Casualties due to Arty

[JonS1]

Why people wonder about this without reference to anything other than gut feeling is beyond me.

One of the canonical references for this is:

Beebe, Gilbert W., and De Bakey, Michael E. Battle Casualties: Incidence, Mortality, and Logistic Considerations. Springfield, IL: Thomas, 1952. 277 p. UM24.1941-45.B4.

That study is referenced all over the show, one in particular is Mark, Eduard, Aerial Interdiction: Air Power and the Land Battle in Three American Wars. Washington DC: Center for Air Force History, 1994. pp.178 (available online). Mark is referring to the effects of Op STRANGLE, and notes that in particular it limited the availability of artillery round to the Germans, then notes

... In a theater [Italy] where more than 60 percent of all casualties were caused by artillery fire, this was clearly an important accomplishment for interdiction

and in turn refers to Beede and de Bakey, pp. 135, table 5.

See, also, table 40 here:
http://history.amedd.army.mil/booksdocs/...er/ch3.htm

Incidentally, the same broad pattern holds true for WWI - the vast majority of cas were caused by artillery, despite what you may have read about MGs, barbed wire, and tanks.