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LESSON 1
FIELD ARTILLERY SYSTEMS AND MISSIONS
TASK
Identify the field artillery fire support organizations organic to each of the five types of divisions, and identify the standard field artillery, nonstandard tactical and allied tactical, and on-order missions assigned to field artillery units.
CONDITIONS
Given the subcourse materials for this lesson, a training scenario and extracts, as applicable, the student will complete the practice exercise at the end of this lesson.
STANDARD
The student will demonstrate his comprehension and knowledge of the task by identifying the field artillery fire support organizations organic to each of the five types of divisions, and by identifying the standard, nonstandard, allied tactical, and on-order missions assigned to field artillery units.
REFERENCES
FM 6-20-2J
FM 6-20
GENERAL
In this lesson, you will learn to identify the five types of field artillery in divisions and the types of missions assigned to each. You must learn the inherent responsibility and relationship of these units as they are assigned to each of the different missions. Along with this, you must learn the characteristics and circumstances of these missions while fighting alongside allied soldiers.
Learning Event 1: THE STUDENT WILL DEMONSTRATE HIS COMPREHENSION AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE TASK BY IDENTIFYING THE FIELD ARTILLERY FIRE SUPPORT SYSTEMS ORGANIC TO THE FIVE TYPES OF US ARMY DIVISIONS.
This learning event will cover the five types of US Army divisions and their field artillery fire support system.
ARMORED/MECHANIZED INFANTRY DIVISION ARTILLERY
The armored/mechanized infantry division artillery is organized with a headquarters battery, a target acquisition battery, three 155-mm self-propelled (SP) cannon battalions, and a multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) battery (Figure 1).
Figure 1. ARMORED/MECHANIZED INFANTRY DIVISION ARTILLERY
NOTE
Under a recent table of organization and equipment (TOE) restructure of the heavy division artillery, all 203-mm units have been moved to corps. The division artillery will have an MLRS battery instead of the 203-mm/MLRS battalion.
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
The headquarters and headquarters battery are in two major groups. The headquarters battery includes the battery headquarters elements and the mess, maintenance, and medical sections.
Headquarters Division Artillery
The headquarters division artillery includes the division artillery headquarters section, liaison section, tactical operations center, survey platoon, meteorological section, and administrative logistics section.
Target Acquisition Battery
The target acquisition battery is in four groups. They are: the battery headquarters, survey platoon, radar platoon, and processing section.
LIGHT INFANTRY DIVISION ARTILLERY
The light infantry division artillery (Figure 2) is organized with a headquarters and headquarters battery (HHB), three 105-mm (towed) battalions, and a 155-mm (towed) battery.
Figure 2. LIGHT INFANTRY DIVISION ARTILLERY
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
The headquarters and headquarters battery for light infantry is similar to that of the armored/mechanized infantry division artillery with the exception of a liaison section and a few different fire support sections.
Cannon Battalions
The light infantry division artillery has three 105-mm (towed) battalions with eighteen howitzers each, also a 105-mm (towed) battery with eight guns. Field artillery acquisition assets, one AN/TPQ-36 radar, are in the 105-mm battalions.
AIRBORNE DIVISION ARTILLERY
The airborne division artillery structure is shown in figure 3. The division artillery is organized with a headquarters and headquarters battery and three 105-mm (towed) cannon battalions.
Figure 3. AIRBORNE DIVISION ARTILLERY
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
The headquarters and headquarters battery is generally the same in organization as the light infantry division artillery headquarters and headquarters batteries. The only differences are with some of the fire support sections.
AIR ASSAULT DIVISION ARTILLERY
The air assault division artillery (Figure 4) is organized with a headquarters and headquarters battery and three 105-mm (towed) battalions.
Figure 4. AIR ASSAULT DIVISION ARTILLERY
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
The headquarters and headquarters battery (HHB) is similar to the light infantry and airborne HHBs with the only differences being with some of the fire support sections.
Cannon Battalions
The air assault division artillery has three 105-mm (towed) battalions for direct support. The cannon battalions of the air assault division operate with limited organic vehicles Therefore, they must rely heavily on outside transportation means for rapid displacement.
You have just learned about the field artillery fire support system organic to the five types of US Army divisions. In the next learning event, you will learn about the four standard tactical missions for field artillery units and the inherent responsibilities and relationships of field artillery units assigned each of these missions.
Learning Event 2: THE STUDENT WILL DEMONSTRATE HIS COMPREHENSION AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE TASK BY IDENTIFYING THE FOUR STANDARD TACTICAL MISSIONS FOR FIELD ARTILLERY UNITS AND THE INHERENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND RELATIONSHIPS OF FIELD ARTILLERY UNITS ASSIGNED EACH OF THESE MISSIONS.
