The Role of the Field Artillery Brigade in Counterfire
Abstract
Following most armed struggles, nations tend to analyze the struggle to assess their failures and their strengths. Efforts to correct the failures and advance the strengths are then begun. We were in the middle of that process following Vietnam when the Yom Kippur War occurred. It was immediately apparent that the Vietnam experience did not provide a good basis upon which to base restructuring of the Army for future conflicts. This realization revealed the unsatisfactory nature of adaptive tinkering as a restructuring philosophy. Restructuring should be systematically based upon two fundamental elements of battlefield effectiveness: weapon systems and tactics. In the past, restructuring had not been developed from a total-force perspective. The infantry division had evolved along a path separate from that of the field artillery. Only occasionally had they been able to coordinate their individual doctrinal and tactical needs. The cost of new, advanced weapon systems have proven too expensive to countenance restructuring along separate, often catch- up, developmental paths.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 04, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA223027
Entities
People
- Neil E. Nelson
Organizations
- United States Army War College