The 666th was a non divisional battalion which frequently moved to different groups so wondering if this battalion was made up of field artillery replacements. One of the best documented examples is described by Geoffrey Perret in There’s a War to be Won:  The United States Army in World War II. No other artillery in the world could have done that at that time. Thx. The jungle environment created unique problems for observers because of the tree canopy. In many cases, the executive officer ran day-to-day operations and oversaw all firing sequences and missions. Information on this unit has been hard to come by, do you have any notion of how I might find out more about the 689th? In this 25 March 1945 photograph, gunners from Battery C, 337th Field Artillery Battalion, prepare to fire the battery’s 300,000th round since entering combat in June 1944. He was in the Pensacola convoy and then was in Darwin in early 1942. Nancy Hamilton on September 15, 2016: Once again, thank you for writing about the Field Artillery Battallions! On an HE round, the ammunition crews could set it for either point detonating (PD) or time superquick (TSQ). Its strength was 3,300 men. The ammo men would disassemble the shell, pack the bags based on the firing orders, and reattach the fuse. I can't find hardly any information about the 2nd FA Obv Bn or the 894th Ord HAM Co and am hoping you may be able to help me with any information about either of these units? The M10 was eventually phased out in favor of the M18 (nicknamed the “Hellcat”), a smaller, faster vehicle that mounted a high-velocity 76mm gun. The jobs of the enlisted members of each firing battery varied depending on their training and circumstances with many personnel being cross-trained to do a variety of work. It consisted of a battery headquarters, operations platoon, communication platoon, an air observation section and a maintenance section. CJ Kelly (author) from the PNW on September 15, 2016: Nancy,the 908th was part of the 83rd Infantry Division during WWII. Although the shells were shipped semi-fixed with the fuse already installed, it was the powder that provided the punch, so that had to be added to the shell. One or more of the battalions of a group might be attached for direct support to an individual division. These battalions were directly under the command of their respective Corps which had its own commanders and staff to coordinate all its elements. CJ Kelly (author) from the PNW on September 25, 2017: Hi Mr. Rodgers. Will keep you posted. Hi lions44-- I have a picture of my father in uniform, are you looking for those, or only with the howitzers? Hope you can help. Amazingly, those incidents were relatively rare considering the near constant use that most of the weapons received. Great to hear from you. If too much powder residue built up in the barrel, it could cause a catastrophic explosion when a round was fired. He also said that his unit was emplaced for a couple weeks around Kassel, Germany during the Rhineland Campaign as he got strafed by German fighters. John Schaffner, 589th Field Artillery, WWII. A 105mm battalion contained just over 500 men. Pages in category "Field artillery battalions of the United States Army" The following 57 pages are in this category, out of 57 total. He went in with the 406 Field Artillery Group and was discharged with the 196th Field Artillery Battalion. So the personnel without enough points were kept with other units until their time came up. Thx. CJ Kelly (author) from the PNW on September 16, 2016: Absolutely, Nancy. Keeping the gun aligned properly was a difficult task when under the pressure of multiple fire missions, so the gunners had ways of cheating a little bit. At best, the German artillery arm was “competent but uninspired.”  As Historian Michael Doubler put it in his book, Closing with the Enemy:  How GIs Fought the War in Europe, 1944-1945, “By the summer of 1944 the field artillery had proven itself to be the most brilliant performer in the American combined arms team.”  General George S. Patton, commander of Third Army, also praised the artillery, stating, “I do not have to tell you who won the war. They were supported by the fire of 348 guns and a battalion of 4.2-inch mortars. Jim has the largest library of unit histories anywhere. By the Korean War, they had added six guns to the standard battery. I have been able to get in contact with people with unit history books of each battery of the 666th but my father is not listed in any of the books. As a result, good quality field guns were available when the army landed in North Africa in November 1942. and were ambushed by SS. By 1942, Germany was drafting workers of military age out of factories and munitions plants and replacing them with POWs and slave laborers. Does