US Divisional Artillery 1945

Towed Artillery, Wanted, For Sale,(NO EBAY ITEMS) and Knowledge Base
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usfm
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US Divisional Artillery 1945

Post by usfm » Thu Jan 23, 2014 1:30 am

Hi,
hope someone can help me here.

I´m interested in the vehicles that were with the Division Artillery in the US Army in 1945.
My special interest is the 12th Armored Division and the 94th Infantry Division which captured or liberated the area of the Training Ground of Baumholder in Germany, where I live.
As long as I know, there were only M7 Priest with the 105mm Howitzer in Armored Divisions, is this correct? No bigger ons, like 155mm?
Halftracks were used as Ammo Carriers for the Howitzers? What kind of tracks, M3 or M2? How many Ammo could they load?

In the 94th Infantry Divisions were 105mm (3 Btl) and 155mm Howitzers (1Btl) in use. What was the normal Prime Mover for the Hows, High Speed Tractors or Trucks (CCKW 2,5t) . Was the Ammo Carried with Trucks or other vehicls (I think of direct Support, not the second line.)

Hope there is some knowledge here, and someone who would share it!!

Thank you,

Christian


tankbarrell
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Re: US Divisional Artillery 1945

Post by tankbarrell » Thu Jan 23, 2014 3:43 am

Christian,

I think the armoured divisions only had SP artillery so 105 in M7 would be the biggest.

The tractors for the towed artillery were GMC CCKW352 for the 105mm and M5 High Speed Tractor and Diamond T 968 for the 155 howitzer.

printzpic
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Re: US Divisional Artillery 1945

Post by printzpic » Thu Jan 23, 2014 6:42 am

Try this link:

http://www.wwiivehicles.com/usa/organiz ... vision.png

In 1943 US Divisions TO&E was revised. The above link would accurately reflect the composition of the Divisional Artillery in 1945.

halifaxgroup
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Re: US Divisional Artillery 1945

Post by halifaxgroup » Thu Jan 23, 2014 8:07 am

Great chart. I see some inconsistency, or need some clarification. Clearly indicates 54 105 SP guns (assume Priests). Also indicates 9x 105 howitzers. Do we assume towed? But the summation does not include them, but lists 17x 75mm guns. Are these the 75mm PAC howitzers?
1944 WC51
1944 WC62
1943 M-20
1943 Ben Hur
1943 Water Ben Hur
1944 M51 Quad Mount Trailer
1944 M5A1 Stuart
1943 352 CCKW
1944 Corbitt 6 Ton
1944 M16 Halftrack

printzpic
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Re: US Divisional Artillery 1945

Post by printzpic » Thu Jan 23, 2014 10:40 am

Here is a more precise TO&E for US Armored Divisions in WW II.

http://us4tharmordiv.tripod.com/ArmorTO.htm

Can't answer for the discrepancies in the other listing.

usfm
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Re: US Divisional Artillery 1945

Post by usfm » Sun Jan 26, 2014 4:58 am

Thank you for the answers so long.
There are 105mm Howitzer M3 on the 75mm Pack Carriage in the Batailon.
They were towed, but don't now with what kind of vehicle.

mtflorio
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Re: US Divisional Artillery 1945

Post by mtflorio » Wed Jan 29, 2014 10:30 pm

Hello Christian! The following information is from "US Army Handbook 1939-1945" by George Forty.

The Armored Divisions had the following equipment in their Armored Field Artillery Battalions, there were three per division. There were three Batterys per Battalion and each Battery had six M-7 Priest SP Howitzers each towing an M-10 armored ammunition trailer. Each battery also had two M-3 halftracks towing M-10 armored ammunition trailers. In addition to this the division had three Armored Infantry Battalions. Each battalion had three Rifle Companies each having three M-3 halftracks towing a 57mm anti-tank gun. Also each division had a Cavalry Recce Squadron that had one Assault Gun Troop made up of four Assault Gun Platoons each with two M-8 75mm Gun Motor Carriages each towing a M-10 armored ammunition trailer.

The Infantry Divisions had the following equipment 57- 57mm anti-tank guns, 54 towed 105mm howitzers, and 12 towed 155mm howitzers. I believe the prime movers would have been 3/4 ton Dodge trucks for the anti-tank guns and 2 1/2 ton GMC trucks for the howitzers.

I hope this information helps you.

Mike
1942 Willys MB Slat Grill
1943 Willys MBT
1943 Huffman G519 Bicycle
1941 Indian 741

tankbarrell
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Re: US Divisional Artillery 1945

Post by tankbarrell » Wed Jan 29, 2014 10:46 pm

mtflorio wrote:
The Infantry Divisions had the following equipment 57- 57mm anti-tank guns, 54 towed 105mm howitzers, and 12 towed 155mm howitzers. I believe the prime movers would have been 3/4 ton Dodge trucks for the anti-tank guns and 2 1/2 ton GMC trucks for the howitzers.

I hope this information helps you.

Mike
The 155mm howitzer weighs nearly 6 tons and has air brakes. The 2 1/2 ton GMC would be a bit overwhelmed..... The Diamond T 4 ton was the truck prime mover for the 155, the GMC was used for the 105mm. Tractor drawn 155mm battalions used the m5 high speed tractor.


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