Thread: US Army Units use of captured German Artilley in Europe
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Old February 25th, 2008, 04:05 PM
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Default US Army Units use of captured German Artilley in Europe
In the ETO the 79th Field Artillery Battalion (Provisional) was formed from personnel of the 79th and 179th Field Artillery Groups to fire captured German artillery pieces during the height of the ammunition shortage. Similarly, the 244th Field Artillery Battalion was temporarily equipped with a miscellany of captured German 88mm guns and 105mm and 150mm howitzers.

http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwii/usarmy/oddities.aspx
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Use of captured weapons during WW II

WWII, one battalion of U.S. field artillery was armed for a time on with captured weapons. Here is some information on this unit.
244th FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION (August 1944 on)

WEAPONS POOL

88L56 AA Guns (German)
105L28 Howitzers (German)
150L30 Howitzers (German)
155L16 Howitzers (French)

The 244th arrived in France as a towed 155mm Gun Battalion, but was quickly converted over to a new status as a "Captured Weapons" battalion. To ease the shortfall in American artillery ammunition, the 244th was equipped with captured German Artillery. It was not used as Field Artillery per se, but was used to give additional artillery support for areas of the line in need of support which had captured German supplies on hand. Elements of it served around Metz for example during the siege of that town. From:

http://www.wlhoward.com/id547.htm


8 DECEMBER THROUGH 14 DECEMBER.

At 1600 on 8 December Corps became operational as planned when the 345th Infantry, 87th Division, completed relief of the 5th Division in containing Fort Jeanne d'Arc, the only fort which had not by this time capitulated. At that time Corps assumed full responsibility in the Metz area, and in addition to the already attached units received the 244th. Field Artillery Battalion (minus Battery B) which was equipped with cap­tured enemy weapons; Battery B of the 558th Field Artillery Battalion; and the 16th and 30th Chasseur Battalions. These two French battalions were used for guard duty and the occupation of the already captured Metz forts. These new units, in addition to the previously attached 32d Antiaircraft Artillery Group, 8th Tank Destroyer Group, 11th Tank Destroyer Group, and 87th Infantry Division, completed the III Corps order of battle as of that time.

http://history.amedd.army.mil/booksdocs/wwii/bulge/IIICorps/IIICorpsAARDec44.htm
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