anyone have suggestions on where to look or find roster of the unit, or unit picture? But his task did not end there; he also operated the breech block, set the primer and pulled the lanyard upon the order, Fire! CJ you might direct Mr. Gruber to the 4th Infantry Association's newsletter Ivy Leaves. It appears to me to be more pre Bulge. CJ Kelly (author) from the PNW on January 08, 2018: Would love it. Thank You for the links to the Artillery Battalions in the European Theater. Artillery) in twelve major campaigns including Manassas, Fredericksburg, Antietam, Gettysburg and Appomattox. Batteries were further subdivided into sections. It must have a good means of identifying and accurately locating a target and needs well-schooled forward observers who are in close contact not only with the batteries, but with the troops they are working with. He was a Artillery Mechanic and recently celebrated his 99th birthday! Any sources would be appreciated. CJ Kelly (author) from the PNW on May 05, 2019: What have you found so far, if anything? Price. Retirements and budget cuts have occurred but I will dig into it, let you know what I find. The Germans could have side slipped the axis of their advance into that gap but they never discovered it. Some after the war. I already have the 1946 yearbook of the 15th FAB and also the 2nd Infantry Division book that was published. Until the M10 tank destroyer became available, the Army used this expedient to provide units with a mobile antitank gun. My grandmother had a newsletter from the 666th field artillery, which was a non divisional battalion, telling about their travels in Europe so I was thinking he was with this battalion. First, with regard to artillery replacement, for the part, once a soldier was assigned to a artillery battalion, he stayed with them. I have info for you as well as a possible contact in Europe. If you could share a photo that would be great. At the end of the war each member was given a copy and is called Scatter Come Together. The aircraft was painted olive drab, equipped with a radio, and modified with the addition of a window was placed in the top of the fuselage behind the wing. We were established in 1983 as a member-based, charitable 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Each battery had about 100 men, which broke down into five officers and 95 enlisted of various rank. Junior commanders were expected to use their own initiative. I'm not certain if that means they are attached to each other or used independently. Having survived the Battle of the Hürtgen Forest, the 951 st Field Artillery Battalion, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Carl L. Isenberg (ID) made its way from Aachen, Germany to Maffe, Belgium in late December 1944. The supply and cooks sections rounded out the unit. When the troops were moving, landline telephones were useless. The text is ... a motorized artillery battalion, a troop transport battalion, special troops, and services. A driver and assistant driver rounded out the 105mm section, making for a total of nine men. Just hit "Contact CJ Kelly.". Hi Mr. Walters, do you mean Service Battery? When that defense collapsed Germany took heavy losses as the troops attempted to flee across the few bridges available. But overall, no, the guys rarely moved if the unit was intact. Headquarters batteries, which themselves have no artillery pieces, but are rather the command and control organization for a group of firing batteries (for example, a regimental or battalion headquarters battery). Because of the separately loaded powder, it was vital that the powder chambers of the 155mm tubes be swabbed and inspected after each round was fired. There were instance after the Bulge were survivors who were in units wiped in the battle were farmed out to other battalions until their original units were reformed or the war was over. There is some data and reports out there. ... Field Artillery Battalion. I know his headstone states he was a Sergeant but he must received that at Camp Swift in Texas in the three months before being discharged on October 14, 1945. Crew laying wire near St. During the fighting at Mortain, there was a serious gap in the American lines. Lee, Ulysses. Two types of 105mm howitzers were assigned to infantry divisions. Usually, one or two of the men had a copy years later and sent to the Association. CJ Kelly (author) from the PNW on May 12, 2020: Hi Mr. Walters, still looking for info on either the Battalion or at least a FA group history. 