SOVIET VOROSHILOV ACADEMY LECTURES
PRACTICAL LESSONS

LESSON 5: EMPLOYMENT OF ARMY ARTILLERY

1. General: This lesson is slightly over four hours long. During this short period the students should become familiar with the important role considerations about artillery employment play in the army commander's decisions. They will learn what he expects from his chief of artillery and how the latter supports his commander with advice just as the guns support the troops with firepower.


2 Sublesson Introduction: Begin this subject by explaining its relation to the rest of the course. Having become familiar with the tools and procedures used by Soviet commander and chief of artillery in the first three lessons and seen how these are used at front level, the class will now proceed to learn how the are applied at army level. In the process the students should become more comfortable with their ability to prepare Soviet combat documents and use Soviet map symbols. Point out again that learning to use Soviet documents and symbols is not intended to be an end in itself, but a means for developing the facility to "think Red" in the process of making Soviet style decisions. Explain that during this four hours the students will complete ten practical exercises designed to lead them through the organization process with the emphasis on making the decision, preparing the plan and issuing instructions and directives to subordinates.

The first hour and half will be on the first afternoon. The lesson will be split by the over night break and will continue with three and a half hours tomorrow morning. It will be followed by the four hour class on division level artillery planning. Therefor the students will have a good opportunity to study ahead over night and work on any deficiencies they feel they have. We have not assigned specific homework, but the students will have all the materials to be used in the following day's class. Encourage them to look ahead at the practical exercises for both army and division lessons and make some notes so that they will be able to get the most out of the instruction tomorrow.


3. Teacher Learning Objective: The overall learning objective for this lesson is that the students, when playing role of army commander or chief of RT&A, will have a general understanding of Soviet principles and methods for planning artillery support. On this basis they should begin to be able to accomplish the following:
1. Determine artillery requirements for the army 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 divisions;
3. Determine artillery requirements of divisions and how to allocate artillery to them;
4. Prepare suggestions (report) of CRT&A to army commander during his decision process;
5. Prepare plan for employment of artillery and anti-tank units including initial plan, commitment of 2nd echelon division, and repulse of counterattacks;
6. Prepare instructions on artillery to subordinate combined arms units and artillery instructions to subordinate artillery units;
7. Exercise troop control over army artillery during the course of an operation including control of the army artillery group and redistribution of artillery to the divisions;
8. Learn how CRT&A interacts with other staff officers in the army headquarters and with air army control elements.

Task: Describe how artillery support for offensive operations is organized at army level.

Condition: Given assigned references, sample documents, and student handouts as required.

Standard: The instructor will use this description as an introduction to the content of the lesson. The description is an outline of the Soviet process in sequence and hence of the steps the students will follow in preparing their practical exercises. By now the students should know that the Soviet term "organizing" for operations includes making the decision, planning the action, conveying the instructions, establishing troop control and signals, monitoring subordinate performance, preparing the troops and terrain, and stockpiling supplies. Focus on how these activities are performed at the army level, pointing out that, since the lower one goes in the hierarchy of headquarters the more one is concerned with actually doing with troops instead of making policy, already at army level there is more field work involved than at front level. However, in this course we are only concerned with the activities required and performed in the headquarters (ie the paperwork) and you will only be able to point out that the Soviet officers would also be required to perform a lot of "leg work" in the field.


Task: Analyze how the combat employment of artillery is determined on the basis of requirements given in norms and instructions. Lead the students through a practical exercise demonstrating this.

Condition: Given assigned references, sample documents, and student handouts as required.

Standard: The first step in artillery planning is to determine the quantity of artillery pieces and units required to accomplish the assigned missions. If this is done in peacetime with unlimited time and extensive knowledge of the fine details of the enemy defenses, then it is a laborious process of matching numbers of specific types of artillery pieces to the specifics of individual targets. However in the course of wartime operations the time and information is rarely available to the army staff. Therefore it is quickly done on the basis of rough evaluation of general norms and numbers of first-echelon formations planned to be employed in the operation. The practical exercise takes as its initial givens the instructions on artillery and the operational directive to the army issued by the front in the previous class. Students should fill in the blanks on their prepared forms and be ready to discuss their conclusions with the instructor.


