SOVIET VOROSHILOV ACADEMY LECTURES
PRACTICAL LESSONS

LESSON 4 EMPLOYMENT OF FRONT ARTILLERY

Instructor Notes:
Author: Jalali, Sloan, Wardak
Date: July 1990

1. General: This four hour lesson provides a general overview of artillery planning at front level. The purpose is to familiarize the students with the planning that was accomplished at front level prior to front issuing both the operations directive and the combat instructions on artillery to the army.


2. Sublesson Introduction: Explain to the students that they are now beginning the three lessons in which they will gain actual practice in artillery planning at front, army, and division levels. The most intensive work will be done at army level, since that is the principal headquarters in the OPFOR team. However, by considering artillery planning at front and completing a practical exercise the students will learn what calculations have already been done by front before directives and instructions are sent to army.


3. Teacher Learning Objective:

General Learning Objectives for Lesson 4:

Students when playing role of front commander or chief of RT&A will have a general familiarity with the Soviet process for making decisions. With the help of reference books and prepared formats they should have a beginning on being able to:

1. Determine artillery requirements for the front to accomplish its mission and/or scope of mission achievable with available artillery;

2. Determine width of breakthrough (strike) sector possible and how to allocate it to armies;

3. Determine artillery requirements of armies and how to allocate artillery to them;

4. Prepare suggestions (report) of CRT&A to front commander during his decision process;

5. Prepare plan for employment of artillery and anti-tank units including initial plan, commitment of 2nd echelon army, and repulse of counterattacks;

6. Prepare instructions on artillery to subordinate combined arms units and artillery instructions to subordinate artillery units;

Task: Describe how Soviet front headquarters organizes the combat employment of artillery and lead the students through the sequence in which the chief of artillery presents his report and suggestions to the front commander-in-chief.

Condition: Given assigned references and student handouts.

Standard: The description of the process of organization serves as an introduction to the entire four hours. Remind the students that they will be applying the ideas presented in the previous three hours at front level. The majority of this time should be devoted to going through the sample report and suggestions to show how they fit in the flow diagram of the decision process presented in lesson 2. Then lead the students through the practical exercise.


Task: Analyze the process for preparing to plan the employment of artillery. Conduct a series of practical exercises that develop these steps in sequence.

Condition: Given assigned references and student handouts.

Standard: The analysis is broken into small steps in sequence to enable to students to consider each calculation or consideration separately. The instructors descriptions will be interspersed with the individual practical exercises and question - answer periods.


Task: Describe the method for conveying the decision to subordinates.

Condition: Given assigned references and student handouts.

Standard: The description will refer to the lesson on preparation of combat documents. There are two sets of instructions on artillery, one sent to the artillery units directly subordinate to the headquarters and the other sent to the next lower combined arms unit. The instructor should show samples of both of these. In the practical exercise the instructor will assist the students in filling in the blanks in forms for both types of instruction. The instruction to the army will be used later in the practical exercise at army level. The instructor will then give a short description of the actions the artillery staff takes to organize combat supporting measures, troops control and signals.


Task: Determine the composition, grouping, and deployment of artillery to cover the main forces as they deploy and lead the students in a practical exercise to accomplish this.

Condition: Given assigned references and student handouts.

Standard: This practical exercise shows the consideration the Soviet command gives to planning for and taking positive measures to preclude being surprised or preempted by the enemy during the critical hours their forces are first moving from peacetime garrison status to full deployment and preparedness to launch their initial operation.


Task: Describe Soviet measures for preparing the FUP areas prior to the offensive.

Condition: Given assigned references and student handouts.

Standard: The instructor will only have time to give a brief overview lecture describing the Soviet planning and execution of the FUP preparation plan. He should emphasize that this is an integral and important part of the total Soviet planning activity as part of "organization for combat". He should note that at front level the artillery would deploy from their garrisons into individual assembly areas probably by brigade, but not with entire artillery divisions in one location. By the time the units move to the FUP areas the front artillery units have already been distributed into the brigades and even individual battalion level and assigned to various armies and divisions. Consequently the front artillery commander is mostly concerned with monitoring the actions of artillery in properly developing their FUP areas.


Task: Describe Soviet measures for collection and stockpiling material means prior to the offensive.

Condition: Given assigned references and student handouts.

Standard: The instructor will only have time for a brief overview lecture on this critical topic. The main point to stress is that the staff officer (chief of artillery supply) in the artillery directorate will work closely with the staff of the deputy commander for rear services to insure that the massive amount of ammunition required for the fire preparation against a prepared defense is moved in a timely manner directly to the firing positions of the guns of all artillery units. (not just the guns of the front artillery battalions).


Task: Describe Soviet measures for preparing the troops for combat action.

Condition: Given assigned references and student handouts.

Standard: The instructor will give a very brief review of Soviet ideas for preparing the troops for combat. The main point is that the measures to prepare the troops are a vital and integral part of the total process of "organizing for combat". The political officer in the artillery directorate will monitor these measures as they are taken by the staffs of subordinate artillery divisions and brigades.


Task: Analyze the activities of the artillery staff in organizing artillery action during the operation. Conduct a practical exercise to illuminate these activities.

Condition: Given assigned references and student handouts.

Standard: The instructor should stress that the activities of the artillery directorate are far from over when planning for the operation is complete. Even though all the front's directly subordinated artillery will have been allocated and distributed to the armies, the front commander in chief will use it frequently during the course of the operation as one of his principal means for influencing the outcome of actions. The initial planning will have focused on a series of significant situations that will come up during the operation as a way to organize planning for shifting artillery as required. In this period the instructor will discuss several of these. The practical exercise will highlight the requirement to shift artillery during the operation.


Task: Direct the students in preparation of the plan for combat employment of artillery in a practical exercise.

Condition: Given assigned references and student handouts.

Standard: In this final practical exercise the students will assemble all the parts they have been considering in previous exercises and prepare the complete artillery plan. However, since they will not have had sufficient experience to do this totally on their own, the exercise is actually one of walking through the entire process once more using prepared forms and maps. The students will fill in the blanks under the direction of the instructor. The instructor should observe student capability closely and monitor their progress. He then can decide how long to allow them to work on each bit of planning and how often to call a halt for them to describe what they have accomplished so far.

4. Level of Instruction: Analysis.


5. Method of Instruction: lecture, discussion, and practical exercise.


6. Author's Intent: Overall - The central focus of the entire course on artillery is at the army level. Consequently the focus of this lesson on front artillery is to familiarize the students with how planning for artillery is done at front level and what information and requirements front sends to army. While there are some practical exercises in this 4 hour block there will not be sufficient time to enable the students to become thoroughly familiar with all aspects of front employment of artillery.

Employment of front artillery: This section will include the specific issues that are addressed by the front commander and CRT&A during decision making and planning for employment of artillery at front level. These include the norms for employment of artillery and the calculations required for determining the allocation of artillery to armies in various situations. The suggestions of the CRT&A to the commander include the following points, which the students will address. In this period samples of these will be provided for the front level.

Assessment of the enemy's artillery, its composition, status, location, characteristics and capabilities

Assessment of composition and capability of front artillery troops and personnel and equipment status

Requirements for and supply level of conventional ammunition and POL for the operation

Missions of artillery in the operation

Best targets for artillery

Suggestions on the establishment of artillery groups in the armies, divisions and regiments operating on the main and supporting directions

Suggestions on the composition and grouping of anti-tank reserves in the front, armies, divisions, and regiments


Suggestions on the width of the breakthrough sector in the main direction and other directions

Duration of artillery preparatory fire and participation of artillery and air forces in it, and general considerations about the targets of preparatory fire

Form of assault support fire and its depth

Front artillery plan: In this period the instructor will lead the students through an examination of a completed Soviet front level artillery plan and the instructions and directives prepared at front for the subordinate armies and artillery units. They will become familiar with the material prepared at front which becomes part of the given information and mission requirements for the army level. This material includes the following:
-- calculations of the first echelon armies' requirements for artillery
-- distribution of attached artillery among the front's formations
-- organization of the movement of artillery to cover the deployment of the main grouping of the front
-- organization of the employment of artillery during the preparatory fire, assault support fire, and accompanying fire
-- organization of the employment of artillery during the commitment of the second echelon army
-- determining the composition of front anti-tank reserves and the lines for their deployment during the operation
-- movement of front and army artillery and rocket troops during the operation

Specific intent for each section:

a. organizing employment of artillery - In this brief 25 min period the instructor builds on the information given in lesson 1 on principles of artillery and in lesson 2 on staff procedures. The instructor will had out a sample of the chief of artillery's suggestions to the front commander and describe how the artillery chief prepares these and their importance to the commander. The instructor should stress the central place of considerations on artillery in the front commander's overall decision on size and location of breakthrough sectors. The period concludes with a practical exercise in which the students may fill out a blank form for the chief of artillery suggestions.

b. prepare artillery plan - This 75 min period contains five practical exercises organized in sequence to lead the students step by step through the planning process. In the first exercise they will determine the front requirement for artillery using two different methods. The instructor will explain these and then lead them through the exercise. The second exercise is on distributing artillery to the first-echelon formations. The instructor will explain the norms used as the basis for this. The students will then work out the missions for artillery on the map of the operation. Exercises 5 and 6 will also be completed using the map of the operation. The instructor will lead the students through these exercises by explaining the norms to consider when creating artillery and antitank groups.