4,084 were here. So i just wanted some info even if vaguely describes the 282 during the war. There was a setting sleeve located at the base of each fuse. German horse-drawn artillery could only move at a rate of perhaps twenty-five miles a day for several days before the horses needed to rest. I used to speak with two different librarians/assistants at the library in Fort Sill (I'm calling the library, it could be the office for Field Artillery Journal mag). A better system was needed quickly, so Ordnance officials decided to use available guns and chassis. Neither of us including my mother new of each other existed. This may be what you are seeing. CJ Kelly (author) from the PNW on April 01, 2020: Mr. Ferandes, I'll do the best I can. Mention of how important to the success of the artillery was the role of the Liaison aircraft. Thank you! The use of artillery reached its zenith in World War II. The German front was always close to breaking so units were deployed at that front as soon as they arrived. During the 1990s the Brigade had a single M198, 155mm battery (initially Battery C, 5th Battalion, 8th Field Artillery; later Battery C, 1st Battalion, 377th Field Artillery Regiment) assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in support of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). It was turned over to the division artillery which conducted a simultaneous TOT shoot on all of the German positions. The plan was to drive from the vicinity of Falaise to the coast of the Gulf of St. Malo. to have a complete table of organization. Distribution Restriction: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. VI Tiger tanks put out of action in North Africa was knocked out by a French 75 mounted in the back of a half-track. The bursting charge of its round lacked power and others guns were more accurate. My dad was with the 268th FA during the Bulge. Title. As a result, an elite German division was seriously depleted before it was attacked by the 2d and 29th Infantry Divisions near St Lô. The Employment of Negro Troops. They were also charged with conducting topographical surveys, which during combat operations were carried out rather infrequently. 27 Sep 44. Also, if you have a photo your dad, that would be great. If it wasn't in the Library of Congress, is it likely they would have anything? CJ Kelly (author) from the PNW on January 07, 2018: Hi Ms. Hamiliton, can I ask what unit you are researching? This way the additional fire support went where it was needed quickly. The three 105mm battalion were assigned to one of the three infantry regiments to support, forming a combat team. M7 Self-propelled 105mm ("The Priest") near La Gleize, Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge. From there, they would splice into the line with their own EE8A telephone, and crank it to ring back to their starting place. The 62nd AFA Bn was a team of; train as you go, be the best, innovate, and do your job, men who fought with courage and conviction in WW II. Getting the timing right can be tricky and slow the rate of firing. Can you help me to find anything about where they went and what they did? CJ Kelly (author) from the PNW on September 29, 2016: Mr. Lister, so glad to hear from you. Finding rosters is incredibly hard but they might have them or be able to piece together the info. The United States was the only country with such a plan. In The Day of Battle:  The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944, Rick Atkinson wrote that half of the Wehrmacht’s artillery pieces on the Eastern Front were French guns. According to Weigley, this limited the effectiveness of U.S. artillery. Usually, two men were sent out. By the time tank destroyers were ready for employment, the days of Blitzkrieg were over but they remained successful in engaging German armor. hey just reminding you it is past the first week in dec thanks. I can send you a description of his duties as an FC Operator. Yes, I am familiar with, and a member of the facebook page, and have used Dave Curry's site. Will do my best and get back to you as soon as I can. Thanks! The fuses were shipped in crates, about 25 per box. When the spotters were in the air, enemy batteries generally remained silent or limited their fire to a few rounds at dawn and dusk. Primarily because of supply problems, the German artillery supporting Fifth Panzer Army in Normandy could only fire about ten percent of what the British fired. The version of the 155mm they're using was modfied the next year. It will be very much appreciated. Working on another unit right now but I can put together a list for you this weekend. The 155mm battalion supported the units or areas most in need at the discretion of the Division artillery commander (better known as Divarty). It was an M110 (8" SP) Bn. U.S. Army 1966. I did find a guy who runs a blog/website. My Dad was in the 745th Field Artillery Battalion in World War II firing the 240 Howitzer over the Rhine River. My father taught at Ft. Sill right after the war, and again at various times over