“The speed, accuracy and devastating power of American artillery won confidence and admiration from the troops it supported and inspired fear and respect in their enemy” General Dwight D. Eisenhower once spoke. No fewer words could be true. American artillery has been present in every major American war since the late 1770’s branding field artillery as the “King of Battle”. Field artillery is a constant progression of tactical and technical proficiency. The effects of simple mechanics put to effective use have decided many of the battles fought within the infancy of our great nation. From the American Revolution to Operation Enduring Freedom, field artillery has set itself apart from other branches of military service. Field artillery has influenced warfare through the evolution of its pieces and munitions.
Simple mechanics created the first field artillery weapons. The catapult was made of wood and rope under tension resembling a crossbow in appearance. The invention of catapults gave armies the ability to attack from a distance. Catapults became the main siege weapon because of the amount of destruction caused. The Ballista was a defensive form of field artillery created. It used a crank to increase the tension needed to fire the weapon. The Trebuchet was the next piece created to employ larger projectiles at fortified positions and soldiers. Catapults, Ballista’s, and Trebuchet’s gave a decisive advantage to commanders on the battlefield.
Artillery pieces have changed in there composition to support the growing need for accurate reliable equipment. In the 1700’s cannons were made from iron and bronze. Most militaries used both iron and bronze cannons. Iron was stronger and able to handle a larger amount of charge compared to the size of the shot. Iron was also heavier, which limited its maneuverability on the battlefield. Many militaries used iron cannons as siege guns and left them in a fixed position. Bronze was lighter and more maneuverable compared to iron. Since bronze was lighter, it could use as much powder charge for each shot. This reduced the range of the weapon. Cannons progressed to steel construction in the 1900’s. Steel was a lighter and stronger material. The progression allowed for the use of larger charges and rounds. Engineers worked systematically to produce a higher grade of steel. Around 1970, engineers eventually found a new type of steel that was five times stronger than any previously forged cannons. This dramatically increased the range and reliability of field artillery pieces.

The movement of American field artillery pieces evolved since its introduction in 1775. The artillery first consisted of 21 nine-pounders confiscated by a New York militia company that raided a British battery on Manhattan Island, August 1775. Colonists engineered field carriages with a high axle and wagon wheels out of oak, walnut, and chestnut to mobilize these cannons. These guns made their way around the battlefield by horse-drawn carriages, oxen, and strong soldiers. The way Artillery moved would not start to change until 1915 where light artillery was still horse-drawn, trucks were coming into use to draw heavier pieces. There were no major advancements made to the U.S. artillery until the years just prior of the United States entering World War II. Eventually vehicles became the main method of transport for tow artillery. In the early 1960’s, the 155mm howitzer became the first self-propelled artillery introduced (M109). The M109 eventually was mounted on a tracked or wheeled motor vehicle protected by a sort of armor with the resemblance of a tank. This advancement led to the design of today’s 155mm paladin M109A6. This artillery piece is a tracked vehicle equipped with a Global Positioning System and an Inertial Navigation System that accurately tracks their location and produces accurate targeting data. The movement of artillery has come a long way since the American Revolution. One significant factor has always remained the same in field artillery. The ability to move freely around the battlefield gives a decisive edge to commanders in combat.
Field artillery munitions have advanced in many ways since the American Revolution in 1776. Artillery pieces were horse drawn, and muzzle loaded at first. After each shot, the cannons required the barrel to be swabbed before another ball could be loaded. Prior to World War I, was when artillery transitioned from round inaccurate cannon balls to breach loaded shell munitions. This gave the US Army the opportunity to use shell artillery and 16" diameter guns in combat. During World War II, artillery further advanced the capabilities of field artillery munitions. The US Army had developed a proximity fuze used to initiate an airburst. The US Army also brought new guns to the battlefield in the 105mm Howitzer. The 105mm Howitzer was a towed artillery piece. Artillery was not limited to cannon and shell. The MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) was another product of the US Army during World War II. This gave the ability to converge a mass of munitions into the battlefield simultaneously. The Korean War was another significant time when field artillery munitions advanced. The 90mm gun became the first self-propelled artillery piece. The mobile 90mm gun revolutionized the movement of artillery on the battlefield. Field artillery was no longer limited by terrain. During the conflict in Vietnam, the US Army needed an expert delivery method for artillery; this is when the Forward Observers (FO) became a prominent factor in the field artillery crew. Forward Observers on the battlefield delivered artillery munitions swiftly and accurately. A combination of different shell types opened the possibility for a multiple of purposes, broadening the scope of the artillery missions. Forward Observers had the ability to conduct a Call for Fire ranging from a smoke mission to an illumination mission. Field artillery has made much advancement in the past conflicts, and is still advancing today. Field artillery munitions have much longer ranges, increased accuracy, and a wide variety of different shells to fuze combinations. Some of the shells include ICM (Improved Conventional Munitions), Laser Guided Munitions (LGM-Copperhead), Global Positioning System guided munitions (Excalibur), and White Phosphorus (WP). Multiple fuze types include; point detonation, delay, variable time, and time. The broadening of munitions has given commanders more options in recent conflicts.
Targeting in field artillery has seen a momentous advancement in technology from quadrant based aiming to Global Positioning System guidance. When the Continental Artillery began, they used a simple quadrant based system for aiming that allowed them to find the proper elevation to fire at the right range accurately. The instrument was stuck in the cannons muzzle and then raised or lowered to find the proper elevation. This was an advanced technique engaged in those days and only some of the smartest men in the military could correctly do targeting. Today’s capabilities include the use of Global Positioning Systems guided artillery round named Excalibur. Excalibur has the ability to fire at the maximum range of the weapon platform and be accurate to within 10 meters. This round gives the US Army the ability to launch a round into a building that has both enemy and civilian people inside and only engage the enemy within. The advancements in targeting have drastically reduced the error factor in field artillery.
In conclusion, field artillery has influenced warfare through the evolution of its pieces and munitions. Simple mechanics created the first field artillery weapons in Catapults and Trebuchets. The use of larger charges and rounds was possible by upgrading the composition of the cannons from iron and bronze to steel. Creating the ability to move around the battlefield gave the commanders a decisive advantage. Progression from inaccurate cannon balls to breach-loaded shells improved range and exactness and Global Positioning System technology reduced the error factors significantly.