M8 Glider Research Paper
For the invasion of Normandy, the US Army decided to try a new concept in order to insert it’s troops into enemy territory. Airborne operations, including the use of gliders, were a relatively new concept in military history and the United States had never before experimented with delivering troops and equipment behind enemy lines in such a manner. Gliders were chosen over parachute for field artillery because they could successfully transport a howitzer section all together behind enemy lines, where insertion via parachute could possibly scatter troops, causing confusion and a lack of the manpower required to conduct howitzer crew drills (Devlin, 1985). The first US field artillery battalions to successfully transition to glider field …show more content…
That howitzer was the M1 75mm Pack Howitzer, more specifically the M8 variant. Weighing in at only 1,339 lbs the original M1 variant was designed with wooden wheels so that it could be carried by pack animals (Hogg, 1998). The M8 variant met the requirements needed by the airborne units which meant a change form wooden wheels, to pneumatic tires so that it could be transported by jeep. This howitzer had a range of 9,600 yards and only needed a crew of four to operate (Streeter, 2002). Now that they were properly equipped, it was time for the glider battalions to stage for the invasion of Europe. November or 1943, the 82nd Airborne Division staged in Northern Ireland and began training in preparation for the invasion of Normandy. The 319th moved to Nottingham Forest in England to participate in exercises ranging from glider landing, the removal of their equipment, how to set up a firing position, as well as their usual howitzer crew drills. On the 6th of June 1944, the 320th and 319th Glider Field Artillery Battalions were dropped into battle. Due to poor weather conditions, air navigation became difficult and many of the gliders were scattered. This was exacerbated by the fact that the Germans had prepared for a possible invasion and faced the Americans with heavy anti-aircraft fire, resulting in most of the gliders
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