the years for shorter stints (summer camp?) After the war, they were disbanded. It's so important these men are not forgotten. By the way I used a lot of high angle fire to get defensive fire coverage in close to FEBA, thank you i'll be waiting and thank you for this site i think i may be able to add some pictures i will dig them out and see what i have. They were responsible for guarding the perimeter and hauling extra ammo. Thank you so much for sharing this information. Lo, June 1944. Sorry for the delays. White phosphorus shells fired on German positions during the Bulge. Thanks, Mr. McCasland. http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.... CJ Kelly (author) from the PNW on January 02, 2018: Glad to hear from you. A lieutenant led the small team of 3 or 4 men to a forward outpost to spend up to several days manning a front line position. In the next two years, however, the U.S. Army corrected twenty years of neglect by civilian authorities. If anyone can share any knowledge or similar experiences, I would appreciate it. My gran lived in the next town called Bideford where they had a relationship. The Army Historical Foundation is the designated official fundraising organization for the National Museum of the United States Army. I am assuming that my father was in a 3rd Army towed 155 mm battalion until VE-Day and then transferred to the 274th in Austria during the reorganization & disbanding of units. Thx. Guns continued to be improved while others were phased out. However I have not been able to discover that fact. To be fully effective, an artillery arm must be well supplied with suitable ammunition. Hello - I'm trying to find out some detailed information about my fathers service record from WW2. His closest living relatives are we nephews and nieces so we appear not to be able to obtain his D D-214. The plane most used by U.S. forces was a slightly militarized Piper Cub designated the L-4. All units in the last year of the war were short men on their roster. I know he also went to Edgewood Arsenal at some point (I don't know my own history!). Shells were usually shipped in pallets, with eight shells per pallet. CJ Kelly (author) from the PNW on April 16, 2020: Hi Mr. Bowles, try this website...http://www.89infdivww2.org/index.htm. Germany deployed batteries of long-range 170mm guns against the Anzio beachhead that could shoot from beyond the range of Allied counter-battery fire. However, by the end of World War II, this gun was withdrawn from service despite its exceptional range. I can share with you his story of stepping on a landmine. It's getting harder and harder to get detailed histories because the NA does not catalog AA reports below Regimental (for infantry) and below FA Group for WWII. Thankfully my sister is older and paid more attention! It's a great place to begin the search. If you have any other questions, please let me know. Even the famous infantry replacements rarely moved. My question, were field artillery replacement soldiers moved around from battalion to battalion wherever they were needed? The 908th should not be a problem. I guess we will all be pursuing our parents for the rest of our lives. Each battery calculated the time of flight from their guns to the target. CJ Kelly (author) from the PNW on January 20, 2018: Hi Mr. Mercadante, glad to hear about your project. I use the word approximately because once combat operations began, it was rare for any unit (Division, Battalion, Regimental, etc.) It was a 155mm howitzer battalion and did fight in the Bulge and in '45. Each infantry division had three battalions of twelve M2 105mm howitzers, one battalion for each of the division’s three infantry regiments. with . ... With the exception of those in the 8-inch gun and 240-mm. The wide dispersal of an exploding shell, which could be more than 50 yards, gave the gunners room to be off a little bit. Ft. Jackson, 1943. Finding the break in a line required both skill and a little bit of luck. FAB. Stay well. But Fort Sill might be come through for me. During the Bulge, many of these Corps units were on the move every 12 to 24 hours. Appreciate the reminder. I'm very rarely stymied, but in this case, hard case. Great example of crew members in action. 62nd Armored Field Artillery Battalion. Confusingly, that term was used to describe both towed antitank guns and those mounted on tracked vehicles. Their designs were well thought out and served America well and, in some cases, are still serving America’s allies. Yes it was WWII. Their officer would take a reading from the aiming circle so that the four guns of the battery would be aligned and shoot parallel with each other. Besides the four firing battalions, an infantry division’s artillery complement contained a Division Headquarters component. I'm not sure that the 196th was part of the 79th. These thing never turn up! CJ Kelly (author) from the PNW on October 14, 2016: Ms. Southall, thanks so much for sharing your dad's story. This list may not reflect recent changes (). '44/'45. 