Task: Analyze the procedure (calculations) for determining the capability of an army to provide artillery support in terms of width of breakthrough sector.

Condition: Given assigned references, sample documents, and student handouts as required.

Standard: This is in a sense the reverse calculation to the first exercise. The same norms of guns and mortars per kilometer of width of breakthrough sector are used to determine the possible width with a given number of guns instead of the number of guns required to support a given width. After the students have performed this simple calculation, the instructor should focus his remarks on Soviet measures to increase the possible width by bringing more artillery to bear.


Task: Analyze the process for determining the artillery requirements of first-echelon divisions. Give the students a practical exercise to do this and develop the subject through student discussion of their work.

Condition: Given assigned references, sample documents, and student handouts as required.

Standard: This practical exercise builds of the previous three. The students will apply the norms and instructions on artillery to the scenario of our operation to determine how much artillery to distribute to each first-echelon division. The exercise should not require much further introduction. Save the time available for testing student knowledge after they have completed the exercise. The instructor may want to test further by posing additional brief problems using the table of norms for artillery density against various nationalities.


Task: Analyze the process for calculating how to distribute artillery units and headquarters to the first-echelon divisions. Examine student understanding of this by checking their completion of a practical exercise.

Condition: Given assigned references, sample documents, and student handouts as required.

Standard: The instructor should discuss briefly the necessity to convert the requirements for artillery pieces or batteries as determined in the previous exercises into practical terms, that is in numbers of whole battalions and the headquarters required to control the artillery groups. Then give the students a few minutes to do their calculations and fill in their forms. Finally lead them in discussion of the problem. Point out that there will usually not be enough headquarters groups from the artillery division, brigades, and regiments to staff all the artillery groups requiring then. The result is that a few regimental groups will have to be commanded by the commander of one of the artillery battalions in the group.


Task: Discuss the theory of organizing anti-tank reserves at army level.

Condition: Given assigned references, sample documents, and student handouts as required.

Standard: The discussion will build on the information already given about anti-tank reserves in previous lessons including the front anti-tank reserve. Instructor should include the composition, missions, fire lines, grouping, and action of anti-tank reserves. Include also the manner in which they interact with the mobile obstacle detachment, which comes from the engineers. A practical exercise will come in the next section.


Task: Analyze the process for distributing anti-tank units to create the anti-tank reserves for army and divisions. Conduct a practical exercise to give the students experience in making the required calculations.

Condition: Given assigned references, sample documents, and student handouts as required.

Standard: The instructor should have given sufficient information in the previous task to allow the students to proceed directly to performing the practical exercise. After they finish, he should call for their results and discuss the answers. There will be further work on anti-tank reserves in the lesson on division artillery.


Task: The instructor will take the role of army commander to conduct a practical exercise in which the students will play the role of chief of artillery. The students will present their report and suggestions on the employment of artillery to the instructor.

Condition: Given assigned references, sample documents, and student handouts as required.

Standard: This may be a difficult period because the students have not yet gained much familiarity with the material or confidence in their own ability to play the role of chief of artillery. The instructor will set the stage by reviewing the given data, ie the instructions from front and his (army commander's) initial instructions. The numerous topics contained in the artillery report and suggestions are given in sequence in the outline format for the report and suggestions. After the students have had some time to fill in their forms, the instructor should proceed through each and solicit responses from various students in turn. He can amplify inadequate responses at that time. At the end of the period the instructor should pass out a sample completed suggestions.


Task: Analyze the process for preparing the army plan for employing artillery. Conduct a practical exercise to show the main aspects of preparing the plan.

