Figure 1.--

"American artillery was numerous, but poorly coordinated with heavy guns frequently out of position and vulnerable to our own artillery."

-- Gen. Oberst Hans‑Jürgen von Arnim, Commander, Fifth Panzer Army, situation report (March 1943) Notably Rommel had a different assessment and in 2 months Arnim would be a POW.

When Hitler and Stalin launched World War II (1939), the U.S. Army's primary field artillery was basically obsolete World War I era guns consisting of the the French M1897 75mm gun and M1918 155mm howitzer. (They were produced in America based on he French designs.) The French 75 is commonly seen as the beginning of modern rapid-fire artillery. It played an important role in slowing down the German advance in Belgium toward Paris in World War I, but by 1939 was badly outdated. It was designed to decimate the mass infantry attacks of the 19th century, but this was no longer how modern armies operated. By the time U.S. ground forces went into combat (1942), both of these pieces were being replaced by modern and much more effective guns. The artillery proved to be one of the strongest arms of the U.S. Army. Artillery often does not get the attention it deserves from World War II historians. And the Germans by 1942 faced counties with excellent artillery support. First in the East but eventually in the West as well. The Soviets had excellent artillery to begin, but at first not with the needed mobility. The Americans made a startling metamorphosis, from obsolete French guns, moved by horses and unreliable trucks. In only 2 years, the U.S. Army moved from 20 years of Congressional budgetary restrictions. Finally Congress wrote a blank check and the U.S. Army was prepared and used the cascade of funds to good effect. The transformation of the U.S. Army's Artillery arm began at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, the location of the U.S Army Field Artillery School. Also at Fort Sill then-Lieutenant Colonel Lesley J. McNair introduced modern instruction methods which greatly facilitated the rapid expansion of the U.S. Army, including the Field Artillery branch. The Field Artillery branch during the inter-war years had developed a good idea of the artillery needed for modern mobile war. A U.S. Army historian believes that, "Their designs were well thought out and served America well and, in some cases, are still serving America’s allies." This mean that when the allocations were finally approved, th Army was able to make well-founded decisions as part of the Army's general Industrial Mobilization Plan. (This was a plan the War Department began working on in 1931 and which the Navy also eventually participated. It was meant to avoid the difficulties that occurred when America declared war on Germany (1917). Aware of the public's aversion to another war and the military's even preparing for one , the published versions included the statement, "This plan does not propose the modification of any of our constitutional processes. Indeed the prime purpose of procurement planning and of the Industrial Mobilization Plan is the preservation of these processes for the people of the United States.") 【U.S. Army】 The United States was the only country with such a plan at the time of World War II. Interestingly, a gifted, but still unknown young major, Dwight D. Eisenhower worked on the first version. (Thankfully Gen. Marshall was noticing him.) The outcome was why American troops landing in North Africa (November 1942) had high quality field guns, although the French 75mm gun still were being used.

Inter-War Situation

When Hitler and Stalin launched World War II (1939), the U.S. Army's primary field artillery was basically obsolete World War I era guns consisting of the the French M1897 75mm gun and M1918 155mm howitzer. (They were produced in America based on he French designs.) The French 75 is commonly seen as the beginning of modern rapid-fire artillery. It played an important role in slowing down the German advance in Belgium toward Paris in World War I, but by 1939 was badly outdated. It was designed to decimate the mass infantry attacks of the 19th century, but this was no longer how modern armies operated. The transformation of the U.S. Army's Artillery arm began at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, the location of the U.S Army Field Artillery School. Also at Fort Sill then-Lieutenant Colonel Lesley J. McNair introduced modern instruction methods which greatly facilitated the rapid expansion of the U.S. Army, including the Field Artillery branch. The Field Artillery branch during the inter-war years had developed a good idea of the artillery needed for modern mobile war. A U.S. Army historian believes that, "Their designs were well thought out and served America well and, in some cases, are still serving America’s allies." This mean that when the allocations were finally approved, th Army was able to make well-founded decisions as part of the Army's general Industrial Mobilization Plan. (This was a plan the War Department began working on in 1931 and which the Navy also eventually participated. It was meant to avoid the difficulties that occurred when America declared war on Germany (1917). Aware of the public's aversion to another war and the military's even preparing for one , the published versions included the statement, "This plan does not propose the modification of any of our constitutional processes. Indeed the prime purpose of procurement planning and of the Industrial Mobilization Plan is the preservation of these processes for the people of the United States.") 【U.S. Army】 The United States was the only country with such a plan at the time of World War II. Interestingly, a gifted, but still unknown young major, Dwight D. Eisenhower worked on the first version. (Thankfully Gen. Marshall was noticing him.) The Americans begn a startling metamorphosis, from obsolete French guns, moved by horses and unreliable trucks. In only 2 years, the U.S. Army moved from 20 years of Congressional budgetary restrictions. Finally Congress wrote a blank check and the U.S. Army was prepared and used the cascade of funds to good effect. The outcome was why American troops landing in North Africa (November 1942) had high quality field guns, although the French 75mm gun still were being used.

Ostkrieg (1941-45)

The Germans in 1942 having not sealed the deal with Britain (1940-41) faced counties with excellent artillery support. First in the East but eventually in the West as well. The Soviets had excellent artillery to begin, but at first not with the needed mobility. American Lend Lease trucks provided the Red Amy the mobility in lacked (1941-42). Fire control continued to be a problem, but no longer mobility when the American Lend lease trucks began arriving (1943).

