CONTINUOUS THUNDER: The Challenge of Artillery Support for the Close Battle.

Abstract

This study first analyses the environment of the modern battlefield and finds that in spite of technological improvements in weapons and command and control capabilities a preponderance of artillery fires will be needed at the small unit level and very close to friendly troops. The whole notion of close support is therefore historically examined in some detail to determine what close support means today and what precise demands it places on the field artillery system. From there the study goes on to examine the field artillery structure in the heavy division to determine its capability to provide the neccessary support. A major conclusion is that if the division battle is to be won, then the priority of fire support effort must be focused on actions that will take place within 300 meters of friendly positions. The study also concludes that the current artillery structure is ill-prepared to provide such close support.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 02, 1985
Accession Number
ADA167253

Entities

People

  • Thomas G. Waller Jr

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Defense
  • Air Force
  • Anti-Tank Missiles
  • Artillery
  • Artillery Ammunition
  • Artillery Fire
  • Artillery Tactics
  • Artillery Units
  • Fire Control Systems
  • High Explosives
  • Indirect Fire
  • Infantry Fighting Vehicles
  • Multiple Launch Rocket System
  • Rockets
  • Self Propelled Guns
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Munitions and Ordnance Engineering

Technology Areas

  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control