Condition: Given assigned references, sample documents, and student handouts as required.

Standard: Like most other plans, the artillery plan is actually a map with accompanying tables and charts. There will not be time, not are the students yet capable of preparing an entire artillery plan unaided. In this practical exercise the students will put together the information acquired in the previous exercises and develop a army artillery plan. However, they will do this by placing pre-printed map symbols on a prepared schematic diagram that represents a operations map. The instructor should divide the exercise into segments in their logical sequence and check on progress part way through the time period.


Task: Discuss the procedure for conveying the decision on artillery to the executing agencies.

Condition: Given assigned references, sample documents, and student handouts as required.

Standard: The instructor should review the Soviet method in which neither the plan (map) nor the entire directive for the operation are disseminated outside the headquarters. Instead specific extracts of relevant information are sent to subordinate elements in the form of directives and instructions. In the case of artillery there will be three documents containing information on its employment; the operations directive itself (issued by the operations directorate in the name of the commander) will have a section dealing with artillery, the combat instructions on artillery will be issued by the artillery directorate in the commander's name to the artillery units directly subordinated to the army (artillery regiment), and the instructions on artillery will be issued by the chief of artillery to the chiefs of artillery of the divisions. The students should be familiar with this procedure from their lesson on front artillery. They should be able to fill in the blanks in the prepared forms for these documents. Then the instructor should briefly discuss the other channels for conveying information about artillery (which we will not have time to practice), namely the documents on interaction and those giving instructions on combat support measures.

Task: Discuss the activities of artillery staff related to preparation of FUP areas.

Condition: Given assigned references, sample documents, and student handouts as required.

Standard: There will not be sufficient time for more than brief mention that preparation of FUP areas is an important part of the total activity of all Soviet headquarters and staffs. The instructor should give a summary of the planning and actions involved and point out that in contrast to the front staff the army artillery directorate has a responsibility to insure that the army artillery group develops a well fortified FUP area, as well as to monitor the similar activities of the division artillery units.


Task: Discuss the artillery staff responsibility to collect and stockpile material for the offensive.

Condition: Given assigned references, sample documents, and student handouts as required.

Standard: In the main this means ammunition supply, but there is also POL and armaments to consider. The instructor may lecture briefly to remind the students that this vital activity is one that cannot be practiced in class, but should not be overlooked, when the students have time in the future.


Task: Discuss the requirement to prepare the troops for combat action.

Condition: Given assigned references, sample documents, and student handouts as required.

Standard: Again, this brief summary is merely to remind the students of the importance the Soviets place on the activity as part of "organizing" for combat action.

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Task: Analyze the activities of the artillery staff in organizing combat action during the course of an operation. Conduct a short practical exercise to bring some of the relevant calculations to the students' attention.

Condition: Given assigned references, sample documents, and student handouts as required.

Standard: The instructor will conduct a practical exercise on the calculations related to artillery support for the commitment of the army second-echelon division. He should also describe in less detail the other critical phases for which the Soviet artillery staff will be responsible for preparing plans and accomplishing actions; namely, monitoring artillery actions during the completion of the breakthrough, providing artillery support to repulse counterattacks, actions of anti-tank reserves during the operation, and regrouping artillery throughout the operation.

4. Level of Instruction: Analysis.



5. Method of Instruction: Combination of lectures, class discussions, and series of practical exercises.



6. Author's Intent: Overall - This four hour lesson is the heart of the course. The students should be most capable of performing as artillery chiefs and commanders at army level. In this phase they will take the information and directives received from front and perform the entire sequence of artillery planning at army. Then they will issue the instructions and directives on employment of artillery at division, that they will discuss in turn during their lesson on division artillery planning. Since the basic principles for artillery employment are the same at all three levels, the process of considering planning three times over should help reenforce student understanding.