North Africa (1942-43)

North Africa was a proving ground for both the British and Americans. The British by he time of Alamein (October 1942) had developed the most effective artillery arm in he War. By the time U.S. ground forces went into combat (1942), the outdated French World War I artillery was being replaced by modern and much more effective guns. The artillery would prove to be one of the strongest arms of the U.S. Army. Artillery often does not get the attention it deserves from World War II historians. In North Africa, the American artillery with no battle experience did not perform particularly well, although Rommel was impressed with the speed of recovery at Kaserine. The North African campaign revealed weakness in fire direction, communications, and tactical deployment. This and other issues were addressed at Fort Sill and in the field. Most importantly, the Americans refined the fire direction concept that would do nothing less than revolutionize artillery warfare. The North African campaign ended with he German and Italian surrender (May 1943). But the Americans had now been blooded. And the artillery was a very different animal from what Von Arnim had observed in the first combat encounters in Tunisia.

Sicily (1943)

By the time the Americans landed in Sicily, the American artillery arm would make a very different showing (July 1943). Artillery battalions including the Long Tom battalions had become integrated into a sophisticated fire control system. The artillery was impressive enough, but the developing fire control system magnificent the effectiveness exponentially. While Sicily was won, the Allies failed to cut off the retreating German forces in Messina.

Italy (1943-45)

The Allies landed in Italy (September 1943). By getting their forces out of icily and with reinforcements from the strategic reserve, the Germans were able to put up a serious fighting Italy. The British landed with little resistance at the toe of the Italian boot (September 3). He had hoped to draw the German forces south, nut Kesselring did not take the bait. The Americans landed a few day later at Salerno near Naples (September 9). The large port of Naples was the real prize. German artillery nearly destroyed the beachhead, but in the end was out matched by naval gunfire. Once ashore, American and British artillery would prove to be a vital part of he campaign. The 155 mm Long Toms systematically reduced German emplacements along the Winter Line and the Barbara Line The Allied drive north stalled at the Gustaf Line--the main German line in central Italy south of Rome. Long Tom batteries helped crack open the Gutav Line near Casino. Batteries situated at Milano destroyed German bunkers. Geeman batteries could not reach the Long Toms. Oberstleutnant Julius Schlaggel, artillery commander of the 1st Parachute Dvision at Casino after capture (May 1944) described the psychological impact on his men. "We could hear them fieing from very far away, a distant thunder. Then the shells would arrive, very heavy shells, and then our concrete positions would crack. We tried to locate their batteries, but they were too distant. Our own 150 mm guns could not reach then. We could do nothing but endure." By this time the American artillerists had perfected the system, Front-line forward observers (FOs) with the infantry or light reconnaissance aircraft identified trigonometry and ballistic calculations would compute firing solutions. They not only had mathematical tables, but added meteorological data and the gun's individual characteristics. The fire of multiple batteries at different locations and radioed coordinates to a Fire Direction Center (FDC). And here was the heart of the system, men trained in computation could be coordinated. This was important because soldiers when a shell hits dive for cover. If a barrage could be timed to hit within seconds the maximum killing impact is escalated. Amazingly, meteorological staffers measured temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, and wind conditions at multiple altitudes. The level of accuracy was uncanny. All of this data was fed into the FDC. And unlike the German artillerists, America artillerists were supplied with a virtually unlimited supply of ammunition.

France (1944)

The initial America D-Day landings were supported by less naval artillery than the British with the Americans opting for surprise (June 6). When the Omaha beachhead was in trouble, however, American destroyers came in close to provide critical fire support. ONCE ashore, naval artillery supported the beachhead before artillery units could be landed and established. In the American bockage area, the distances were too restricted for long-range fire. From an early point, however, American got a level of fire support unparalleled in warfare. In other armies, fire support was given. American artillery fire support could be requested at virtually any tactical level, down to the company, platoon, or even individual squad/tank level. Any front-line combatant with a radio or wire phone could contact an FDC. A single lieutenant, FO, or squad leader on a front-line ridge could call in an initial request, which the FDC could then scale up—firing an entire division's artillery capability (a 'Time on Target' barrage) onto a single spot based on that single soldier's request. A factor here was the extensive communication equipment supplied American units. A single cut off infantry company with a FO famously called in 193 artillery fire missions—averaging one every 45 minute in the Battle of Mortain breaking up the German armor offensive (August 7-13). In other armies fire support request were rarelynade blow the regimental level. After the Normandy breakout (late-July), the long range artillery became a factor. American artillery played an important role in the race across France (August-September). Ammunition supplies became a factor when the Americans hit the fortifications of the West Wall (September), nut once supplied played an important role in breaking through the reinforced concrete bunker defenses. Mobil American artillery played a vital role in maintaining the Bastogne pocket (December). Air drops kept the guns firing.

Germany (1945)

The War was essentially over by he time the Allies crossed the Rhine (March 1945). But as the Allies moved into Germany, they were still taking serious casualties. They adopted a standard operation as they approached villages. If a village surrendered it would be left untouched. If the infantry encountered opposition, they would pull back and the artillery would shell the village,

Sources

U.S. Army. Industrial Mobilization Plan: Revision of 1939: A Study of Methods for the Effective and Equitable Utilization of the Industrial Resources of the United States in Time of War (GPO: Washington, 1939). By 1939, he Joint Army Navy Munitions Board became involved.

Created: 7:12 AM 9/3/2026
Last updated: 7:12 AM 9/3/2026