Clearly defined, systematic, and positive command and control ensures that the field artillery contributes to total fire support. This must be in a responsive manner that is adequate to support the mission.
COMMAND RELATIONSHIPS
Command and control are established through a process referred to as an "organization for combat."
This two-step process consists of--
- Establishment of a command relationship.
- Assignment of tactical missions.
The field artillery commander derives his specific fire support responsibilities to the supported force from his designated command relationship and tactical mission. The fulfillment of these responsibilities, and ultimately the FA mission, depends on how well field artillery and maneuver commanders understand the organization and uses of the field artillery.
Unit Command Relationships
The relationship between units is described in the following four paragraphs:
Organic Units. Organic units are those forming an essential part of a military organization as shown in its table of organization and equipment (TOE) or modified table of organization and equipment (MTOE). An example is the FA cannon battery that is an organic part of a field artillery battalion.
Assigned Units. Assigned units are those placed in an organization on a relatively permanent basis for the purpose of strategically tailoring the force. A commander has essentially the same degree of command and control over assigned units as he does over organic units. An example is the FA brigade headquarters and headquarters battery assigned to a corps.
Attached Units. Attached units are units placed in an organization on a relatively temporary basis. Subject to the limitations stated in the attachment orders, the receiving commander exercises the same degree of control over attached units as he does over organic units.
Operational Control (OPCON). Operational control is a status often used between maneuver elements. However, it is rarely used to establish a relationship between a maneuver headquarters and an FA unit. Generally, OPCON has the same intent as attachment. However, in OPCON, the receiving unit has no responsibility for administrative or logistical support.
FA STANDARD TACTICAL MISSIONS
Field artillery is controlled not only through the command relationships described above, but also through the assignment of standard tactical missions. Tactical missions describe in detail the fire support responsibilities of an FA unit.
US Field Artillery Standard Tactical Missions
There are four types of US field artillery standard tactical missions. They include--
- Direct support.
- Reinforcing.
- General support reinforcing.
- General support.
Tactical missions also establish the fire support relationship to a support force or to another FA unit. Tactical missions do not affect the organizational structure, or the command relationship that results from that structure. These missions are assigned by a force commander on the advice of his FA commander in his role as the FSCOORD. Tactical missions for field artillery are common to the quadripartite and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) communities. Tactical missions are normally assigned only to battalion-size or larger units. There are seven specific responsibilities inherent in each mission (Table 1). These seven responsibilities determine--
- The FA unit's priority in answering calls for fire.
- The FA unit's zone of fire.
- The FA unit's degree of responsibility in furnishing a fire support team.
- The FA unit's responsibility in furnishing a liaison officer.
- With whom the FA must establish communications.
- Who positions the FA unit.
- Who plans the FA unit's fires.
TABLE 1. INHERENT RESPONSIBILITIES OF FIELD ARTILLERY MISSIONS
Direct Support (DS)
An FA unit assigned the mission of direct support is immediately responsive to the FA support needs of a particular maneuver element, normally a brigade. The DS unit furnishes close and continuous fires to the supported maneuver force. It must coordinate its fires with the battle plan of the supported force. Direct support field artillery is positioned to conform with the supported commander's plans. To achieve cohesiveness within the combined arms team, the same FA unit should habitually provide direct support of the same maneuver force. The essential feature of the DS mission is a one-on-one relationship between the supporting unit and the supported unit. From the standpoint of division control, the DS mission is the most decentralized of the four tactical missions. It is used most frequently to place an FA battalion in support of a maneuver brigade.
Reinforcing
Field artillery reinforces only other FA units. If a field artillery unit needs augmenting fires to meet the overall supported maneuver force, the reinforcing mission may be given to another FA unit. An FA unit can reinforce only one other FA unit, but a reinforced unit can receive reinforcement from more than one FA unit. The reinforcing mission allows a commander to increase FA support for subordinate units. This is done without relinquishing complete control of his FA assets and without imposing major logistical requirements of his DS field artillery. From a viewpoint of division control, the reinforcing, tactical mission is second only to the DS mission in its degree of decentralization.
General Support Reinforcing (GSR)
The GSR mission requires a field artillery unit to furnish supporting fires for the force as a whole as its first priority. Its second priority is to furnish reinforcing fires to another FA unit. A GSR unit remains under the tactical control of the force FA headquarters. It therefore responds on a first-priority basis to the needs of that headquarters. However, the inherent responsibilities of this mission dictate the establishment of liaison and communications with the reinforced FA unit. Because of this, a quick-fire channel (reinforced battalion command/fire [CF] direction [FM]) is established for immediate response to the reinforced FA unit's need. The GSR mission offers the force commander the flexibility to meet the needs of a variety of tactical situations. In terms of division control, the GSR mission is the second most centralized mission.
