4 12
8-inch gun, tractor 475 24 2 6
240-mm. howitzer, tractor 475 24 2 6
a Strength figures do not include attached medical personnel.
b The battery had two spares, and the battalion had six spares.
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used effectively in support of armor. The 8-inch howitzer, slightly heavier than the
155-mm. gun, fired a heavier projectile at a shorter range. Considered by some to
be one of the most accurate field artillery weapons in the inventory, its destructive
and concussive effect was significant. The weapon was used effectively in operations
against cities, heavy fortifications, communications lines, gun emplacements,
and bridges behind enemy lines. The 8-inch gun was primarily used for long-range
destruction of enemy communica tions lines and fortifications, but care had to be
exercised in selecting targets because of its inac curacy at long ranges. The 240-mm.
howitzer, which fired the heaviest projec tile then available, was used for all types
of missions except close support. 25
The light nondivisional artillery battalions were organized under the same tables
as their counterparts in the divis ion artil lery with minor differences. For example,
nondivisional units were not authorized forward observer sections, which had been
added to the divisional units in 1944 in response to numerous requests from field
commanders for increased liaison and coor dination between the divisional field
artillery units and their supported infan try. 26
25 USFET Study no. 67, p. 3, and Study no. 59, pp. 20–21, copies in CMH files; TM 9–2300,
pp. 54–75.
26 “Historical Record of the Field Artillery Section (US) AFHQ, 3 August 1943–17 May 1945,”
copy in FA School files.