c. convey decision to subordinates - There are four main points to teach. The students should become familiar with the preparation of the instructions on artillery that front sends to army in order to be able to evaluate and implement these when they study the army. The instructor will only have time for relatively brief discussion of how interaction and combat support measures relating to artillery are organized at front level. These topics can be discussed further in the lesson on army artillery.

d. composition, grouping, and deployment of artillery - This period focuses on the assignment of artillery support for the regiments that are assigned to cover the border during initial mobilization. The practical exercise on the map will occupy most of the available time.

e. preparation of FUP area - The instructor will discuss this briefly. The main point is the manner in which artillery must coordinate with engineers and others in preparing and occupying assembly areas prior to the offensive.

f. collection and stockpiling material means - The instructor should discuss the problems in providing sufficient transport to deliver the very large quantity of ammunition required for initial fire preparation in the short time available. The ammunition must be dumped at the firing positions so that the artillery units can keep their basic loads on their vehicles to accompany them when they move forward.

g. preparing troops for combat action - Remind the students that the Soviet commander and staff do not merely perform calculations and make plans, but they place great emphasis on activities to prepare the troops during the "organization for combat" phase. The majority of this activity comes under the heading of morale - political preparation. The political officer on the chief of artillery staff will monitor this activity in the artillery troops and report to his chief.

h. organizing artillery action during the operation - The instructor will discuss the basic norms and principles for reorganizing artillery during combat in the breakthrough, counterstrike, commitment of second-echelon and other phases. A short exercise is included in which the students will plan artillery deployment on a map showing the situation for enemy counterattack.

i. preparing plan for artillery - This is a final review and organization together of the information discussed in the previous individual sections. A final practical exercise gives the students a full review.



7. Equipment/Materials

Materials required: lesson 4:

Employment of front artillery - This period requires student handouts in the form of tables and blank forms on which they can perform calculations. It will require a prepared scenario of the operational and strategic situation in the theater and the TVD directive to the front as well as instructions on artillery from the TVD. Rather than actually role-play the development of the front artillery plan the students will be led through a prepared scenario and completed solution.

Front artillery plan - This will require a prepared front operational plan, the operational directive and instructions from front to the armies on use of artillery. It will require also a prepared sample of the entire front artillery plan. The instructor will lead the students through this as basic instruction on front planning and it will serve as the essential basic document for the later work at army and division level.



8. Homework: none


9. Annexes

Discussion agenda

Lecture notes

Practical exercises

List of viewgraphs

LESSON 4 DISCUSSION AGENDA

3 min
Introduction lesson IV: describe the content and purpose of this 4 hour period.

VG 1-2
25 min
a. organizing combat employment of artillery and the method and sequence of interaction between the front commander, front staff, and artillery staff while preparing the operation:

VG 3
-- elements of organizing the use of artillery;
-- clarifying the mission and instruction on artillery and rocket troops;

VG 4-6
-- artillery chief's suggestions to the front commander describe process and show format for content. The actual procedure is in exercise 3 and should be deferred until after exercises 1 and 2 on determining requirements.
-- making the decision on the combat employment of the artillery.

75 min
b. planning the combat employment of artillery

-20 VG 7-9
-- 1. determining the requirement of artillery for the front:
--- on the basis of number of targets;
|
- VG 10-16
-- on the basis of the width of assigned breakthrough areas.

VG 17-19 (Note: Explanation is followed by exercise #1)

-20 VG 20
-- 2. distributing artillery among formations and establishing artillery groups on the basis of the following:

VG 21
-- artillery groups are not established at the front;
-- first-echelon armies are given sufficient artillery to establish AAG, AGRA: RAG of first-echelon regiments in accordance with the following norms:
-- AAG 8-10 battalions;
-- AGRA 4-5 battalions;
-- DAG 4-6 battalions;
-- RAG 3-4 battalions.
-- 1-2 antitank reserves are to be established at the front and first-echelon armies, division, and regiment in accordance with the established norms (Explanation and exercise #2)
-15 VG 22-36
-- 3. specifying mission of the operation (to be worked out on the map) and should include mission during the preparatory fire, assault support fire and accompanying fire, support of the commitment of the second-echelon and repulsion of counterstrike, support of front level river crossing and airborne assaults (explanation and exercise #4)


-- 4. establishing artillery groupings in the initial phase (to be mark on the map as part of exercise #5)

-15 min
-- 5. composition, missions and area of deployment of front antitank reserves in the departure are and during the operation (explanation is followed exercise #6)

20 min

c. conveying the decision to subordinates

VG 37
-- 1. form and content of combat instructions to artillery units and formations

-- VG 38-39
-- 2. forms and content of instructions on artillery issued to armies (note: both instructions are practically prepare on blanks using the map. Exercise #7)
-- 3. organization of interaction between artillery and other front element
-- 4. organizing combat supporting measures, troop control or signal system

15 min
d. composition, grouping and deployment of artillery to cover the deployment of the main forces of the front and repelling enemy's surprise aggression (exercise #8)

10 min
e. preparation of FUP areas

VG 40

10 min
f. collection and stockpiling material means

10 min
g. preparing troops for combat action

20 min
h. organizing the actions of artillery during the operation:

VG 41
1. support of the breakthrough;

2. artillery action to repel enemy counterstrikes (exercise #9);

3. artillery action to support the commitment of the second-echelon army (artillery missions, duration of preparatory fire and other fires, density of artillery).

30 min
i. Preparing the plan of combat employment of artillery:

VG 42
-- content of the graphic part of the plan;
-- content of the written part of the plan;
-- annexes;

(Explanation is followed by exercise #10)

These notes cover the main issues to be discussed in the three hours on artillery at front level. since this is the first of the three levels to be discussed, it will be well to insert reminders about the various issues covered in the previous three hours of general theoretical discussion. The students won't be familiar yet with the standardized procedures for conducting the meeting in which the chief of artillery delivers his report and makes his suggestions to the commander. They will probably need further discussion on the role and capabilities of anti-tank reserves. Feel free to use view graphs shown in the previous lessons as required.



Calculation of number of artillery units required.

This example may be used as basis for lecture and discussion with students. Then use another example as a practical exercise for the students to work out themselves and discuss.

The artillery required for the attack in terms of number of battalions in each RAG and DAG is given in the directive which lists number of units in artillery groups. So go to the table that shows number of artillery battalions available in the entire force such as the front or army and count battalions available not counting antitank battalions. For this example it shows the following:

At front in the three artillery divisions
- 12th artillery division - 22 battalions
- 15th artillery division - 15 battalions
- 16th artillery division - 15 battalions
=52 battalions at front

At Army level in the army artillery regiments:
- five armies each has four battalions=20 battalions in army
- - heavy brigade has four battalions
=76 battalion total

Then at the division level counting only the divisions in the first-echelon for this example we count on the map 16 divisions. And each division has 4 battalions at division in the artillery regiment. Then count that there are 2 regiments in first-echelon=6x16 - 96 battalions.

This gives a total of 170 battalions. The requirement for artillery battalions according to the directive is as follows:

We need 16 divisions x 2 regiments=32 regiments which need regimental artillery groups x 3-4 battalions each=96-128 RAG

So need 96-128 for RAGs.

Then the 16 divisions x 4-6 battalions each=64-96 for DAG's.

And for the 5 armies x 8-10 battalions each the total is=40-50 battalions for AAG's. In armies we also need MRL groups.

Its always the case that you can't get as many battalions as the norms say or you want. So to economize we don't give artillery to the army in supporting attack. This knocks out 3 divisions from the count, and cut the army as well, - cut 18 divisional and 4 army battalions=22. Then take out the artillery in all the RAG's of those divisions. We have to deduct the artillery of that army from the available count as well as deducting the theoretical requirement of that army from the requirement count.

-38-52 deducted from 200-274 gives a requirement of 162-222 battalions. We still can't meet even the 162 with the 150 left in the force. So have to establish RAG's and DAG's only in the divisions supporting the main direction in the army on the main attack axes.

There will be 1 second echelon division in each army in main axis. The divisional artillery regiment battalions of these will be available for the preparatory fire, but not the regimental battalions. This makes - 4 divisions x 4=16 battalions available, which makes 166 battalions available for the requirement of 162.

Now take the maximum number for the army in the main attack.

Normally make the DAG's bigger versus the RAGs if terrain allows - DAG can support both regiments. If the operation will be fast then make RAGs bigger even eliminate the army artillery group.

This is the first step.

Then consider the type of artillery to distribute, that is the various calibers and which should go to the army and division.

Now for rocket launcher artillery (reactive artillery) if there is enough it should be in a separate group and not counted in the RAG's or DAG's. The number of battalions left is reduced by those that go to establish the army group of reactive artillery.
- Division can have MRL unit or group as well as guns and howitzers. The division has BM-21. The BM-27 is for army, with a 40 km range, since it can hit enemy division reserve and rear area of first-echelon division.

So how many BM-27's are there in the list? It turns out there are 12 battalions of BM-27 in our sample.

So there are 4 battalions of BM-21. With 4 armies to support, and to give the MRL's to, we can give 4 each or 5 to some and 3 to others. So give 5 battalions each to the northern 2 armies and 3 each to the southern 2 armies.

Then the army artillery brigade shows 130 gun and howitzer battalions and no MRL so give armies some MRL, with part going to each first-echelon division. Each division has on BM-21 battalion. So if there were more MRL available we would give one to the division on main echelon.

Can use MRL from second-echelon division to support penetration.



