"US Para artillery" Topic

Did the US Paras use the 75 Pack Howitzer like the Marines or did they have something else they used?

The 75mm Pack Howitzer M1 (also known by its post-war designation M116) was designed in the United States in 1920s to meet a need for an artillery piece that could be moved across difficult terrain. The gun and carriage was designed so that it could be broken down into several pieces to be carried by pack animals. The gun saw combat in Second World War with the US Army (primarily used by airborne units), with US Marine Corps, and was also supplied to foreign forces.

In addition to the pack / air portable configuration, the gun was mounted on a conventional carriage to serve as a field artillery piece. Derived vehicle mounted howitzers M2 and M3 were used in the 75mm HMC M8 and some LVT models. In addition, the M1 in its original version was mated to a number of other self-propelled carriages, though only one of those – 75mm HMC T30 – reached mass production.

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In the Second World War era US Army, 75 mm howitzers were issued to airborne and mountain units.

An airborne division, according to the organization of February 1944, had three 75 mm howitzer battalions – two glider field artillery battalions (two six-gun batteries each) and one parachute field artillery battalion (three four-gun batteries), in total 36 pieces per division. In December 1944, new Tables of Organization and Equipment increased the divisional firepower to 60 75 mm howitzers (as an option, in glider battalions 75 mm pieces could be replaced with more powerful 105mm M3).[7]

The only mountain division formed, the 10th, had three 75 mm howitzer battalions, 12 pieces each. The gun was also used by some separate field artillery battalions.[8]

In the US Marine Corps, under the E-series Tables of Organization (TO) from 15 April 1943 divisional artillery included three 75 mm howitzer battalions, 12 pieces each. The F-series TO from 5 May 1944 reduced the number of 75 mm battalions to two, and the G-series TO removed them altogether, completing the shift to 105 mm and 155 mm howitzers. Although the G-series TO was only adopted on 4 September 1945, in practice in some divisions the change was introduced early in 1945.

Actually had looked this up for something myself

(as an option, in glider battalions 75 mm pieces could be replaced with more powerful 105mm M3)

And before anybody asks, I will take the opportunity to mention that this same weapon was also used by the cannon companies in US infantry regiments.

Divisional artillery in the US infantry divisions used the heavier M2 105 mm howitzer.

I think the 82nd para dropped their 105s at Nijmegan?

Thanks, Big Nick – I appreciate it.

Here is the history of a few of the Parachute and Glider Field Artillery Battalions

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And this,
Cannons Under Canopy: American Parachute Field Artillery in Operation Market-Garden

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The US Airborne also obtained some Horsa gliders from the UK, so that at least some of their glider-borne artillery pieces (and 57mm AT guns) could be landed concentrated with their Jeep tractors. The Waco CG-4A could take the gun OR the Jeep, but not both at the same time.

Thanks, Kaos, I appreciate the added info.

And before anybody asks, I will take the opportunity to mention that this same weapon was also used by the cannon companies in US infantry regiments.

Interesting. I thought that they used a different version of the 105mm.

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Actually some Cannon Companies used the M2 105mm Howitzer and others used the M3 105mm Howitzer.