Towed artillery is a highly mobile component of ground units' firepower. Pulled behind a prime mover such as a truck or tractor, towed artillery works in conjunction with self-propelled guns to achieve the combination of mobility, readiness, range and rate of fire needed by the commander. Towed artillery ranges from small, lightweight guns to very heavy calibers.
M116 75mm Pack Howitzer salute fired by Headquarters & Service Battery (HSB), 3-17 FA Bn, Ft Lewis, WA, 28 May 2007 (Memorial Day). Photo: Courtesy of Ed Leavitt.
9 Jul 1943 US-British invasion of Sicily begins [night of 9-10 Jul]. 9 Jul 1944 British and Canadian forces capture Caen from the Germans, a critical post-D-Day objective in Normandy, France. 9 Jul 1944 US forces reach the northern end of Saipan, finding thousands of Japanese civilian men, women, and children who commit suicide by leaping off the cliffs rather than be captured. Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.
In this chart of towed artillery, click on the photo link to go to the page of photos and information for the specific gun.
Vehicle
Description
Photo Link
Less than 105mm Guns
M3
37mm Antitank Gun Used extensively early in WW II, longer in Pacific theater against lighter Japanese armor.
M1
57mm Antitank Gun
M1A1
75mm Pack Howitzer Also known as M1920, M1922 or M116.
M1897 or M2
75mm U.S. Army Field Gun, M1897 or M2
M5
3-inch Antitank Gun
105mm Howitzers
M-101 M2
Howitzer, Light, Towed: 105 mm, M-101 and M-101A1 (M2 until 1962)
M-3
105mm Howitzer M3
M-102
Howitzer, Light, Towed: 105 mm, M-102
M-119
Howitzer, Light, Towed: 105 mm, M-119
155mm Howitzers and Guns
M1918
155mm Howitzer, Model 1918 (Schneider)
M1A2
155mm Howitzer, redesignated M114 Howitzer after WW II
M2
M1 M2 M59 155mm Towed Field Gun, "Long Tom"
M114
155mm Howitzer based on the WW II M1 Howitzer
M198
155mm Towed Howitzer
M777
Lightweight 155mm Towed Howitzer
8 inch (203mm) Howitzers
M-115
8 inch (203 mm) Towed Howitzer, used during World War II, Korea, and Vietnam as heavy artillery. Fitted for NATO 203mm ammunition including the now-obsolete tactical nuclear rounds.Replaced by the M110 self-propelled howitzer.