Determine requirements for artillery headquarters

Another issue of the distribution of artillery is how to make sure each group has a staff and command. We discussed in an earlier lesson the difference between the commander of a RAG and the regimental chief of artillery. All the RAG's DAG's and the army AAG must have a commander with staff capable of control and coordinating the fire of all the battalions. There are a number of commanders and staffs available for this purpose.

The army needs command for 3 divisions' DAG's in first-echelon and 6 RAGS, which makes 11 troop control elements to command the artillery groups. Where do these come from? There are three command groups in the 3 division artillery regiments=3. Plus one in the army brigade=4, which means we need 7 more.

Even if we give command of the RAG to the commander of the regimental battalion and attach the other battalions, the norm calls for 6 which=1 more.

Sometimes the artillery regiment needs a troop control element too.

So in this example we have for the Northern army DAG
- 6 regiment artillery groups - 10 battalions
- army group - 9 battalions
- MRL=38 battalions

-3 divisions x 4 battalions=12
-6 regiments x 1=6 in 12th artillery division
-4 regiment battalion=4
=22

Take 25 artillery brigade 24
-25 MRL brigade
-1 battalion 26th

So take all 25th - 1 battalion BM-21
- need how and gun - 130 mm and 152 SP
- 21st brigade and 22nd brigade - 7
So give army 12 artillery divisions - 23rd brigade and 24th brigade and 26 MRL - 1 battalion.

-division - 1 Hqs
-130 brigade=2
-122 regiment=3
-Bn of 27 brigade=4
4 hqs from division - give command of army AAA to front artillery division headquarters.

Give one to army MRL group to BM-27 brigade.
-have 2 more plus army
- so give those to division
-and division headquarters goes to one of regiments

So only one regiment needs to use its own headquarters

Antitank brigade commands army antitank reserve

Give the army antitank regiment to division for its antitank reserve.

So sometimes commander of artillery battalion of one regiment becomes CO of RAG.

Front take 125 mm AT guns - for 2 brigades of front antitank reserve. It can give 2 - 100 mm guns regiments to army.
-125 is new gun.



Calculate - width of penetration area for front.

Use table of nationality and width of penetration.

To determine the number of guns available, give 3 artillery divisions to armies in main attack sectors.

Don't count antitank weapons.
-1222 guns in the 3 divisions of artillery.
1222
-Armies 4 armies 4 x 72=288
1510
-first-echelon divisions - 13 divisions x 72 each=936
2446
-2 regiments per division 26 x 24=620
3066
-second-echelon division 4 divisions 72=288
3358

Do it in 2 ways divide axis artillery by norms.
- separate - or do average
-Front level average take average 100-120
- 33.5 km
- 100 34 km
- 120=28 km of penetration

Normally we have to divide the attack sector into two parts, since it is not possible to put all the guns effectively into one place anyway. In this case we decided on 12 km in south and 16 in the north. This gives 8 km per each of 2 armies in the north, and 6 km per army in the south. This should be done for each sector.

In the north we have 9 divisions x 72=648
- 14 regiment x 24 336
96
- 12 artillery divisions 72
- 15 artillery - 2 antitank 72
- BM27 18
- total in north 1906

British 100=19 km
-10 km one army 9 km other army
- width 4km concentrate
- 12km 4km
- 19km 4km
- 7km 4km
- 3km
-give 10 km to me
-give 10 km to other
-boundary depends on terrain

So one army 3 divisions - 4 km each
-other army 2 divisions

Some divisions wide on flank - other two in middle on 4 km
-other army inside division 4 km
-and outside division 3 km

Divide out so division gets to 20 km wide after penetration
-Regiment on 2 km
-Battalion on 1 km
-division on flank have wider area
-units will have to funnel into area

Army and division will also calculate
-will calculate time of fire - shells per target
-operational level sets general level
- army refines it
- division level calculates detail of time and regiment assign main direction of fire for each gun
-Battalion more detail
-more detail at lower level

Army norm 8 - 12 km - norm matches capability

In attack one battalion is versus one company.

A regiment versus 1/2 battalion in penetration area.

A division versus 1/2 brigade.

Can not destroy enemy simultaneously but in succession.

Cannot establish this density everywhere.
-penetration only 34 or 10% of area for front or for army 15%.

This is against prepared defense.



Support for second echelon

Second-echelon enters battle for development and completion of operational mission. Second-echelon goes into combat between first-echelon or gap or where enemy defense is weak.

Second-echelon may be on new axis. Second-echelon consisting of two divisions may be committed simultaneously or in sequence.

Army sometimes commits them on 2 axes.

In enter combat fire prep. fire duration depends on enemy.

If weak - then 10-15 fire strikes - don't need prep fire.

Fire phases for support of second-echelon:
-1. deployment support
-2. preparatory fire
- 3. accompanying fire
- 4. support for units moving in depth

Commitment of second-echelon could have all same phases as first-echelon.

If second-echelon moves 10 km at 20 km per hr then it takes 30 min.

Conduct preparatory fire, but if enemy withdraw or move, just strike for 15 minutes.

Hit targets in front of line of commitment to secure attack when no known fixed targets then use accompanying fire new-fire support for units on march. Four phases instead of three - discuss advance to cover zone then penetration
-division moves forward in march



Discussion of phases of artillery

If enemy defense organized, the fire prep is needed.
-fire prep length 20-30 minutes each strike 10-15 minutes
-density 40-60 guns per km
- .4-.6 units of fire expenditure

-fire support 20-30 - 2-3 strikes
- successive concentrated fire
- during fire prep
- destroy - nuclear weapons
- destroy or suppress air defense and artillery battery
- destroy or suppress CP
- destroy or suppress reserves close
- destroy or suppress line especially artillery weapons

show - enemy defense on map
- artillery occupies position then rest of force goes through to deploy
-during fire
- between prep fire and support fire there is covering fire overlap fire on artillery too
-after fire support also conducted
- successive concentration
- norm on one or 2 lines
- sometime fire support consists of massive fire
-after seizure enemy first line position - conduct accompany fire - method - massive or concentration fire
- help artillery from adjacent units
- cooperation aviation units
- strike rocket forces too
- create - artillery groups
-receive artillery
-re-subordinate or from army that had losses - its artillery
-if strong defense - artillery also needs time norm is
- 4-6 hours, of which 1 1/2 hours daylight
- target registration.
\
Chief of artillery of front controls. He goes himself to place and controls all prep and organization. This commitment is the most important moment in the engagement.

Flanks of second-echelon covered by anti-tank reserve and mobile obstacle detachments - repel flank tank units.

When commander of front receives order for operation commander of artillery and rockets also is deciding what is needed.
- 1st step rocket and artillery
- 2nd step nuclear depots and air units

First before war can't know all about nuclear weapons.

Some objectives can know where all are



Plan for Artillery -

Start army sector from right to left.
-front and army targets -
-FM 100-2-3 Scaleboard - range 900
- scuds - count assets - 6 launchers for battalion
- put R300 - deeper - airfield - corps headquarters
- move R65 to 15km of border
- 2 airfields - division CP's and division reserves
- division artillery groups

Need set format for following the sequence of the report and suggestions.

Two missions to do - present suggestions to front commander on use of artillery and rocket troops.

Format for recommendation:
- points one at time;
- assessment of enemy - nuclear rockets;
- mechanized and tank division - army and army group;
- list of number of warheads and nuclear rockets etc. nuclear artillery - airfields;
- looks for location of rockets - put ? on charts, if unknown;
- go from division to corps to army group;
- what is known leads to look for more.

Planning - First - first-echelon army requirement is basis for need for artillery
- army 8km -

VG Organization of combat employment
- making decision on artillery
- plan content of employment

Chief of artillery troops also helps front commander with his decision - So chief of RT&A presents a report and suggestions on artillery to front Commander in chief The report is in three areas.
- 1. assessment of enemy forces and friendly forces artillery and rocket troops - capability - combat - strength - location etc. \
- 2. other missions of artillery in offensive including instructions from chief of artillery of higher command - MOD - TVD
- 3. Suggestions on employment of RT&A in strategic nuclear strike and first phase.

Commander may ask chief to present only part of this if time is short.

Chief of RT&A contributes to decision of front Commander and also makes own clarification and estimate and decision

VG - duties of - clarify front mission
-RT&A Co - clarify artillery mission in order to project employment of artillery


-Front received operational directive and each arm and service gets order from higher

So all arms and services chiefs inform commander of the instructions received from higher headquarters

Estimate enemy strength location capability when can deploy when able to launch attack supported number of targets - volume of artillery fire



VG Planning of Combat Employment
-- sequence and content
- determine needs of first-echelon armies
- - how much artillery to give them
- - how distribute artillery from higher headquarters
- - keep only anti-tank
-- organize movement from areas
-- organize actions

Role of planning - first thing - organizations of combat - make the decision - clarify - estimate - then formulate decision - based on decision - decision is what to do -planning is how to do it.

Planning is flexible can change details

Determine needs of first-echelon armies

Steps to determine artillery regiment

- VG
- 1. first-echelon armies - give artillery to first-echelon armies
So how much they need is based on first-echelon needs

Highest requirement is for penetration phase

Air targets deducted -
-artillery norms - how many targets
- each has so much requirement
- subtract army organic to get required addition at operational level.

