Accession Number:

ADA190842

Title:

Direct Support Artillery for the Defensive Battle: Is it an Outmoded Concept,

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLL FORT LEAVENWORTH KS SCHOOL OF ADVANCED MIL ITARY STUDIES

Personal Author(s):

• Scharpenberg, Henry S.

Report Date:

1987-12-04

Pagination or Media Count:

47.0

Abstract:

This monograph examines the feasibility of retaining traditionally direct support artillery under division control to capitalize upon the divisions 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.

Descriptors:

• *ARTILLERY UNITS
• *DEFENSE PLANNING
• *MILITARY STRATEGY
• ACQUISITION
• ALLOCATIONS
• ARTILLERY
• BATTLES
• COMBAT SUPPORT
• DEFENSE SYSTEMS
• DIVISION LEVEL ORGANIZATIONS
• DOCTRINE
• FIELD ARMY
• INDIRECT FIRE
• TARGETS
• USSR
• MILITARY TACTICS
• CLOSE SUPPORT
• PLATOON LEVEL ORGANIZATIONS
• BRIGADE LEVEL ORGANIZATIONS
• MILITARY INTELLIGENCE
• TARGETING

Subject Categories:

• Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics
• Military Forces and Organizations

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE