TOPIC: Suppression of Artillery.
DISCUSSION: The suppression of artillery used to harass population centers and airfields will be a formidable task during peace operations. It cannot be suppressed by air power alone. When faced with an air threat and counter-battery threat, belligerents will seek to protect their artillery by exploiting its high mobility (especially the mortars) and using concealment offered by terrain. Weapons may be deployed individually, rather than in batteries. Weapons may re-deploy from one camouflaged position to another after firing a few rounds. Weapons may be located in populated areas such as near schools, hospitals or other restricted fire areas. This complicates the delivery of counter-battery fire through fear of inflicting civilian casualties and collateral damage.
LESSON(s):
- Use precision-guided munitions or attack helicopters to conduct counter-battery fire to reduce unnecessary collateral damage.
- Deploy artillery with the withdrawal force. Besides counter-battery fire, it can fire illumination and smoke rounds if needed.
- Deploy firefinder radars to support suppression of combatant artillery and to document violations of cease-fire agreements and fix blame for damage and civilian casualties. This information can be passed to the media (if approved by commander) to give an accurate portrayal of the situation to the world.
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Mine
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