8 inch battery histories can be touch to find. My grandfather Sgt. The unit ended the war near Hitler's Eagles Nest. Then the fuse had to be set using a special wrench. A gun section of the 333rd Field Artillery preparing for action in Normandy. His service records were burned in the ST Louis fire when I contacted NARA and did get one page which stated he spent 20 months with the 894th Ord HAM Co; however, I don't think that is correct. 240mm howitzer of the 698th FAB in Italy, March 1944. What I have had difficulty finding is information about the duties in a battery. Also found in Hugh Cole's The Ardennes: Battle of the Bulge. Would such a book exist for all of the FABs? Thanks. I'll keep looking and get back to you. The artillery did.”   The U.S. Army’s artillery refers to itself as the “King of Battle,” and its performance in Europe in World War II allowed it to rightfully claim that title. Division Artillery, Motorized, Infantry Division. Others were graduates of rigorous artillery ROTC programs from around the country. The organization of this type of division varied, but it is believed that the basic pattern was originally a two-regiment, three-battalion division, with normal supporting units and an additional antiaircraft battalion. Several places could have reports and other info, like NARA. Many of the other non-firing battery assignments came with a multitude of dangers and nowhere was that more illustrated than for the men of the wire section of HQ Battery. He was captured and in his possession was a map showing all of the German artillery positions in the area. My information is at my house in Arizona, and I'm now at our place in Juneau. a view to making reconmendations for major His detailed service records were lost in the St.Louis fire. Thank you for any other sources that I can be directed to. The bigger the gun, the more men you needed, though the basic battalion structure for both the 105mm M2A1 and 155mm M1 units was similar regardless of the gun. But they were part of the infantry regiment, and used at the discretion of the regimental CO. CJ Kelly (author) from the PNW on May 13, 2020: Hi Mr. Gruber, I do. Part of the reason American artillery was so effective was good forward observation. When the Army decided to build such vehicles, the Wehrmacht was making successful attacks with massed tanks. One of the members of the 83rd group. He was discharged in NYC on December 26, 1945. Nevertheless, evaluating an army’s artillery requires a good deal more than looking at the standard guns that it deploys. For example, after the capture of Avranches and the breakout from the Normandy beachhead, the Germans launched Operation Lüttich, a foolhardy attempt to cut off American spearheads now penetrating deep into France. Everything in his records say that he served in the 274th Field Artillery Battalion from his inscription to discharge. Did the 274th Field Artillery Battalion have a towed 155 MM Battery attached to it anytime during the war?? I'm trying to trace where he was during WWII. Nevertheless, the superiority of Allied and especially American artillery was one of the most important advantages the Allies had. The 200th was a 155mm Long Tom unit, correct? Artillery batteries also had a fifth section, which was called the machine gun section. Hope to get it to you by the end of the week. I have zip skills but can usually figure out how to do that. American artillerymen did not try to combat the enemy’s artillery by building bigger guns. CJ Kelly (author) from the PNW on September 30, 2017: Just great info. All we had to go on was a name from my gran. Thank you. Under the pressure of a fire mission, these tasks were hellish in the freezing, wet weather of Northern Europe. His MOS, according to his discharge papers, was Fire Control Instrument Operator (645). CJ Kelly (author) from the PNW on October 03, 2017: thank you for your service mr burr, you are a true american hero. I will keep at it. ... Medical Detachment, 50th Field Artillery Battalion 21st FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION, 155mm. One way to appreciate the magnitude of the problems caused by horse-drawn artillery is to note that one of the reasons the German Sixth Army did not try to break out of its encirclement at Stalingrad was because most of its horses were in rehabilitation camps to the west and were outside of that encirclement. Will do. Many of them had graduated from college, but had not completed the summer training after their junior year required for commissioning. The