VG Methods of determining Army Requirements
- when both sides deployed can specify
- terms of volume of artillery missions
- two ways - missions based on accurate reconnaissance -
- enemy artillery and rockets;
- strong points in first-echelon battalion;
- tank and infantry platoon strong points;
- command points.
-may have 25 platoon strong points
- 24 batteries
- 10 CP's and ? etc.


Fire preparation for artillery:

Detail planned at army - penetration area planned to depth of enemy forward defense - depth of first-echelon division - reserve

+ 1 km on both sides of designated breakthrough sector
- 2 divisions army 7-8 km
- 3 divisions 10-12 km
- division 4 km

Use 1 km each side to insure no enemy at flanks left alive.

Can specify percent of coverage for enemy forces at various locations

Use 100% for artillery and CP's - 60-80% for troop positions

Operational norms are average don't specify the kind of guns or depth - use general norms.

One method when have detailed information on the enemy targets
- in initial phase
- use assumption on enemy organization in frontage
- use enemy TO&E - known norms on enemy combat capability numbers are based on detailed study of enemy forces.


VG
Operational Norms of Density of Artillery - used in method 2
-used against specific enemy forces.
-army level higher norm per km than at front level

Second different method - no time at all don't know enemy
- use norm of how large a RAG - DAG - AAG should be.
- just say RAG will be three to four battalions
- DAG will be four to six battalions
- AAG - AGRA etc.

So on basis of this planning
- determine number of artillery - say an army used 2 divisions - 7-8 kms

VG Army Organic Artillery
- so add up artillery - new division has more 168 + 18=186 guns
- then artillery brigade
- army MRL regiment get total 300 + - 8km
- army second-echelon division divide=700-800 guns

So need 700-800 army has 400 need 400 more guns
-so need almost 1 more artillery division
- calculate army requirement - figure army needs 400 extra guns - if three armies then 1,200 guns

Front requirement is the requirement of first-echelon armies plus antitank reserve - use norms of 100 guns or detailed norm versus specific enemy country

If can't establish required density then

VG Methods for Decreasing Density Requirement if Artillery is Insufficient
- 1. extend duration of fire
- 2. use air
- 3. reduce width of area

Norms is for time of battalion deployment from battalion deploy to assault - time is main element.

Can increase time of fire to start before battalion deployment but preference is to decrease time of fire.
- have to fire 1/2 - 1/3 of ammunition during first ten minutes of fire strike.
- because enemy may move - want surprise etc.
-but looks like Soviet artillery is increasing in number
- change in capability of NATO forces has increased may increase Soviet need for density
-if penetrations are on multiple axes need more artillery
-enemy penetration has two flanks that must be covered.


II Distribution of VGK artillery to armies.

VG Distribution of Artillery
- in order to distribute -
- must follow front decision
- make on basis of decision - armies on main attack
- get more artillery.

No artillery group at front level - gives all artillery to armies - keeps front antitank reserves.

Artillery - anti-tank brigade cover 20-25 km width of frontage, which is the width of a 1-2 tank division attack.

So division usually needs 8 + battalions needs 4-5 added battalions or could increase to 4 battalions in RAG and 6 in DAG
- RAG - 4 km DAG - 5 km

To shorten time of penetration bring forces in early.

Artillery need 6-8 hours to set up positions and register on new targets, including 2 hour daylight.

Army artillery group 8-10 battalions - Army also has MRL group of 3-5 battalions comes from front.

Artillery headquarters used to establish headquarters of RAG and DAG
-battalions divided according to range and use


VG Mission of Army Artillery Group
- destroy nuclear etc.


VG - army reactive artillery group


VG - mission of division artillery group


VG - contents of battalions of division artillery group - mixed guns and MRL but artillery group at army divided into MRL and guns and howitzers -
Army group divided to support number of axis of main attack - normally two main axes.

VG Regiment Group Mission

Plan of Artillery
- after decision and estimate

VG Plan - 1 500,000 or 1 - 200,000
-points Plan is not disseminated
-on map Graphic - situation and action of enemy forces
- show enemy corps headquarters units airfields SAM's
- air defense etc.
- situation and mission of armies - show divisions
- boundaries and missions
- front reserve divisions - air army divisions
- combat helicopter units
- Front and army rocket brigades
- division rocket battalions - air defense units
- boundary line between strategic and operational ? ?
- line of commitment of second-echelon army
- targets for nuclear strike target\yield
- unit \time
-show locations - division rocket battalions 5 km from border
- army brigade behind divisions
-show relocation of rocket brigades - of army and front - once a day division battalions relocate with division
-show locations when main events take place
-show artillery groups of army and division at initial location
- antitank reserves
- penetration areas - show artillery groups move during penetration
- show location of artillery group during subsequent phases
- show firing line of antitank reserve
- when commit second-echelon AT on flank
- where enemy counterattack expected AT line shown

Written part of the plan
- 1. number of nuclear and chemical rockets - table
- 2. availability and distribution of ammunition
- 3. distribution of artillery units
- 4. distribution of ammunition to missions and phases
- 5. allocation of antitank reserves

Other points on working documents of plan:
- method time of delivery of rocket troops;
- calculations of time to move and repair;
- expenditure of rocket and ammunition;
- measures to protect against enemy.



Preparation of FUP area for artillery and rocket troops:

The positions for rocket troops and artillery in the assembly area for the offensive are prepared during peacetime. They are designed with the objective of supporting the front troops against sudden enemy attack but are also organized to facilitate going over to the offensive. If the situation develops so that the planned positions could not be constructed before the beginning of the operation, then they are completed immediately at the start of preparations for the offensive. They prepare the following engineer fortifications for rocket troops and artillery in the FUP area:
- main firing positions;
- temporary positions;
- reserve positions;
- bunkers and covered defensive positions;
- shelters for personnel;
- covered positions for transport vehicles;
- observation, observation/command, and command posts;
- ammunition supply dumps;
- routes for maneuver.

The commanders of the artillery and rocket units are personally responsible for engineer preparation of the positions for their own units. The positions and engineer fortifications, weapons positions, and combat vehicles are camouflaged against enemy aerial and ground observation.



Collection of ammunition, weapons, and material supplies:

Ammunition, rockets, and artillery weapons for operational formations and front troops are simultaneously collected at every level. Creating designated reserves at each level has a very important significance for the offensive. Collection of ammunition, rockets, and artillery weapons is a duty of the chief of artillery armament service. The supplies of ammunition and material means are created in accordance with the designated norms at each echelon from front to regiment, and if there are shortages they are quickly made up from the higher echelon. The ammunition supplies are kept in artillery dumps. These artillery dumps are subordinated to the chief of the artillery armament service . The calculations and planning for filling dumps, organization of security and defense, preparation for movement, and sending and receiving ammunition supplies, is a mission of the artillery armament chief.

The chief of the front supply base has the following missions:
- receive and send supplies to units in accordance with the plan of the artillery armament service;
- distribute supplies on the ground in locations and organize their dispatch to the troops;
- support of the depots from the point of view of transport and workers to load and unload material;
- organize the loading and unloading of supplies;
- organize defense of depots and work on the facilities themselves such as barracks

Supply and distribution of artillery weapons to the troops and also collection and repair for damaged weapons and sending them back to troops are conducted by the chief of artillery armament service. Rockets are secured in the rocket technical bases. In accordance with the plan and at the order of the chief of artillery they are sent to the subordinate rocket troop units.

Other material means such as food and clothing, POL, medicines, and others are collected in depots of the front base and in accordance with the plan of the chief of rear are sent to the rocket and artillery troops in accordance with designated norms.



Preparation of forces for combat:

In the Soviet Army they pay special attention to the preparation of troops for combat. The basic principal for this work is brain washing because they prepare the personnel for conducting offensives on foreign territory and for conducting viscious combat to support the spread of communist order across the world. The Soviets believe that success in combat actions to a significant level depends on the political morale condition, psychological strength, and mastery of military expertise by the personnel. For preparation of troops for combat an important role is played by the chief of the political department or directorate. The political activities are a basic part of the military preparations. In the combat situation political activities are strong and continuous in furthering the policy of the Communist Party within the armed forces. The following are some of the aims of political/party work:
- strengthening the political morale condition of the troops, creation of strong discipline, insuring high quality expertise in military technology, raising combat mastery of the personnel, support of high level combat readiness, and combat capabilities of the staffs and rocket troops and artillery of the front and subordinate formations and mobilization of personnel for successfully fulfilling combat missions and orders.

The basic tasks of the political activities in combat are the following:
- teaching personnel with the aim of inculcating automatic response for support of the motherland, nation, Communist Party, Soviet state, and idea of communism, belief in their military actions, fulfilling assigned missions without questions, constant preparation for the most self-motivated fighting against enemy, and giving all their strength, if the situation requires, even their lives for victory over the enemy.

The most important mission of political activities is to propagandize on the Communist revolution, heroic activities of the Soviet army and brother socialist countries, and operational use of these in fulfilling creation of communist heaven.

For this objective the chief of the political department prepares plan of political activities before the operation and during the combat

The organizational structure established to accomplish this political work includes the chief of political affairs and his directorate at the front level. Then in the staff of the chief of rocket troops and artillery there is a political section. The chief of this section is responsible for the political work within the artillery staff itself and also supervises the political work of the political deputies who are on the staffs of the subordinate artillery and rocket formations and units.

