Direct Support Artillery for the Defensive Battle: Is it an Outmoded Concept,
Abstract
This monograph examines the feasibility of retaining traditionally direct support artillery under division control to capitalize upon the division's superior targeting and intelligence capabilities in order to defeat an enemy who echelons his forces to achieve mass and momentum. Soviet doctrine is examined to determine if specific opportunities for disruption of offensive momentum exist and if those opportunities can be exploited by the intelligence acquisition and target development capabilities at division level. The study concludes that the level of command in the division with the greatest allocation of field artillery assets is not able to locate and engage targets early enough to prevent their mass amd momentum from being felt at the Front Line Of Troops (FLOT). It recommends the upgrading of maneuver battalion heavy mortar platoons to collectively provide the brigade commander with indirect fire capability critical to the close-in battle. Previously committed DS artillery will then be available for the Deep Battle at division level.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 04, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA190842
Entities
People
- Henry S. Scharpenberg
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College