Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-06-08
Lots Of Guns But
u. S. Still Lacks
Desirable Types

-
Washington, June THE American
army came out of the war with vast
amount of artillery but still lacks the
ideal types of guns and howitZers
which a careful postwar study by
army experts indicated to be the most
desirable. On the basis of the report
of the "caliber board" which made
this study in 1918, however, existing
artillery equipment has been appor-
toned among the troops to approx
mate as nearly as possible ideal con-
ditions.
One striking fact was developed by
the "caliber board" study. Despite
the enormous increase in the amount
of artillery used by the contendins
armies, the board concluded that "the
principles on the use of field artillery
continued unchanged"
Although the French coined the
saying during the war that The artil-
lery conquers; the infantry occupies
the ground" postwar studies do NOT
confirm this in America military opin-
ion which holds that the infantry
armed with rifle and bayonct is the
main line of the army and all other
arms designed merely to aid the adj
vance of the foot troops.
As to the increased use of artillery
during the war, Sir Douglas Haig
British commander, noted in after the
war reports that while the proportion
of British artillery personnel engaged
in the battle Of the Somme was about
so per cent of the infantry, it reached
so per cent in tho Battle of Npres in
1917. In the 1916 struggle British
guns hurled $4,000 tons Of shell in q
single day and in 1917 they poured %
600 tons in the German positions in
tho Same time.
The caliber board found that for the
purpose of American field operations
there should be six types of weapons,
a light weight gun and howitzer to ac-
company infantry divisions, a medium
weight pair for corps use and heavy
team for each field army. The board
found that for divisional use. a gun of
about 3-inch calber firing missiles of
| man killing chara cteristics" weigh
ing not more than 20 pounds and with
Il maximum range of $4,000 yards, was
ideal" but that the American and
French 75'S, while NOT exactly filling
requirements, formed a practical sub
stitute. The army artillery as well as
the National Guard field batteries are
now equipped with these weapons
supplemented by some American g.
inch guns.
g.,
board recommended a 105 nm. weap-
on with range of 10000 yards and pro-
jectiles of 80 to 50 pounds. That
type does NOT exist in the army to-
day although the 155 nm. howitzer
suggested as a substitute is included
and was for a time mated with the
/ Light field gun. 1t is regarded as too
heavy for divisional use, however. and
las been eliminated from divisional
batteries.
The lack of a light howitzcr is due
to the fact that the American army
adopted French artillery equipment in
the war and the French never were
able to turn their attention to this
weapons production in the stress Of
other work. The British army is
equipped with 105 nm. howitzcr to
support infantry operations.
For medium batteries attached to
army corps. the caliber board recon-
mendcd A. to inch guns with range
of $4,000 yards to bring hostile battery
positions under fire. The existing A.
guns of Old model, with ono regiment
armed with British 5-inch weapon:
make up this element of the present
American artillery strength, the guns
being mated with the 10000 yard
range 155 nm. howitzcr.
For the heavy field artillery handled
by units of the Field Army, the board
selected 80 nm. gun with $4,000
yard range ana an S-inch howitzer
firing $4,000 yards. Equipment ap-
proximating this is made available by
using British design howitzers which
arc on hand.
1t is pointed out that under present
national defense plans. most of the
artillery for n major mobilization
must come from the National Guard
which now includes 1872 gun batteries
armed with Us: 36 hoWitzcr batteries
equipped with 155 nm. weapons and
IS gun batteries armed with 155 nm
rifles.
Tr~S