PRACTICAL EXERCISES

Lesson 4: Employment of front artillery

Prep 5 min:

Exercise 1 (10 min)

Determine artillery requirement for the Central Front on the basis of the following assumptions:

1. detailed information about the enemy targets on the ground is not available

2. Three armies are in the first echelon conducting breakthrough on the following frontages:
-- 10 km against US forces
-- 12 km against UK forces
-- 8 km against US forces

Answer:

Artillery required by norm:
- 1 ___ army: 10 x 110=1100 guns
- 2 ___ army: 12 x 100=1200 guns
- 3 ___ army: 8 x 115=920 guns
- Total 3220 guns

Available guns
-1 ___ army: 3 first echelon division + army artillery and artillery from one 2nd echelon division: - 3 x 144 + (72 + 54) + 72=432 + 198=620
-1___ army: same as above=620
-1___ army: 2 first echelon divisions + army artillery + 2nd echelon=2 x 144 + (72 + 54) + 72=288 + 198=486
-Total in front=1726

front requirement=3220 - 1726 in armies=1494

front AT reserve: 1 - 2 antitank brigades

-reinforcement to first echelon armies=1 - 2 brigades

Total=2 - 3 brigades

About 3 artillery divisions are required for the front



Exercise 2 (10 min)
Distribute the available artillery at the front (the table is attached) to reinforce first echelon armies and to establish front AT reserve.


Answer (5 min)
Attached table to include AAG's, DAG's, and RAG's and AT reserves;
-(to be completed from the map)



Exercise 3 (10 min)
Prepare suggestions of the CRT&A to front commander.

Answer (5 min)
See prepared text.



Exercise 4 (10 min)
Work out the missions of the artillery during the different phases of the offensive operation.

Answer (5 min) ( to be completed from the map)
Specific missions from the map to cover the following:
- breakthrough sectors and their depth
- assault supporting fire areas and their depths
- support of commitment of the second echelon
- repulse of counter strikes
- support of river crossing (front level)
- support of airborne assaults
- others



Exercise 5 (5 min)
Mark the deployment of artillery on the map in the initial situation and their relocation

Answer (5 min)
Make overlays from the map



Exercise 6 (10 min)
Work out the composition, deployment, direction of movement, and planned fire lines of front's anti-tank reserve(s).

Answer (5 min)
Make overlays from the map.



Exercise 7 (10 min)
Prepare instructions on artillery to subordinate combined arms armies and combat instructions to subordinate artillery units and large units

Answer (5 min)
Issue prepared documents

Summing up( 10 min)



Exercise 8:
Work out (mark on the map) the grouping and deployment of artillery to cover the border and to repel enemy's surprise attack.

Answer ( 5 min)
Issue prepared diagram.



Exercise 9
Prepare and mark on the map the artillery grouping to repel enemy's counter attack in a given situation to be prepared).

Answer
Issue prepared diagram.



Exercise 10
Combine answers of all exercises in lesson 4 and 5 in a overall plan of the employment of artillery in front's offensive operation.

VG 1- Outline of content of lesson IV

VG 2- Measures conducted by the front's chief of rocket troops and artillery and his staff on the organization of the use of artillery in offensive operations

VG 3- Organizing the combat employment of artillery

VG 4- Sequence of organization of artillery during front offensive operation

VG 5- Format the report (doklad) of the chief of front's RT&A during the front commander's process of making the decision

VG 6- Format the suggestions (doklad) of the chief of front's RT&A during the front commander's process of making the decision

VG 7- Planning combat employment of artillery - outline

VG 8- Planning of combat employment of the artillery

VG 9- Determining requirements for artillery

VG 10 Factors determining the composition of front artillery

VG 11- Factors determined by the general staff during peacetime on the level of attachment of supreme high command artillery to the front

VG 12- Total artillery in possible front

VG 13- Targets calculated to determine the army's need for artillery

VG 14- Steps to determine artillery requirements

VG 15- Army's organic artillery which may be called to operate in penetration areas

VG 16- Total front artillery requirement

VG 17- Methods of decreasing the number of artillery required

VG 18- Exercise 1

VG 19- Exercise 1 Answer

VG 20- Distributing artillery among formations

VG 21- Distribution of artillery to establish groupings

VG 22- Areas of commitment of the second-echelon army

VG 23- Forms of commitment of second echelon army

VG 24- Missions of artillery during artillery preparatory fire supporting 2nd echelon

VG 25- Measures conducted by chief of artillery on organizing artillery for defense

VG 26- Aims of counterpreparatory fire

VG 27- Missions of artillery during counterpreparatory fire

VG 28- Forms planned for counterpreparatory fire

VG 29- Characteristics of counterpreparatory fire

VG 30- Factors in the struggle against enemy tanks and armored vehicles

methods for destroying enemy tanks

VG 31- Coverage capability in terms of fighting against tanks across the front

VG 32- Plans for counterblow made on the basis of decisions of the front commander

VG 33- Forces called to inflict losses on the enemy and to support the forces which conduct counterblows

VG 34- Goals of artillery missions during preparatory fire

VG 35- Conduct of supporting fires for counterblows to the depth of enemy first-echelon battalions

VG 36- Norms for artillery to prepare for counterblow

VG 37- Norms for artillery fire supporting second echelon

VG 38- Conveying decision to subordinates

VG 39- Sample instructions

VG 40- Other preparations

VG 41- Organizing artillery actions during operation

VG 42- Preparing plan for combat employment of artillery

FACTORS DETERMINING THE COMPOSITION OF FRONT ARTILLERY

1. composition of the organic artillery of the front;

2. front's formations and large units;

3. availability of the Supreme High Command artillery elements attached to the front.

FACTORS DETERMINED BY THE GENERAL STAFF DURING PEACETIME ON THE LEVEL OF ATTACHMENT OF SUPREME HIGH COMMAND ARTILLERY TO THE FRONT

1. missions to be assigned to the front during the operation;

2. composition and characteristics of likely actions of opposing enemy groupings;

3. nature of employment of different means of destruction.

5,000 guns, mortars, self-propelled guns, and reactive (multiple rocket) launchers;

700 antitank guns;

about 2,000 antitank guided rocket weapon systems.

- make decisions on employing artillery and rocket troops;

- plan combat employment of artillery and rocket troops;

- grouping, distribution, and allocation of artillery for accomplishing assigned missions;

- assign (convey) missions to rocket troops and artillery;

- organize interaction (coordination);

- prepare FUP areas for the attack and positions for the artillery and rocket troops to cover the deployment of the main groupings of forces;

- collect and stockpile material means;

- organize political affairs of rocket and artillery troops;

- organize all combat supporting measures;

- organize troop control, preparation of command posts and signal systems;

- prepare troops for combat action;

- maintain high combat-readiness of troops for accomplishing assigned missions.

PLANNING OF COMBAT EMPLOYMENT OF ARTILLERY

- determine the needs of first-echelon armies for attached artillery (for artillery reinforcement).

- distribute the Supreme High Command's artillery to front organic formations.

- organize movements of artillery to cover deployment of main groupings of front forces, and to repel likely enemy aggressions, and to support initiation of the attack by friendly forces.

- organize actions of the artillery during the conduct of the following front missions:

- during conduct of artillery preparatory fire, assault support fire, accompanying fire and covering boundaries, flanks, and gaps by fire;

---- organize actions of artillery while repulsing enemy counterblows (counterattacks);

---- organize combat actions of artillery during assault crossings over water obstacles;

---- organize combat actions of artillery while committing second-echelon troops into combat;

---- organize combat actions of artillery while conducting meeting engagements;

---- organize combat actions of artillery while conducting other important front missions.

- determine the composition of front anti-tank reserves and specify their likely missions and the method of movement of front anti-tank reserves during offensive operations.

- organize the front's supply formations with artillery equipment and ammunition.

on enemy forward defensive lines;

in penetration areas.

- requirements of first-echelon armies and front anti-tank reserve;

- highest requirement is during penetration of prepared defensive lines;

- targets hit by air force are deducted;

- artillery norms used to calculate for remaining targets;

- number of organic army artillery subtracted from this figure;

- remainder is required reenforcement from front;

- total of all first echelon army requirements is front requirement.

artillery of two first-echelon motorized divisions:

- 126 + 126=252;

- army's artillery brigade=72;

- artillery regiment and reactive (multiple rocket launchers)

artillery battalion of army second-echelon divisions=72;

total=396.

-army penetration with two divisions - 700 -800 guns and mortars;

- three armies in first echelon - total of 2100 to 2400 guns and mortars.

METHODS OF DECREASING THE QUANTITY OF ARTILLERY REQUIRED

- extending the duration of preparatory fire;

- assigning aircraft and tanks;

- reducing the penetration areas.

Determine artillery requirement for the a Front on the basis of the following assumptions:
-- detailed information about the enemy targets on the ground is not available
-- three armies are in the first echelon conducting breakthrough on the following frontages:
----- 10 km against US forces
----- 12 km against UK forces
----- 8 km against US forces

EXERCISE 1 ANSWER

Artillery required by norm:
--- 1 ___ army: 10 x 110=1100 guns
--- 2 ___ army: 12 x 100=1200 guns
--- 3 ___ army: 8 x 115=920 guns
--- Total 3220 guns

Available guns:
---1 ___ army: 3 first echelon division + army artillery and artillery from one 2nd echelon division: - 3 x 144 + (72 + 54) + 72=432 + 198=620
---1___ army: same as above=620
---1___ army: 2 first echelon divisions + army artillery + 2nd echelon=2 x 144 + (72 + 54) + 72=288 + 198=486
---Total in front=1726

front requirement=3220 - 1726 in armies=1494

front AT reserve: 1 - 2 antitank brigades

reinforcement to first echelon armies=1 - 2 brigades

Total=2 - 3 brigades

About 3 artillery divisions are required for the front

DISTRIBUTION OF ARTILLERY TO ESTABLISH GROUPINGS

in accordance with front concepts and decisions;

-- at front there is an anti-tank reserve but no artillery reserve;

-- army on axis exposed to tank attack receives 2-3 anti-tank bns. as well as an artillery division;

-- tank army without organic artillery receives long-range artillery;

-- artillery groups of armies and divisions are composed of organic and attached artillery according to their missions;

-- division on main axis receives 4-5 additional artillery battalions;

- army artillery group of 8-10 bns, including 4-5 long range units.

