Most American WW2 artillery technique was worked out at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma during the late 1920s and early 1930s. The most important decisions were that all Amercan pieces were to be provided with motorized transport and all batteries tied together with an elaborate communications net. The theory that came out, which often happened, was that any FO could immediately call down fire from every tube within range. This is how American artillery was so lethal in breaking up German attacks.
The other technique they worked out was the “Time On Target” fire mission. All tubes were calculated for distance and trajectory for each type of piece fired, and coordinated in such a way that all tubes fired at a different time, so that all shells would arrive on the target simultaneously. The effect was devastating, and is probably what that POW was describing.
155 is only 100 lbs. The 240 mm is 350.
I could teach a class on how Artillery is massed.....actually, I have. Communications is only 1 aspect.
One of the things that came from WWII that made Artillery so deadly was Variable Timed Fuze, or VT. The projectile explodes 50 metes above ground which obliterates troops in the open, or troops in uncovered trenches.
any FO could immediately call down fire from every tube within range. This is how American artillery was so lethal in breaking up German attacks.
I'll assume that "FO" is Forward Observer? My dad was an artillery spotter (thus an FO) for 20th Armored in '45 in southern Germany and saw combat. I wish he were still alive so I could inquire about this.