Field Artillery Doctrine Development 1917-1945

This thesis examines the development of U.S. Army field artillery doctrine from 1917 to 1945. It compares field artillery organization, liaison methods, target acquisition methods, missions, command and control principles, and fire direction techniques employed in World War I, the interwar period, and World War II. The study reveals the remarkable continuity of the artillery doctrine developed in World War I. In spite of tremendous technological change from 1917 to 1945, World War II artillery doctrine remained very similar to the doctrine of 1918. The study concludes that the basic principles of artillery doctrine established in World War I were the basis for artillery doctrine in World War II, and will probably remain the basis for future artillery doctrine.