Marine Artillery and Fixing the Force
Abstract
In 2000, the 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps, General James L. Jones, ordered a review of artillery within the Marine Corps, His vision was to build an artillery organization capable of providing flexible and lethal fires to the Marine air ground task force (MAGTF). As a result, a triad of ground-based fires was developed to provide the MAGTF commander with flexible, scalable, and lethal ground-based fire support options: the Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFSS) rifled, towed, 120mm mortar; the M777E2 lightweight, towed, 155mm howitzer; and the High-mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). After a decade of acquisitions, the moment is within sight; nearly all the elements of the triad of artillery fires have been fielded and are being employed in the current operating environment (COE). Still, no consensus exists within the Marines on how to best train, equip, and employ artillery units deploying in support of the MAGTF. Nevertheless, artillerymen must be prepared to meet the evolving requirements of naval expeditionary operations as well as the expeditionary requirements of the future MAGTF to maintain the Marine Corps as a force in readiness.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 19, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA499398
Entities
People
- B. B. Harrison
Organizations
- Marine Corps University