Field artillery materiel

by Unknown

Transport. Practical. Therefore it is thought that four regiments of 75-mm guns (two regiments of French Model 1897, and two regiments of U. S. Model 1916) should be immediately equipped with motors, the remainder to be horsed; mechanical transport to gradually replace horse only after the tractor demonstrates its superiority in service.

Light Howitzer Discussion. The consensus of opinion of American army officers consulted is that a howitzer about 4” in caliber, firing a projectile weighing from 25 to 30 pounds at a maximum range greater than 10,000 yards, is required. This opinion is concurred in by the French, Italians and English, and it appears to be definitely established that the mobility of the light field howitzer should be practically the same as that of the light field gun. The British army was equipped with a 4½” howitzer, firing a projectile weighing 35 pounds and with a maximum range of 7,700 yards; the weight of the howitzer limbered is 4676 pounds—150 pounds more than the weight of the 18-pounder field gun. No evidence was found that the British Government intended making any alterations in the design of this howitzer; naturally they will attempt to increase the range, power and accuracy of the projectile by change in its weight, its capacity and its form. The French artillery was not equipped with the light field howitzer of approximately the same weight as the 75-mm field gun. During the war it was found impracticable to construct a lighter howitzer without interfering with the production of other calibers which were considered more important. In the earlier stages of the war the Italian artillery was not equipped with a light field howitzer; however, before the end of 1917 orders were placed for several hundred howitzers of the 105-mm type. It should be noted that several hundred howitzers of this caliber were being constructed before the armistice and that many have been captured from the Austrians by the Italians; this, so far as the Italians were concerned, makes it certain that a light field howitzer will be furnished by the Italian army. The German and Austrian armies were equipped with a howitzer of the light field type; this weapon had a caliber of 105-mm type.

It fired a projectile weighing 34.54 pounds at a maximum range of 10,500 yards. (Streamline shell.) The weight of the howitzer limbered was 4,500 pounds. In the opinion of the board, the Germans have proceeded on sound principles in their development of the light field howitzer. Their ’98 model was a companion piece to their ’96 field gun and in the years that passed from 1898 to 1916, which included their early war experience, they kept to the idea of the relation of the two pieces even to the extent of including in a field artillery regiment one battalion of light howitzers. Their 1916 models of both light gun and howitzers show the endeavor to keep the pieces in the same class; that is, the weight of the gun and howitzer in action nearly the same, 2,750 pounds and 2,700 pounds; the weight of the gun limbered and the howitzer limbered are the same, 4,500 pounds; the elevation of both the same—minus 10 to plus 40 degrees; the carriages are of the same type; and the extreme ranges of gun and howitzer are respectively 11,700 and 10,500 yards. From the foregoing it is seen that all the important belligerents except the French and the Americans were equipped with a light field howitzer firing a projectile about twice the weight of the light field gun projectile and having otherwise the same general characteristics. There is no evidence to show that the fire of the French and the American artillery was not fully effective as that of any other artillery; however the testimony of the French and American artillery officers is to the effect:

(a) That the lightest howitzer in use, i. e., the 155-mm, was not sufficiently mobile to be a suitable companion piece for the 75-mm gun.

(b) That many times the fire of the 75-mm gun proved ineffective due to its flat trajectory; a howitzer would have been more effective in the attack of certain targets.

(c) That a large volume of fire is necessary.

(d) That while the 155-mm howitzer is more powerful than the light field howitzer its consumption of ammunition for many purposes is wasteful and extravagant and its volume of fire is insufficient.

(e) That the light howitzer is particularly suited for the destruction of wire entanglements; its better accuracy and more powerful projectile make it more suitable than the field gun for that purpose.

(f) That the 75-mm field gun projectile is not so satisfactory a gas shell as the howitzer projectile which has greater weight.

Light Howitzer. Idea. A weapon of about 105-mm caliber on a carriage permitting a vertical arc of fire from minus 5 degrees to plus 65 degrees, and a horizontal arc of fire of 360 degrees. Efforts should be made to develop a carriage which can be used interchangeably for the division light gun referred to above and this howitzer. The projectile should weigh about 30 to 35 pounds and should include both shell and shrapnel. A maximum range of 12,000 yards will be satisfactory. Semi-fixed ammunition with varying charges should be used, otherwise the ammunition should be similar to that provided for the 75-mm guns.