In many countries' militaries during WWII, infantry units were given light artillery pieces. For example, in the IJA, each battalion had 2 70mm Type 92 Batallion Guns and each regiment had 4 75mm Type 41 Mountain Guns. Wehrmacht infantry regiments were assigned 6 75mm guns and 2 150mm guns each. At the end of the war, Soviet Rifle Regiments were assigned 4 76mm howitzers each. So my question is, how did light artillery at low echelons perform in WWII? I especially would like to know about the direct fire pieces.
During WWII, each US infantry regiment had a cannon company organically assigned to it. Each company, per TO&E 7-14, had 5 officers and 109 enlisted men. It consisted of:
A company headquarters
Three cannon platoons, each with two howitzer sections
The primary weapon of the cannon company was the 105 mm Howitzer M3 on Carriage M3, a 2,495-pound weapon capable of lobbing a shell 8,300 yards.
Company Headquarters:
| Quantity | SSN | Rank | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1192 | Captain | Company Commander |
| 1a | 1192 | First Lieutenant | Reconnaissance |
| 1 | 844 | First Sergeant | -- |
| 1r | 824 | Staff Sergeant | Mess |
| 1g | 744 | Staff Sergeant | Reconnaissance |
| 1r | 821 | Staff Sergeant | Supply |
| 1g | 542 | Sergeant | Communication |
| 1 | 813 | Sergeant | Transportation |
| 1br | 405 | Corporal | Clerk, Company |
| 1r | 511 | T/5 | Armorer-Artificer |
| 1dg | 803 | Pvt./Pfc. | Bugler |
| 1r | 060 | T/4 | Cook |
| 1r | 060 | T/5 | Cook |
| 2r | 521 | Pvt./Pfc. | Cook's Helper |
| 1fr | 345 | T/5 or Pvt./Pfc. | Driver, Truck, Light |
| 1efr | 014 | T/4 | Mechanic, Automobile |
| 2dg | 745 | Pvt./Pfc. | Messenger |
| 2 | 767 | Pvt./Pfc. | Operator, Radio Telephone |
| 6r | 521 | Pvt./Pfc. | Basic |
| 27c |
| Equipment/Vehicle | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Carbine, cal. .30, M1 | 11 |
| Launcher, grenade, M7 | 2 |
| Launcher, grenade, M8 | 5 |
| Launcher, rocket, 2.36-inch, M9 | 1 |
| Rifle, U.S., cal. .30, M1 | 16 |
| Truck, 1/4-ton, 4x4 | 3 |
| Truck, 3/4-ton, weapons carrier, with winch | 1 |
| Truck, 1 1/2-ton, 6x6, cargo | 1 |
| Radio Set SCR-300 | 8 |
| Reel Equipment CE-11 | 12 |
| Switchboard BD-71 | 1 |
| Telephone EE-8 | 6 |
Three Cannon Platoons; per platoon:
Platoon Headquarters:
| Quantity | SSN | Rank | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1192 | First or Second Lieutenant | Platoon commander |
| 1 | 844 | Technical Sergeant | Platoon Sergeant |
| 1r | 745 | Corporal | Agent |
| 1 | 645 | Corporal | Instrument |
| 1 | 844 | Pvt./Pfc. | Ammunition Handler |
| 1fr | 345 | T/5 or Pvt./Pfc. | Driver, Truck, Light |
| 1r | 802 | T/4 | Mechanic, Artillery |
| 1dg | 745 | Pvt./Pfc. | Messenger |
| 1 | 767 | Pvt./Pfc. | Operator, Radio Telephone |
| 9c |
| Equipment/Vehicle | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Carbine, cal. .30, M1 | 6 |
| Gun, machine, Browning, HB, cal. .50, M2, flexible | 1 [mounted on 1/4-ton truck] |
| Launcher, grenade, M7 | 1 |
| Launcher, grenade, M8 | 1 |
| Launcher, rocket, 2.36-inch, M9 | 1 |
| Rifle, U.S., cal. .30, M1 | 3 |
| Trailer, 1-ton, 2-wheel, cargo (for ammunition) | 1 |
| Truck, 1/4-ton, 4x4 | 1 |
| Truck, 2 1/2-ton, 6x6, cargo (for ammunition) | 1 |
Per platoon, two howitzer sections; per howitzer section:
| Quantity | SSN | Rank | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1r | 844 | Sergeant | Chief of Section |
| 1 | 844 | Corporal | Gunner |
| 7 | 844 | Pvt./Pfc. | Cannoneer |
| 1fr | 345 | T/5 or Pvt./Pfc. | Driver, Truck, Light |
| 10c |
| Equipment/Vehicle | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Carbine, cal. .30, M1 | 8 |
| Howitzer, 105-mm, M3, with carriage, M3 | 1 |
| Launcher, grenade, M7 | 1 |
| Rifle, U.S., cal. .30, M1 | 2 |
| Truck, 1 1/2-ton, 6x6, cargo, with winch | 1 |
a: Second in command
b: Also classification specialist (275); drives truck, 3/4-ton (radio)
c: Armed with carbine, cal. .30, unless otherwise indicated
d: Drives truck, 1/4-ton
e: Drives truck, 3/4-ton
f: Armed with launcher, grenade, M7
g: Armed with launcher, grenade, M8
r: Armed with rifle, U.S., cal. .30, M1
Per Field Manual 7-37 Cannon Company, Infantry Regiment, the role of the infantry regiment's cannon company was to provide direct support in achieving the regiment's objectives, by destroying point targets (this is emphasized in the manual) such as antitank guns, machine guns, foxholes, or fortifications that were holding up friendly troops. This was accomplished through close cooperation with friendly observers at the platoon or section level. Frequently, each cannon platoon was assigned to support one infantry battalion.
The infantry howitzer is primarily a weapon of opportunity for prompt action against transient targets. It is not intended that it take the place of field artillery, but rather that it supplement, when necessary, the fires of other heavy weapons in the regiment.
Only in exceptional circumstances was the cannon company to engage firing on area-type targets; this mission was primarily reserved for the divisional artillery battalions. The cannon company could also be coordinated with regimental antitank assets and used to destroy attacking tanks. Due to its low muzzle velocity and high elevation, the howitzer was to be used in attacking halted tanks, or tanks that were disabled. The cannon company commander was to closely coordinate with the commander of the artillery battalion assigned to his regiment, and inform said commander of any movements promptly.