AREAS OF COMMITMENT OF THE SECOND-ECHELON ARMY

-- in areas of one or two armies operating in the front to further develop the attack;

-- at adjoining flanks of two armies;

-- in gaps created during the operation;

- in areas weakly occupied by the enemy.

-- entirely at once;

-- in a successive method;

-- only part of it is committed into combat.

-- destroy enemy nuclear delivery means;

-- reliably suppress enemy antitank defenses in the area of commitment of front second-echelon forces into combat;

-- reliably suppress enemy artillery and mortars;

-- destroy enemy troop control systems;

-- suppress enemy personnel, weapons, and tanks located in strong points.

-- make decisions on employment of rocket and artillery troops;

-- plan combat employment of artillery and rocket troops;

-- assign (convey) missions to missions to rocket troops and artillery;

-- organize coordination (interaction);

-- prepare main, alternate, and temporary positions of artillery and prepare lines of deployment (lines of fire) and positions of antitank reserves;

-- collect (supply) and dump material means;

-- organize political affairs;

-- organize all types of supporting measures;

-- organize troops control, prepare command posts, and establish signal systems;

-- prepare troops for action and maintaining high combat-readiness of troops

-- foil enemy attacks;

-- weaken striking enemy groupings;

-- gain time to complete defenses and to delay enemy attacks.

MISSIONS OF ARTILLERY DURING COUNTERPREPARATORY FIRE

-- destroy enemy nuclear delivery means;

-- suppress enemy artillery, mortars, and air defense artillery;

-- destroy enemy command and control systems, i.e., destroy enemy command posts, command and control, and signal communication means;

-- inflict losses on enemy groupings of forces particularly tanks.

-- plan counterpreparatory fire while there is direct contact with the enemy

\-- plan while the enemy is located in depth and moves to attack defenses from the line of march

--employ as much artillery, air, and rockets as possible;

-- conduct fire from temporary positions (requires 4-6 hours to prepare;

-- conduct fire at front level;

-- two to three strikes of 10-15 min. duration each;

-- fire to maximum possible depth;

-- density of fire is 30-40 guns and mortars per km.

-- coordinate artillery fire with strikes of rocket troops and the air force;

-- continue cooperation with tank and engineer troops;

-- readiness of all artillery for struggle against tanks, prepare all types of fires, and deploy artillery to cover tank threatened directions so that it may engage the intruding tanks with direct (flat trajectory) fire. In this case destruction of tanks is conducted from artillery's actual positions or through relocation of artillery to positions prepared in advance for this purpose.

-- massive fires (MO), concentration fires (SO), and barrage fires from covered positions against tanks in their assembly areas, during their movement to the defense, and during their deployment;

-- in front of the forward defense line and in the depth, by fires of antitank guided missiles, antitank artillery, other artillery and tanks conducting direct fire and by antitank grenade launchers and other means coordinated with antitank obstacles.

-- establish artillery groupings and time of their arrival in positions;

-- duration and structure of preparatory fire;

-- methods of support of counterblows by artillery;

-- troops control and signal communications.

-- artillery groups of adjacent large units and army defending in the direction of the conduct of front counterblows;

-- front aviation and rocket troops.

GOALS OF ARTILLERY MISSIONS DURING PREPARATORY FIRE

-- destroy enemy nuclear delivery means;

-- inflict effective losses on enemy artillery, mortars, antitank weapons, and air defense artillery;

-- suppress enemy personnel in close contact with forces which launch counterblows;

-- destroy enemy command and control systems.

CONDUCT OF SUPPORTING FIRES FOR COUNTER-BLOWS TO THE DEPTH OF ENEMY FIRST-ECHELON BATTALIONS

-- successive concentration fire (PSO);

-- double successive concentration fire;

-- rolling barrage (OV);

-- massive fire (MO);

-- concentration fire (SO) on call, just as in case of the assault supporting fire during the attack.

NORMS FOR ARTILLERY TO PREPARE FOR COUNTERBLOW

-- artillery in units after movement into position require 1 to 1.5 hours to prepare

-- army artillery requires 2 hrs including 1 hr of daylight

-- if distance is 60 km then 4 hrs required to move and prepare

NORMS FOR ARTILLERY FIRE SUPPORTING SECOND ECHELON

-- duration of artillery preparation fire: 20-30 min, with 2-3 fire strikes of 10 - 15 min

-- density of artillery fire equals 40-60 guns per km

-- ammunition expenditure of .6-.8 units of fire

-- assault fire by successive concentrations (PSO) on 2-3 lines or by massive fire (MO) and concentration fire (SO) on strong points

-- accompanying fire by massive fire and concentration fire

--1. The composition of the artillery attached to the front by the Supreme High Command includes the following:

--- - 3 artillery divisions (12th, 15th and 16th);

--- - 2 heavy artillery brigades (25th and 35th);

--The type of weapons and number of guns per battery are shown in the attached table number 1.

--2. The location and deployment of the artillery and rocket troops are shown on the attached overlay.

--3. All artillery and rocket troops are 95% complete in equipment and 91% complete in personnel. The ammunition in artillery units and large units is supplied up to norms. (table number 2)

--4. The ammunition expenditure for the entire offensive operation is shown in attached table number 3.

--5. From the instructions on artillery and rocket troops received from the chief of artillery and rocket troops of the high command of the TVD, the following points are noted.

-- - as of this morning all rocket troops must be kept at the highest state of combat readiness so they can participate at the appropriate time in the initial nuclear strikes. One third of rocket troops must be kept at direct firing readiness number 3.

-- - the initial nuclear strike must be planned and updated on the basis of reconfirming reconnaissance as soon as possible, the priority in targeting is as follows;

-- - nuclear delivery means of --- div., --- corps, and --- army group in the following areas---,---,---;

-- - a. main grouping of the enemy forces in areas ---,--,--;

-- - b. command post of the --- army group at --- and ---, and the --- corps command posts at ---,---,---. The --- army group command post at ---.

-- c. air defense means and airfields at --,--,---.

-- d. enemy rear service targets at ---,---,---.

- - in the following directions, the use of ground nuclear bursts causing radioactive fallout must be avoided;

--- - 1. the direction ________.

--- - 2. the direction ________.

--- - the boundary line of operational nuclear strikes is shown on the overlay;

--- - to speed up the supply of ammunition for the artillery preparatory fire, the front transport means will deliver ammunition directly to the positions of the army and divisional artillery groups;

--- - the following targets in the front sector are planned to be hit by higher echelon's rocket forces, long range aviation and nuclear submarines during the initial nuclear strike;

--- - 1. _______;

--- - 2. _______;

--- - 3. _______;

- - information on enemy targets from the cosmic reconnaissance means are communication directly to the front.

TASKS FOR STUDENTS AS CHIEF OF FRONT'S RT&A

--1. During the decision making process, present the suggestions on the employment of the front's artillery and rocket troops during the operation.

-----2. After the front commander's decision is made, plan the employment of the artillery and rocket troops to include:

---- calculation of the first echelon armies' requirement for artillery;

--- distribution of attached artillery among the front's formations;

---- organization of the movement of artillery to cover the deployment of the main grouping of the front.

---- organization of the employment (action) of artillery during the preparatory fire, assault support fire and accompanying fire;

---- planning the initial nuclear strike of the front and preparing the graphic of launch;

---- organization of the employment of artillery and rocket troops during the commitment of the front second echelon;

---- determining the composition of front anti-tank reserves and lines for their deployment during the operation;

---- movement (relocation) of front and armies' rocket troops during the operation.

- Assessment of the enemy's nuclear rocket troops, their location, number of nuclear rockets the enemy can launch on targets in the front area and their range.

- Situation, status and characteristics of front rocket troops.

- Composition and capability of front artillery troops.

- Requirement of the front for nuclear, chemical, special, and conventional rockets during the operation.

- Availability and supply of nuclear, chemical, special, and conventional rockets during the operation.

- Supply level of conventional ammunition and POL in front's artillery and rocket troops.

- Requirement of the front for conventional ammunition and material means during the operation and their echelonment in formations and large units.

- Strength (completeness) level of personnel and combat equipment in rocket troops and artillery.

- Missions of rocket and artillery troops in the offensive operation.

- Best targets for the rocket troops.

- Suggestions on the establishment of artillery groups in the armies, divisions and regiments operating on the main and supporting attack directions.

- Suggestions on the composition, and grouping of anti-tank reserves in the front, armies, divisions, and regiments.

- Suggestions on the distribution of front artillery among the armies.

- Suggestions on the width of the breakthrough areas on the direction of the main attack and other directions of attack.