Employment of army artillery: In this section the students will work with the various norms, tables, calculations, and other data required for developing artillery plans at army level. They will determine the width of army breakthrough (strike) sector and how to allocate artillery to divisions. They will learn how to develop the plan for employment of army artillery group.

Role playing as army CRT&A in decision-making with army commander: In this section the students will practice actual preparation of their suggestions and briefing of the instructor in the role of army commander. The content of the suggestions is basically the same as given for the front level.

Preparation of army artillery plan: In this practical exercise the students will take the army commander's decision and instructions from front given in previous hours and prepare an army artillery fire plan on a diagram representing a map with associated tables. They will prepare the instructions on use of artillery issued by the army to subordinate divisions and to artillery units. The content of planning is basically the same as shown for front except in more detail for a smaller number of units. Employment of army artillery - For this period the instructor will hand out tables and norms and formulas used in calculations. The students will perform these and record their answers in prepared blank forms. The basis for this work will be the operational mission and instructions on artillery received from the front which were given in the previous lesson.

Specific intent of each section (see discussion agenda):

a. organizing artillery support - Students will have read the Voroshilov academy lecture on army artillery. The instructor will discuss the points listed, which give an introduction to the series of practical exercises that follow.

b. planning combat employment of artillery - In this practical exercise the students will follow the basic norms for composition of artillery groups to determine how many battalions to allocate to each group.

c. determining the capability of army artillery to support breakthrough sectors - The instructor will discuss the various criteria and norms and the methods available to make up for shortages of artillery. This discussion is to prepare the students for the practical exercises which follow.

d. determining artillery requirement for first-echelon divisions - The students will complete three practical exercises on the basis of the information given in section c. The main point is to learn the close relationship between artillery capabilities and the width of breakthrough sector assigned to an army.

e. distributing artillery units - In another practical exercise the students will take the results of the calculations done in section d and make up a table of distribution of artillery units and headquarters to the divisions. The instructor should show how to distribute artillery headquarters as well as artillery battalions.

f. composition and missions of antitank reserves - The instructor gives a brief lecture reminding the class about previous lectures on the theoretical principles for creating antitank reserves. This is followed by the practical exercise in the next section.

g. distributing antitank artillery units - In the practical exercise the students apply the basic concept and norms to establish antitank reserves in accordance with the lesson scenario.

h. format and content of army chief of artillery suggestions - having been exposed to the process of interaction between chief of artillery and commander at front and discussed it in lesson 2, the students should be able to fill in a sample blank form for the artillery chief's suggestions and then play the role of artillery chief while the instructor plays that of commander. The instructor will then issue a suggested completed set of suggestions.

i. preparation of artillery plan - The instructor should guide the students through the practical exercise of developing the army artillery plan on the map by use of the printed symbols. The exercise will build on the previously completed calculations. Having established what the artillery groups will consist of the students consider how they will deploy for the initial situation. Then the students will develop the actual artillery fire plan for preparatory fire, assault support fire, and accompanying fire. The instructor should lead a discussion in general terms about artillery support in the later phases of the offensive.

j. conveying the decision - In this practical exercise the students will fill in sample blank forms illustrating the army combat instructions on artillery issued to artillery subordinate to the army and the instructions on artillery sent to the divisions. The instructor should lead a discussion on organizing interaction and combat support measures. He should remind the students of the information presented on these issues at front level and use the opportunity to elaborate as well as stress more specific detail applicable at the army level.

k. preparing FUP areas - A brief further elaboration on the subject as seen from the army level.

l. collecting and stockpiling ammunition - The same general topic was discussed at the front level. The instructor may work out with the students a short exercise in calculating the truck requirements to move ammunition for an artillery battalion.

m. preparing troops for combat action - This work falls to the training section of the operations department and to the political department. However the chief of artillery is ultimately responsible as are the unit commanders.

n. organizing artillery action - In section i the plans for employment of artillery in subsequent phases of the operation were discussed. In this section the instructor should present these same phases (ie commitment of second-echelon, repulse of counterattack, support of river crossing, etc.) as if they are now occurring in a different way than originally planned. The students should consider how they would change the original plan to meet the new situations.



