Heavy Artillery Battery

As well as its 36 75mm mle 1897 guns, an active infantry division also has 24 155mm C mle 1917 S heavy howitzers. These can be supplemented as needed by the fire of corps level 105mm L mle 1913 S long-range guns.

Of more advanced design, but fewer in number than the 75mm mle 1897, was the excellent little Bourges 105mm Court mle 1935. It too had a relatively high rate of fire and was designed with a split trail that splayed the guns’ wheels outwards to provide additional protection for its crew.

The majority of these modern howitzers went to the various forms of cavalry division, although enough remained for the motorized and several other active divisions to replace their old 155mm C mle 1917 S heavy howitzers with this more mobile piece.