2-3d Field Artillery

Brief History


With a history dating back more than a century, the 3rd Artillery had the distinction of having participated in nearly every major conflict in which the United States had been involved, from the Indian Wars through the Mexican War, the Civil War, the War with Spain, the Philippine Insurrection, both World Wars, and the Korean conflict. It earned 49 campaign streamers and several unit decorations. Its 155mm self-propelled howitzers provided vital support for the Spearhead’s tank and infantry units.

The 2nd Battalion, 3rd Artillery was assigned to the 1st Brigade stationed at Kirch-Goens in Ayers Kaserne.

  • Constituted  11 January 1812 in the Regular Army as a company in the 2d Regiment of Artillery
  • Organized in July 1812 near Salisbury, North Carolina as Captain Sanders Donoho’s Company, 2d Regiment of Artillery
  • Consolidated in December 1812 with Captain William A. Whitted’s Company, 2d Regiment of Artillery (Constituted  11 January 1812 and organized in the Regular Army), and consolidated unit designated as Captain Sanders Donoho’s Company, 2d Regiment of Artillery
  • Redesignated 12 May 1814 as Captain Sanders Donoho’s Company, Corps of Artillery
  • Consolidated in the summer of 1814 with Captain Jesse Robinson’s Company of Artillery (Constituted  11 January 1812 in the Regular Army as Captain Jesse Robinson’s Company, 2d Regiment of Artillery, and organized at Camp Pinckney, Georgia), and consolidated unit designated as Captain Sanders Donoho’s Company, Corps of Artillery
  • Redesignated 17 May 1815 as Captain Sanders Donoho’s Company, Corps of Artillery, Southern Division
  • Redesignated 21 August 1816 as Company E, 1st Battalion, Corps of Artillery, Southern Division
  • Consolidated 17 June 1819 with Company Q, 1st Battalion, Corps of Artillery, Southern Division (see ANNEX), and consolidated unit designated Company E, 1st Battalion, Corps of Artillery, Southern Division
  • Redesignated 1 June 1821 as Company F, 3d Regiment of Artillery
  • Reorganized and redesignated 13 February 1901 as 6th Battery, Field Artillery, Artillery Corps
  • Reorganized and redesignated 31 May 1907 as Battery A, 3d Field Artillery
  • (3d Field Artillery assigned 17 November 1917 to the 6th Division; relieved 24 March 1923 from assignment to the 6th Division and assigned to the 5th Division; relieved 1 January 1930 from assignment to the 5th Division and assigned to the 6th Division)
  • Inactivated 3 December 1934 at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis, Indiana
  • (3d Field Artillery relieved 25 September 1939 from assignment to the 6th Division and assigned to the 2d Cavalry Division)
  • Activated 1 October 1939 at Fort Riley, Kansas
  • Reorganized and redesignated 1 January 1941 as Battery A, 3d Field Artillery Battalion
  • Reorganized and redesignated 15 July  1942 as Battery A, 3d Armored Field Artillery Battalion, an element of the 9th Armored Division
  • (3d Armored Field Artillery Battalion relieved 6 July 1945 from assignment to the 9th Armored Division)
  • Inactivated 20 October 1946 in Germany
  • (3d Armored Field Artillery Battalion assigned 20 October 1950 to the 2d Armored Division)
  • Activated 10 November 1950 at Fort Hood, Texas
  • Inactivated 1 July 1957 in Germany and relieved from assignment to the 2d Armored Division
  • Redesignated 30 August 1957 as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2d Howitzer Battalion, 3d Artillery (organic elements concurrently constituted)
  • Battalion assigned 1 October 1957 to the 3d Armored Division and activated in Germany, using personnel and equipment from the 54th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
  • (Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2d Howitzer Battalion, 3d Artillery, consolidated 1 January 1960 with Battery C, 3d Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion [organized in 1812] and consolidated unit designated as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2d Howitzer Battalion, 3d Artillery)
  • Redesignated 1 September 1963 as 2d Battalion, 3d Artillery
  • Reorganized and redesignated  (less former Battery C, 3d Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion) 1 September 1971 as 2d Battalion, 3d Field Artillery (former Battery C, 3d Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion, concurrently redesignated as the 2d Battalion, 3d Air Defense Artillery – hereafter separate lineage)
  • Relieved 16 October 1991 from assignment to the 3d Armored Division, concurrently assigned to the 1st Armored Division


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