- Duration of artillery preparatory fire and participation of artillery and air force in it, general considerations about the targets of the preparatory fire.

- Form of assault support fire and its depth.

- Form of accompanying fire.

- Main calculations related to the employment of the artillery and rocket troops to support (assist) making the decision by the front commander.

- Suggestions on interaction during the critical phases of the offensive operation.

THE CHIEF OF FRONT RT&A SUGGESTIONS DURING THE COMMANDER'S DECISION MAKING

- Assessment of the enemy's nuclear rocket troops, their location, number of nuclear rockets the enemy can launch on targets in the front area and their range.

- Situation, status and characteristics of front rocket troops.

- Composition and capability of front artillery troops.

-- Requirement of the front for nuclear, chemical, special, and conventional rockets during the operation. \

- Availability and supply of nuclear, chemical, special, and conventional rockets during the operation.

- Supply level of conventional ammunition and POL in front's artillery and rocket troops.

- Requirement of the front for conventional ammunition and material means during the operation and their echelonment in formations and large units.

- Strength (completeness) level of personnel and combat equipment in rocket troops and artillery.

- Missions of rocket and artillery troops in the offensive operation.

- Best targets for the rocket troops.

- Suggestions on the establishment of artillery groups in the armies, divisions and regiments operating on the main and supporting attack directions.

- Suggestions on the composition, and grouping of anti-tank reserves in the front, armies, divisions, and regiments.

- Suggestions on the distribution of front artillery among the armies.

- Suggestions on the width of the breakthrough areas on the direction of the main attack and other directions of attack.

- Duration of artillery preparatory fire and participation of artillery and air force in it, general considerations about the targets of the preparatory fire.

- Form of assault support fire and its depth.

- Form of accompanying fire.

- Main calculations related to the employment of the artillery and rocket troops to support (assist) making the decision by the front commander.

- Suggestions on interaction during the critical phases of the offensive operation.

1. The composition of the artillery attached to the front by the Supreme High Command includes the following:

- 3 artillery divisions (12th, 15th and 16th);

- 2 heavy artillery brigades (25th and 35th);

The type of weapons and number of guns per battery are shown in the attached table number 1.

2. The location and deployment of the artillery and rocket troops are shown on the attached overlay.

3. All artillery and rocket troops are 95% complete in equipment and 91% complete in personnel. The ammunition in artillery units and large units is supplied up to norms. (table number 2)

4. The ammunition expenditure for the entire offensive operation is shown in attached table number 3.

5. From the instructions on artillery and rocket troops received from the chief of artillery and rocket troops of the high command of the TVD, the following points are noted.

- as of this morning all rocket troops must be kept at the highest state of combat readiness so they can participate at the appropriate time in the initial nuclear strikes. One third of rocket troops must be kept at direct firing readiness number 3.

- the initial nuclear strike must be planned and updated on the basis of reconfirming reconnaissance as soon as possible, the priority in targeting is as follows;

- nuclear delivery means of --- div., --- corps, and --- army group in the following areas---,---,---;

- a. main grouping of the enemy forces in areas ---,--,--;

- b. command post of the --- army group at --- and ---, and the --- corps command posts at ---,---,---. The --- army group command post at ---.

c. air defense means and airfields at --,--,---.

d. enemy rear service targets at ---,---,---.

- in the following directions, the use of ground nuclear bursts causing radioactive fallout must be avoided;

- 1. the direction ________.

- 2. the direction ________.

- the boundary line of operational nuclear strikes is shown on the overlay;

- to speed up the supply of ammunition for the artillery preparatory fire, the front transport means will deliver ammunition directly to the positions of the army and divisional artillery groups;

- the following targets in the front sector are planned to be hit by higher echelon's rocket forces, long range aviation and nuclear submarines during the initial nuclear strike;

- 1. _______;

- 2. _______;

- 3. _______;

- information on enemy targets from the cosmic reconnaissance means are communication directly to the front.

1. Assessment of the enemy's nuclear rocket troops, their location, number of nuclear rockets the enemy can launch on targets in the front area and their range.

2. Situation, status and characteristics of front rocket troops.

3. Composition and capability of front artillery troops.

4. Requirement of the front for nuclear, chemical, special, and conventional rockets during the operation.

5. Availability and supply of nuclear, chemical, special, and conventional rockets during the operation.

6. Supply level of conventional ammunition and POL in front's artillery and rocket troops.

7. Requirement of the front for conventional ammunition and material means during the operation and their echelonment in formations and large units.

8. Strength (completeness) level of personnel and combat equipment in rocket troops and artillery.

THE REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF RT&A DURING THE FRONT COMMANDER'S PROCESS OF MAKING THE DECISION

1. Assessment of the enemy's nuclear rocket troops, their location, number of nuclear rockets the enemy can launch on targets in the front area and their range.

2. Situation, status and characteristics of front rocket troops.

3. Composition and capability of front artillery troops.

4. Requirement of the front for nuclear, chemical, special, and conventional rockets during the operation.

5. Availability and supply of nuclear, chemical, special, and conventional rockets during the operation.

6. Supply level of conventional ammunition and POL in front's artillery and rocket troops.

7. Requirement of the front for conventional ammunition and material means during the operation and their echelonment in formations and large units.

8. Strength (completeness) level of personnel and combat equipment in rocket troops and artillery.

1. Use of front rockets and artillery

- Missions of rocket and artillery troops in the offensive operation.

- during the initial nuclear strike

- during the air operation (if planned)

- during the first day (movement to contact and preparation for breakthrough of enemy prepared defense)

- Best targets for the rocket troops.

2. Distribution of artillery to first echelon armies

- Suggestions on the distribution of artillery and establishment of artillery groups in the armies, divisions and regiments operating on the main and supporting attack directions.

- Suggestions on the composition, and grouping of anti-tank reserves in the front, armies, divisions, and regiments.

- Suggestions on the width of the breakthrough areas on the direction of the main attack and other directions of attack.

- Duration of artillery preparatory fire and participation of artillery and air force in it, general considerations about the targets of the preparatory fire.

- Form of assault support fire and its depth.

- Form of accompanying fire.

- Main calculations related to the employment of the artillery and rocket troops to support (assist) making the decision by the front commander.

- Suggestions on interaction during the critical phases of the offensive operation.

1. Enemy forces


The Central front is facing elements of NATO NORTHAG and CENTAG. These consist of the First German Corps, First British Corps, the First Belgian Corps, The Third German Corps and the Fifth US Corps.

These corps have the following nuclear rocket units at the given locations:

Unit Location Number of rockets Yields Range

I GE Corps

7th AD

1st AD

11th AD

I UK Corps

1st AD

2nd AD

3rd AD

4th AD

I BE Corps

16th MD

1st MD

10th MD

III GE Corps

2nd AID

5th AID

V US Corps

3rd AD

8th MD



The total number of nuclear rockets the enemy can launch against the Central front is:


2. Friendly forces

The Central front has the following rocket troops:

Unit Location Number of rockets Yields Range


The composition of Central front artillery is as follows:

Unit Location Strength

12th ArtyD

15th ArtyD

16th ArtyD

25th HvyBde

35th HvyBde


The front will require the following nuclear and other rockets during the operation:

Nuclear Chemical Special Conventional


The supply of rockets and warheads is shown on the table:

The supply level of artillery ammunition is shown on table:

The front requirement for artillery ammunition during the operation is depicted in table:

The front has received the following missions for accomplishment by the rocket troops and artillery:

One third of rocket troops must be kept at direct firing readiness number 3.

The initial nuclear strike must be planned and kept current with priority of targeting to the following:

- nuclear delivery means of 1,2,3 UK divs, 3, 8 US divs, UK and US Corps, and CENTAG in the following areas:___

- main enemy groupings east of Hannover and around Fulda, and ___

- command posts of CENTAG, and AFCENT at ____ and ____, and the 5 corps command posts at ____,____.

- air defense means and airfields at ____.

-etc.

The best targets for the rocket troops are the NATO airfields at _____, main command posts at _____, nuclear storage sites at _____, main supply depots at ______, reserve unit assembling at _____ .


The concept of the operation and missions of the front suggest that army artillery groups be created in the following armies:

Unit Number of bns
_________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________



Division artillery groups should be established in the following divisions:

Unit Number of bns.

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________



The following anti-tank reserves should be created:

At the front:

Unit Number of guns

_______________________________________________ \

In the armies:

Unit Number of guns

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________


Anti-tank reserves will be established by each division using its organic anti-tank units.


In order to establish the army and division artillery groups listed above the front artillery of the supreme high command (VGK) should be distributed to the armies according to the attached table:


The number of guns and mortars available within the front indicates that a total of 30 km of breakthrough sector can be created. The concept of operation and mission of the front calls for conducting the main attack on the northern axis from ___ to ___ in the zones of the 2nd Guards Army and the NGF. On this axis a breakthrough sector of 18 km can be created. The second axis in the south, in the zone of the First Guards Tank and Eighth Guards Armies can support a breakthrough sector of 12 km. In the center the 20th Guards Army will not attempt to create a breakthrough sector, but will conduct a secondary attack across a wide front.

The duration of the artillery preparatory fire should be:


Assault support fire should commence upon:


Accompanying fire should be conducted in the form of a combination of massive fire against defending strong points and concentration fire against targets identified by the supported unit commanders.

The following are the main calculations made in support of this assessment of the employment of artillery.

Interaction of artillery with the forces conducting an airborne operation at ___ on the ___ day of the operation will be required.