7. Equipment/Materials

Materials required:

Employment of army artillery - For this period the instruction will hand out tables and norms and formulas used in calculations. The students will perform these and record their answers in prepared blank forms. The basis for this work will be the operational mission and instructions on artillery received from the front, which will be given in the earlier period.

---- Role playing as army CRT&A in decision making process - This will require preparation of a "school solution" scenario for comparison with the student solutions. The students will be given the required information on friendly and enemy artillery as well as the general operational situation facing the army.

---- Preparation of army artillery plan - The students receive the operational mission and instructions on use of artillery prepared at the front level. The commander's operational decision will be shown on a prepared map. The students will need map sheets and blank forms on which to prepare the army artillery plan. A "school solution" should also be prepared beforehand.



8. Homework: none, but students should read ahead about the exercise during the previous night.

9. Annexes.

Discussion agenda

Lecture notes

Practical exercises

List of viewgraphs

LESSON 5 DISCUSSION AGENDA

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


3 min
--- Introduction Lesson V: Discuss the outline of this lesson and show the students its content and their expected participation in the practical exercise.

VG 1

15 min
--- a. organizing artillery support in army's offensive operations

VG 2-3
----- 1. making the decision on employing the artillery;
------2. planning the artillery action;
------3. conveying the decision to executing elements (combat instructions, organization of interaction and combat support measures);
------4. organizing troop control and signal systems;
------5. monitoring and assisting subordinate actions;
------6. preparing FUP areas;
------7. collecting and stockpiling the material means.



20 min
---b. planning the combat employment of artillery, with the artillery requirement of the army on the basis of the following:

VG 4-5
-----directions of attack;
-----number of divisions and regiments in the first-echelon;
-----number of targets (if known) on the attack directions.

VG 6-7
---(Explanation is followed by exercise # 1)



20 min

VG 8
----c. Determining the capability of army artillery in terms of width of breakthrough areas that can be supported. (Calculation on the basis of required gun per km of breakthrough area). Measures to increase the width of breakthrough area when army artillery is not sufficient (bringing second-echelon division artillery, use of BM-21 battalion of adjacent division and employment of part of army's antitank reserve for preparing fire.

VG 9-10
(Exercises 2 and 3)



30 min
d. determining the artillery requirement of first-echelon divisions on the basis of the following:

VG 11
1. availability of artillery;
2. width of assigned breakthrough area;
3. level of artillery support (mission planned) in the division's sector by AAG and AGRA;
4. nationality of opposing enemy forces.

VG 12-13
(This is practiced in exercises #2, 3, and 4).



15 min
e. distributing artillery units and headquarters to the first-echelon divisions and grouping of AAG and AGRA to insure:

VG 14
required number of artillery units is attached to divisions;
artillery headquarters are distributed in a way to furnish artillery groups with artillery headquarters and to facilitate troop control and use of artillery's organic communication means.

VG 15-16
(Description is followed by exercise #5)



5 min
f. composition, missions, fire lines, grouping and action of army antitank reserves

VG 17-18



10 min
g. distributing antitank artillery units to support the establishment of army an divisional antitank reserves


VG 19
(Exercise #6)

30 min
h. format and content of army chief of artillery's suggestions to the army commander on the combat employment of artillery

(Exercise #7)

VG 20-22


20 min
i. preparation and content of the plan of the employment of army artillery on the map to include the following:

VG 23
1. grouping of artillery;
2. deploying in initial situation;
3. planned fires of AAG and AGRA:

VG 24-27
during artillery preparatory fire;
during assault support fire;
during the accompanying fire.

