I went to college on an ROTC scholarship. When I got my degree, I went into active duty service as a lieutenant. During my time on active duty, I served in a field artillery battalion, as part of the operations staff. That is where I learned how the Army actually delivers fire support
The most important thing to know about artillery is that it can’t win the battle alone. The Army relies on maneuver units (tanks and infantry) to seize or hold the battlefield. Artillery supports them by putting shells, rockets, or missiles on the enemy to suppress or destroy it.
How that support is organized is the interesting part. Artillery units usually belong to a division or a corps, but they do not always work directly for that headquarters. Sometimes they shoot higher-level missions such as SEAD (suppression of enemy air defenses) or counterfire (attacking the other side’s artillery). Sometimes they talk straight to a subordinate unit that is in contact and needs rounds now. And sometimes they have a primary mission and a secondary one stacked underneath it.
Continue reading “Fire for Effect”