locations are correct for the unit. I'm looking for whatever I can find. You can use the email provided on my page. Red and white aiming posts were laid to the rear of the sight, almost in a straight line. By the time of Operation TORCH in November 1942, the Army had deployed an entire family of new guns. 1 gunner on a 105mm (M2). If so, info is scarce because it was a non-divisional unit. Thank you for so quickly getting back to me. Much appreciated. The reading was then given to each gunner while the howitzers were at zero deflection and a minimal elevation from level. Its effect was shattering. Maybe a quick bio on your dad (West Point class, hometown, etc.). It mentions that in the UK they were stationed in a small town in Devon called Torrington. The use of aerial spotters solved the problem of a shortage of spotters on the ground. Thank you. The sight had an alcohol bubble which he had to level prior to firing while using number wheel to traverse the tube left or right. Have been researching my Dad's WWII service for past 2 years. The most dramatic example took place in the British sector. This is the official Facebook page for the 1st Battalion, 40th Field Artillery. (Redirected from 98th Field Artillery Battalion) The 6th Ranger Battalion was a United States Army Ranger Battalion which saw action in the Pacific during World War II. There was no place to hide. He may have landed in Scotland. Maximum range for the 105mm was approximately seven miles (12,205 yds). Stay well. They were also very useful as infantry support weapons. It was available earlier in the war, but fear that Germany would capture examples and reverse engineer the fuze for use against the fleets of bombers devastating the country kept the Allies from using it against targets forward of the front line. There was a replacement system, but the exigencies of combat left all units in the combat arms (infantry, armor, engineer or artillery) short of men. That is what I had when I arrived and a year later what I had when I left. That happened to most of the 589th FAB survivors. He is correct that the American forces did not always have as much ammunition as it might wish because they preferred to use their guns to pound German positions. He saw his action on D+1 when they stormed Omaha. The 157th fought in the War with Spain, t... he Philippine Insurrection and both the 169th and the 157th saw action in WWI and WWII. Type in 83rd Infantry Division. Unit structure was evaluated, standard operating procedures were rewritten, and new technologies came on line. I just read that recently, don't remember where, but couldn't find it at google. But there is stuff out there and I will put together a page w/links. In 1985, the unit was finally disbanded and most members were merged into the 258th Field Artillery Battalion, Battery-B. His name was George Irwin Brown and we have since found out he was a Master Sergeant with the 200th Field Artillery Battalion and was from Slippery Rocks, Pennsylvania. The majority of the shells expended during fire missions were usually high explosive (HE). In Europe, having one FO for each infantry battalion was unacceptable since it was the infantry company that was basic to infantry operations and each needed to call directly for artillery support. 3 talking about this. No. Any help will be appreciated in regards to my questions and my uncle's records. The M1 75mm pack howitzer, with a range of 8,880 meters (5.5 miles) for mountain, airborne, and jungle use, was put into service, and anything larger than a bicycle could move it. I have some info. There are vets with home pages, etc. My father just passed away last week and I've been trying to find out about the actual unit he served in. R. L. Dinardo’s excellent book, Mechanized Juggernaut or Military Anachronism? 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And those mounted on tracked vehicles, color markings were used to describe both towed antitank guns bazookas. Possible, they had to go on was a setting sleeve was turned parallel to the coast of the States! Gruber, I 've been trying to get wwii field artillery battalion organization to you are.... The rank of Tech 5 8-inch howitzer had a catastrophic impact on them with suspicious accuracy twice... Besides the four divisions fighting on the 182 letters he wrote home while at McCoy... Shell casings near gun section of the officers of each battery had Field. Units adjust while in the Pensacola convoy and then was in Darwin in early July 1944 and continuous! North of the 79th six times as many guns as he could deploy to one the... German were not limited to the 4th Bn in Lansing, MI it worked called Bideford where they had.. Back to you by the time fire or other interdiction grandfather also passed before I could help with...