PMMS

book7044 US Armored Artillery in World War II
by Steven J Zaloga
Concord Publications Co.
'Armour at War Series' No 7044
ISBN 962-361-688-0
Soft cover, 72 pages

Review by Peter Brown


Although tanks are very impressive machines and since their introduction have come to symbolise hardware on the battlefield, artillery always was and always will be a very important part of the mix of forces which fight and win battles. With tanks bringing a new mobility to warfare, there was a need for heavy guns which could keep up with them. Conventional guns towed behind cross-country trucks was one answer but they were not as mobile as tanks and were also very vulnerable to the enemies' artillery fire. Mounting guns on tracked armoured vehicles gave them the ability to keep up with the tanks and also support them while being fired on themselves.

The USA had no self-propelled artillery at the outbreak of WW2 but once the need had been recognised several versions were produced as stop-gaps while better versions were designed. Initially, standard field guns were fitted onto halftracks, these 75mm and 105mm mountings were used in Tunisia in 1942 and in some cases survived into 1944 though the main types were based on tank chassis. Lightest of these was the M8 Howitzer Motor Carriage which was based on the M5-series Stuart light tank. Although it looked at first sight like a tank with its fully-rotating turret though it was not used as such. These vehicles supported light tanks, but to support medium tanks there were heavier guns.

Most numerous was the M7 GMC, combining the standard 105mm field gun with the then-new M3-series medium tank. Although it was in many ways either too small a gun or too large a chassis, it was a success. First used at El Alamein in small numbers by the British Army, they were widely used by American forces through to the war's end. A far heavier piece was the M12 which used an old 155mm gun again on the M3 medium chassis. Initially there was not thought to be a requirement for these, a small series were built and used on N W Europe in 1944-45. A final design using later Sherman parts was produced but only individual guns were used in WW2.

All these are covered in a series of photos in typical Concord format. After a brief but informative introduction which gives useful details of when each vehicle was built and used along with numbers built, the first six pages show the main M8, M7 and M12 vehicles in detail. Included are interior shots of the M8 and a series of the M7 showing the various changes made in production as different patterns of stowage, suspension units, transmissions and side armour. The M12 and its associated M30 ammunition carrier are also covered. The rest of the book shows these vehicles in action. Divided into the various campaigns, the photos literally follow the vehicles from North Africa with the early halftracks and initial use of the M7, then on into Italy, the battles after D Day in France, Belgium and Germany and also the Pacific campaigns. Captions point out the various production changes, colour and markings schemes and field modifications and stowage. Most photos show the vehicles in American use, though there are a few shots of British and Canadian Priests and a few more of French vehicles.

These are backed up by sixteen colour plates, showing side-views of typical vehicles and their colour schemes. Half cover the M7 including one Canadian and one US Marine Corps vehicle in the Pacific, four M8 with one French subject and the final four are on the M12. All three vehicles have been the subject of plastic kits in 1/35th scale, though the Tamiya M8 may not be widely available we have the Italeri M7 and Academy M12. Anyone with one or more kits will find plenty of inspiration for model subjects, from basic kits to conversions of varying degrees. Overall a long-awaited book which may inspire modellers to try something a little different.



Page Created 4 August 2002

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