During the assessment of the enemy:

1. Situation, status, character of action, and intention of enemy ground forces.

2. Situation, status, location, and capabilities of enemy artillery, air, air defense, and other special (nuclear) targets.

3. Grouping of enemy artillery

4. Location of enemy nuclear rocket troops and nuclear depots.

5. Location of enemy reserves.

During the assessment of friendly forces:

--1. Situation, status, and location of friendly artillery, availability and number of nuclear rockets, reinforcements from VGK, etc.

--2. Supply situation, transportation requirements, movement considerations etc.

1. Calculation of requirement for artillery to support first echelon armies:

- Second Guards Army


- NGF


- Twentieth Guards Army


- First Tank Army


- Eighth Guards Army



2. Distribution of attached artillery to armies:



3. Organization of movement of artillery to cover deployment of main group



4. Plan for initial nuclear strike



5. Organization of artillery to support commitment of front second echelon army



6. Composition of front anti-tank reserve and line for deployment



7. Movement of front and army rocket troops during operation.

PLANNING FRONT ARTILLERY

organizing combat employment of artillery and the method and sequence of interaction between the front commander, front staff, and artillery staff while preparing the operation:

planning the combat employment of artillery

conveying the decision to subordinates

composition, grouping and deployment of artillery to cover the deployment of the main forces of the front and repelling enemy's surprise aggression

preparation of FUP areas

collection and stockpiling material means

preparing troops for combat action

organizing the actions of artillery during the operation

preparing the plan of combat employment of artillery:

ORGANIZING EMPLOYMENT OF ARTILLERY

elements of organizing the use of artillery;

interaction between the front commander, front staff, and artillery staff while preparing the operation:

clarifying the mission and instruction on artillery and rocket troops;

artillery chief's suggestions to the front commander

making the decision on the combat employment of the artillery.

PLANNING THE COMBAT EMPLOYMENT OF ARTILLERY - OUTLINE

determining the requirement of artillery for the front:

distributing artillery among formations and establishing artillery groups

specifying mission of the operation

establishing artillery groupings in the initial phase

composition, missions, and area of deployment of front antitank reserves in the departure are and during the operation

DETERMINING THE REQUIREMENT OF ARTILLERY FOR THE FRONT

on the basis of number of targets;

on the basis of the width of assigned breakthrough areas.

DISTRIBUTING ARTILLERY AMONG FORMATIONS AND ESTABLISHING ARTILLERY GROUPS

artillery groups are not established at the front;

first-echelon armies are given sufficient artillery to establish AAG, AGRA, DAG, and RAG of first-echelon regiments

---- NORMS:
-------- AAG 8-10 battalions;
-------- AGRA 4-5 battalions;
-------- DAG 4-6 battalions;
-------- RAG 3-4 battalions.

1-2 antitank reserves are established at the front, first-echelon armies, division, and regiment.

CONVEYING THE DECISION TO SUBORDINATES

form and content of combat instructions to artillery units and formations

forms and content of instructions on artillery issued to armies

organization of interaction between artillery and other front element

organizing combat supporting measures, troop control or signal system

preparing the grouping and deployment of artillery to cover the deployment of the main forces of the front and repelling enemy's surprise aggression )

preparing FUP areas

collecting and stockpiling material means

preparing troops for combat action

ORGANIZING THE ACTIONS OF ARTILLERY DURING THE OPERATION

support of the breakthrough

artillery action to repel enemy counterstrikes

artillery action to support the commitment of the second-echelon army

PREPARING THE PLAN OF COMBAT EMPLOYMENT OF ARTILLERY

--content of the graphic part of the plan;

-- content of the written part of the plan;

-- annexes;

INSTRUCTIONS OF ARMY CHIEF OF RT&A TO A DIVISION CHIEF OF ROCKET TROOPS AND ARTILLERY

--The army CRT&A prepares instructions on artillery for each division.

--The instructions contain the following points:

----- what artillery formations and units and anti-tank artillery units will be provided as reenforcement for the division;

----- what are the norms for expenditure of nuclear and chemical rockets will be for the operation and their distribution to the first nuclear strike and by missions;

----- what the norms for expenditure of conventional rockets during the battle will be and its resupply;

----- what will be the norms for expenditutre of ammunition during the preparatory fire and support fire, and for the division's important missions, and the capabilities for its resupply during the course of the battle;
----- what measures should be taken to bring the division rocket forces to full combat readiness;

----- what targets are designated for the division's rockets for planning the division's participation in the first nuclear strike, the yield of the rockets on each target, type of burst and height, time for being ready, and time for delivery of rocket and nuclear, chemical, and conventional warheads from depots to the firing units.

INSTRUCTIONS OF ARMY CHIEF OF RT&A TO A DIVISION CHIEF OF ROCKET TROOPS AND ARTILLERY (cont)

-- instructions for conduct of re-confirming reconnaissance and exact determination of the targets that will be destroyed in the initial nuclear strike of the front;

-- what support must be taken for protection of own troops during the nuclear strike;
--
which army artillery sub-group will support the division during the course of the day's battle; (The army artillery group is usually divided into subgroups for closer coordination of support with first-echelon divisions.)

-- composition of the division artillery group and regimental groups for regiments on the main attack axis (in number of battalions);

-- width of the breakthrough sector for the division, density of artillery per kilometer of front, and length of duration of the preparatory fire, composition of the fire preparation (usually it consists of 3-5 artillery strikes), means for delivery of ammunition to the gun firing positions;

-- details on movement of the artillery units to their forward firing positions in order to be ready for conduct of prepratory fire, the areas for the firing positions, time to arrive and be prepared, conduct of artillery reconnaissance, designation of the targets for the preparatory fire,

-- how support fire will be provided up to the depth of the defending first-echelon brigades and the types of artillery support fire;

-- methods for providing artillery accompanying fire during the battle;

-- composition and grouping of the artillery in the covering force area and its missions;

DIVISION COMMANDER INSTRUCTIONS ON MISSIONS, TARGETS, AND MEANS FOR USING ROCKET FORCES

The guidance includes the following points:

-- which enemy groups and targets will be destroyed in the first nuclear strike by the division rocket battalion:

----- a. destruction of nuclear means and nuclear depots in the following location;

----- b. destruction of main forces of the ____ division;

----- c. destruction of command posts of the ____ brigades at the following locations _____;

----- d. destruction of PVO points at ____,____, and --;

--the enemy forces will be destroyed to the following level in percent using the following types of warheads and bursts -( for example, air burst of 20 kt);

-- reserve of nuclear and chemical ammunition;

DIVISION COMMANDER INSTRUCTIONS DETERMINING ARTILLERY MISSIONS

The instructions include the following points:

---- the composition of artillery groups and distribution of artillery among the regiments;

---- designate the specific composition of the division artillery group and composition of the anti-tank reserve;

---- designate the main missions for artillery during the preparation phase and the course of the operation;

---- designate the breakthrough area, time for artillery preparation, depth of artillery support and its type; and the quantity of ammunition which will be used;

---- which artillery will participate in the artillery preparation;

---- how artillery will support the commitment of the division second-echelon regiment;

COMBAT ORDER FROM THE DIVISION CHIEF OF ARTILLERY ON ARTILLERY TO THE DIVISION ARTILLERY REGIMENT

The typical combat order sent to the division's artillery regiment contains the following points of information:

---- which artillery and anti-tank units are assigned from army and front to reinforce the regiment during the offensive and their locations;

---- organization of the division's regimental artillery groups (RAG's) and their firing positions;

---- width of breakthrough sector and which artillery will participate in preparatory fire, time and duration of preparatory fire, and authorized expenditure of ammunition;

---- conduct of artillery reconnaissance and its missions, manner to report reconnaissance information to the division staff;

---- time to occupy firing positions, engineer preparation for the artillery position area and its maskirovka;

---- designation of firing data (ranges, azimuths, etc) for the coming preparation;

---- methods for artillery support and accompanying fire;

---- composition of the anti-tank reserves and their missions;

---- support for the commitment into combat of the division second echelon;

---- required technical preparation;

---- quantity of ammunition expenditure for a day of combat, and how it will be supplied.

INSTRUCTIONS OF DIVISION CHIEF OF RT&A TO THE CHIEF OF ARTILLERY OF A REGIMENT

The instructions contain the following points:

---- what artillery battalions and anti-tank artillery units will be provided as reenforcement for the regiment;

---- what will be the norms for expenditure of ammunition during the preparatory fire and support fire, and for the regiment's important missions, and the capabilities for its resupply during the course of the battle;

---- instructions for conduct of re-confirming reconnaissance and exact determination of the targets that will be destroyed in the artillery preparatory fire phase;

---- which division or army artillery sub-group will support the regiment during the course of the day's battle;

---- width of the breakthrough sector for the regiment, density of artillery per kilometer of front, and length of duration of the preparatory fire, composition of the fire preparation (usually it consists of 3-5 artillery strikes), means for delivery of ammunition to the gun firing positions;

---- details on movement of the artillery units to their forward firing positions in order to be ready for conduct of preparatory fire, the areas for the firing positions, time to arrive and be prepared, conduct of artillery reconnaissance, designation of the targets for the preparatory fire,

---- how support fire will be provided up to the depth of the defending first-echelon brigades and the types of artillery support fire;

---- methods for providing artillery accompanying fire during the battle;

---- composition and grouping of the artille y in the covering force area and its missions;