M2 105 mm Howitzer

M2 105 mm Howitzer
Name	M2 105 mm Howitzer
Type	Field howitzer
Origin	United States
Service	1941–1960s
Used by	United States Army, United States Marine Corps, Allied forces
Wars	World War II, Korean War, early Cold War
Designer	United States Army Ordnance Corps
Design date	1939–1941
Manufacturer	Rock Island Arsenal, Watervliet Arsenal, other contractors
Produced	1941–1945
Number	~11,000
Weight	2,260 kg combat
Part length	22 calibers (2.31 m)
Cartridge	105×372R separate-loading cased charge
Caliber	105 mm
Rate	6–8 rpm max
Velocity	472 m/s (HE)
Range	11,270 m (HE)
Breech	Interrupted screw
Recoil	Hydro-pneumatic
Carriage	Split trail
Elevation	−5° to +45°
Traverse	60°

M2 105 mm Howitzer The M2 105 mm Howitzer was a United States World War II-era towed field howitzer used by the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and numerous Allied formations during the Second World War. Designed by the United States Army Ordnance Corps and produced by arsenals such as Rock Island Arsenal and Watervliet Arsenal, it provided divisional artillery fire support alongside other tube artillery like the M1 155 mm Howitzer and the M101 105 mm Howitzer. The weapon balanced mobility, crew survivability, and logistics compatibility for combined-arms operations in theaters from North Africa to Europe and the Pacific War.

Development and Design

Development began in 1939 within the United States Army Ordnance Department to replace older models such as the M1897 3-inch field gun and to provide a lighter complement to heavy guns like the 155 mm GPF. Influences included lessons from the Spanish Civil War and observations of European systems fielded by Wehrmacht forces and the British Expeditionary Force. The design incorporated an interrupted-screw breech like contemporary BL 4.5-inch Medium Field Gun practice, a hydro-pneumatic recoil mechanism similar to mechanisms used on French 75 mm field gun derivatives, and a split-trail carriage enabling wider traverse for indirect fire used in field artillery doctrine overseen by staff at Fort Sill and the U.S. Army Field Artillery School. Production was standardized under directives from the War Production Board and coordinated with contractors such as American Car and Foundry and Bendix Corporation.

Technical Specifications

The tube measured 22 calibers with a 105 mm bore, firing separate-loading cased charges compatible with established ammunition types used by Canadian Army and British Army ordnance stocks. The interrupted-screw breech and hydro-pneumatic recoil allowed a maximum rate of fire around 6–8 rounds per minute in short bursts, with sustained rates dictated by crew endurance and logistics overseen by Ordnance Department supply chains. The split-trail carriage and pneumatic-tired wheels provided towing compatibility with prime movers such as the M3 Half-track, Willys MB, and the M4 Tractor used by U.S. Army Transportation Corps. Elevation ranged from −5° to +45°, with a maximum range near 11,270 meters using high-explosive projectiles, comparable to contemporary systems fielded by Red Army and British Army artillery units.

Operational History

First issued to divisional artillery units in 1941, the M2 served in major campaigns including Operation Torch, the Tunisia Campaign, the Italian Campaign, the Normandy landings, and the push across Western Europe culminating in the Rhine crossings. In the Pacific War the howitzer supported island hopping operations during engagements on Guadalcanal and Okinawa, providing both direct and indirect fire roles when paired with fire direction centers trained under doctrine from Chief of Field Artillery leadership. Postwar, surplus M2s equipped Republic of Korea forces and were employed during the early phase of the Korean War until gradually superseded by updated pieces like the M101 105 mm Howitzer and self-propelled mounts such as the M7 Priest.

Variants and Modifications

Official variants and field modifications included carriage and towing adaptations for airborne and mechanized use; experimental mounts attempted motorization and integration into armored artillery tractors procured by the United States Army Ordnance Corps. Some batteries modified the trail spades and equilibrators at forward maintenance depots like Arsenal de Charlestown and private contractors refurbished barrels under contracts overseen by the War Assets Administration. Export and lend-lease transfers produced locally maintained subvariants in Free French and Polish Armed Forces in the West service, with national arsenals implementing distinct sighting and carriage alterations under directives from respective general staffs.

Ammunition

Ammunition types included high-explosive, smoke, white phosphorus, illumination, and chemical-capable training rounds standardized to the 105×372R case to maintain interoperability with British ordnance stocks supplied through Lend-Lease. Charges were modular to adjust muzzle velocity for range and fragmentation effects, consistent with doctrines promulgated by the U.S. Army Field Artillery School and allied standards adopted by Commonwealth forces. Fuzing options encompassed point-detonating, time, and variable-delay fuzes developed in coordination with laboratories at Aberdeen Proving Ground and technical bureaus of the Ordnance Department.

Users and Service Deployment

Primary operators included the United States Army and United States Marine Corps, while extensive Lend-Lease transfers extended service to the United Kingdom, Free French Forces, Soviet Union allocations, and Commonwealth armies including the Canadian Army and Australian Army. Postwar, surplus units were supplied to nations in Latin America and Asia during military assistance programs administered through the Department of State and U.S. Army Materiel Command. Many examples entered museum collections at institutions such as the National World War II Museum and the Imperial War Museum where preserved pieces illustrate divisional artillery evolution in mid-20th century conflicts.

Category:Field artillery of the United States Category:105 mm artillery