General Support
An FA unit assigned a mission of general support provides FA support for the force FA headquarters. The GS mission provides field artillery immediately responsive to the needs of the force commander. An FA unit with a GS mission may not be effective in attacking some targets of opportunity. There is no direct communications link with the fire support Team (FIST) at company level. It is most effective against planned targets. From a division commander's viewpoint, the GS mission is the most centralized of the four standard tactical missions.
ALLIED TACTICAL MISSIONS
When conducting operations with the American, British, Canadian, and Australian (ABCA) and NATO alliances, the US Army must be familiar with the FA tactical missions of its allies. Learning event 3 of this lesson contains tables which more fully describe allied tactical missions.
NONSTANDARD TACTICAL MISSIONS
When a commander's intent cannot be conveyed with a standard tactical mission, a nonstandard tactical mission may be assigned. This is done either by issuing a mission statement, along with explicit instructions on each of the seven inherent responsibilities or by assigning a standard tactical mission and explaining how it has been changed. The following examples illustrate the latter:
- 1-50 FA: DS 1st Bde; division artillery will plan 1-50 FA fires for division preparation.
- 1-60 FA: GSR 1-20 FA; do not exceed 50 percent of controlled supply rate to R 1-20 FA.
- 1-70 FA: GS; provide liaison officer to division artillery TOC.
You have just covered the area of inherent responsibilities and relationships of FA units assigned to the four standard tactical missions. In the next learning event, you will learn about the characteristics and circumstances for nonstandard, allied, and on-order missions.
Learning Event 3: THE STUDENT WILL DEMONSTRATE HIS COMPREHENSION AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE TASK BY IDENTIFYING THE CHARACTERISTICS AND CIRCUMSTANCES FOR NONSTANDARD, ALLIED, AND ON-ORDER MISSIONS AND THE INHERENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND RELATIONSHIPS OF FIELD ARTILLERY UNITS ASSIGNED EACH OF THESE MISSIONS.
During this learning event, you will learn the tactical tasks, control, and responsibilities of the field artillery while fighting beside allied and NATO forces. Tables 2 and 3, will help you to understand the tasks and responsibilities of the FA in allied tactical missions. Table 2 shows these responsibilities as they apply when conducting operations within the American, British, Canadian, Australian alliance. Table 3 shows these responsibilities as they apply to NATO alliance operations.
TABLE 2. TACTICAL TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ARTILLERY (ABCA)
TABLE 3. TACTICAL TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR CONTROL OF ARTILLERY (NATO)
TABLE 3A. TACTICAL TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR CONTROL OF ARTILLERY (NATO)
MISSION CHANGES
The following example shows the procedures for issuing a mission when some of the seven inherent responsibilities change:
- 1-80 FA: Augment the fires of 1-10 FA.
- Answer calls for fire in priority from 1-10 FA, 3-4 Cav, and division artillery.
- Zone of fire is to be assigned by division artillery.
- There is no FIST requirement.
- Establish liaison with 1-10 FA.
- Establish communications with 1-10 FA and 3-4 Cav.
- 1-10 FA will position (division artillery approval required).
- Division artillery will plan fires.
If the division commander needs to retain control of all his fire support assets for specific times to attack second-echelon forces and or to perform counterfire, nonstandard missions must be assigned.
On-Order Missions
An on-order mission allows an FA unit to anticipate and plan an orderly transition from the current mission or status to a new mission or status. It is based on the single event that is most likely to occur. It also allows the unit to receive on-order fires to incorporate future fire support into its planning. An example of an on-order mission is: 1-50 FA: GSR 1-40 FA; on-order, DS 1st Bde.
This on-order tactical mission (DS 1st Bde) tells the commander of the 1-50 FA that he will be notified when he is to perform the DS mission. He will now make plans and take preparatory actions to make the transition quickly and smoothly. For example, he would probably establish communications and liaison with the 1st Brigade early.
CONCLUSION
In this lesson, you have learned about the field artillery fire support systems organic to the five types of US Army divisions. You have also been shown the four standard tactical missions and the inherent responsibilities of the artillery units assigned each mission. You now have an overview of the characteristics and circumstances when fighting alongside allied soldiers. When you understand the structure of the supporting elements, branches of service, and allied soldiers, you know what to expect and how to plan to use all these assets effectively.
