Field artillery must move rapidly, reposition, set up, shoot and move again. Ground warfare strategists have long argued the merits of towed artillery vs. self-propelled. The SP artillery can reposition and set up more quickly but suffers from greater weight. Since there is no clear winner to the debate, both types continue to be developed and used.
Today in WW II: 24 May 1941 Battle of the Denmark Strait: German battleship Bismarck sinks British battlecruiser HMS Hood, flagship of the Home Fleet, killing all but 3 of the 1418 crew. More↓
In this chart of self-propelled artillery, click on the photo link to go to the page of photos and information for the specific weapon. Additional photos on the Olive-Drab.com Artillery page in the Military Firepower section. See also: