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The artillery available
to support the army fell into a variety
of categories, including guns, howitzers,
and mortars. Guns, so-called, fire projectiles
at high velocity over relatively flat trajectories.
Howitzers, in contrast, usually fire larger
projectiles at lower velocity and higher
trajectories in order to clear intervening
obstacles. Mortars are basically infantry
weapons firing "bombs" at angles
greater than 45 degrees over short distances
and are mainly smooth-bore weapons where
guns and howitzers are usually rifled to
impart a spin on projectiles in order to
render them more aerodynamic, thus increasing
range and accuracy. Most artillery pieces
were mounted on carriages and towed between
firing positions, but self-propelled guns
mounted on tank chassis were also used.

Projectile
trajectories of mortar, gun, and
howitzer. |
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Artillery operated
according to two basic methods: direct and
indirect fire. Direct fire was directed
over open sights against a target clearly
visible from the gun. This method was most
common with tank and anti-tank guns, where
fire had to be aimed to be effective, and
could be hazardous as the gun (and its crew)
was itself exposed to enemy fire. Indirect
fire called for a forward observer, in communication
with the guns by telephone or radio, to
correct the fall of shot. This method took
longer than direct fire to achieve accuracy
but the guns could be better protected from
counter-battery fire. It was used with heavy,
medium and field guns.
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| Suggested
Reading: |
Leslie W.C.S. Barnes, Canada's Guns:
An Illustrated History of Artillery
(Ottawa: National Museums of Canada,
1979).
Shelford Bidwell and Dominick
Graham, Fire-Power: British Army
Weapons and Theories of War 1904-1945
(London: George Allen & Unwin,
1982).
George G Blackburn, The Guns
of Normandy: A Soldier's Eye View,
France 1944 (Toronto: McClelland, 1995).
Ian V. Hogg, British and American
Artillery of World War 2 (London:
Arms and Armour, 1978).
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