VG 28-38
4. supporting the commitment of the second-echelon;
5. supporting the repulsion of counterattack;
6. supporting river crossing;
7. supporting airborne assault (Exercise #8)

20 min
j. conveying the decision (plan) to the executing elements:

VG 39-40
1. format and content of combat instructions to artillery units and instructions on artillery to subordinate formations (divisions);
2. organizing interaction;
3. instructions on combat supporting measures. (Exercise #9)


3 min
k. preparing FUP areas:

VG 41

3 min
l. collecting and stockpiling material means:

3 min
m. preparing troops for combat action:


20 min
n. organizing the action of artillery during the operation:

VG 42
1. artillery action during the breakthrough;
2. artillery action during the commitment of the second-echelon and calculations of the required artillery on the basis of likely target hectarage, using the following formula:

and on the basis of frontage of attack at the line of commitment;

VG 43
(Exercise #10)
3. artillery action to support the repulsion of enemy's counterattack;
4. action of army's antitank reserve during the operation;
5. relocating and regrouping army artillery during the operation.

Army level artillery planning

Planning army artillery is done in the normal manner, on the basis of the instructions of the chief of rocket troops and artillery of the front and the decision of army commander. The planning of RT&A is a separate document. It is conducted on map 1,100,000-1,200,000.
Process of planning starts when receive mission order for army.
--- 2 main documents;
----- map - written instructions;
----- plan itself seen on example map;
--- elements shown on map - boundaries army, immediate and long range missions of army, boundaries of divisions, immediate and subsequent (daily for first day) mission of division.
----- also shows departure area for division and departure area for second-echelons;
----- shows CPs, main - forward - rear CP;
----- areas of rocket area;
----- shows SAM area;
----- area artillery of VGK;
----- area for AT artillery;
----- area of artillery brigade;
----- area of rear service depots and brigades
----- area of rocket technical base
----- positions rocket SAM;
----- each division - show - artillery groups
-----division artillery regiment - alternate positions;
----- FROG battalion in division assembly area;
-----front line, covering force on border, artillery;
----- FROG battalion position on border.

On the enemy side it shows the following:
----- covering force of enemy;
----- 1st defensive belt;
----- positions of first echelon brigades and battalions;
----- mobile artillery positions;
----- reserves - rocket forces - airfields - CP's;
----- air defense rockets ;

On basis of the army commander's decision - create plan on use of artillery.
As seen on map, for each battalion, mark targets for nuclear strikes;
These are numbered and the symbol shows the burst yield - time of burst chi minus minutes, type of burst and unit firing it.

Each FROG battalion has 4 launchers - each launcher 2 targets;
8 targets per division 2 are hit in first strike, then rest after one and half hours in second strike.
Targets for army launcher 1 target per launcher these are deeper targets.
Targets for higher hqs shown also.

Plan shows location for artillery RAG DAG AAG and Army MRL Group.

Show targets of army artillery fire also.
------squares for artillery fire;
----- targets for chemical show yellow.

Shows during operation relocation areas for army rockets.
These don't need to relocate very often.
Also on plan shows lines for anti-tank deployment.

When all documents are written, they are signed by chief of artillery and C/S army - and approved commander of army.

The plan has tables and graphics attached, similar to the operations plans.

Written plan or part of plan:
----- composition;
----- distribution of artillery battalion to DAGs, RAGs etc.
----- their regroupings during course of battle;
----- numbers of nuclear, chemical, and conventional warheads delivered and on hand and distribution according to units and missions;
----- distribution rockets - between missions and divisions;
----- distribution ammunition supply;
----- army AT, div AT composition;
----- rocket time preparation and movement;
----- technical readiness time;
----- calculation of time it takes to reach readiness;
----- calculation of time to move to firing areas;
----- measures of protection of troops from mass-destruction;

Map of Army at time of enemy counterattack shows enemy reserve area where their corps form up formations for counterattack.
At that time the army's divisions on axes of counterattack must react before counterattack occurs. The army command tells them of the counterattack. - Some divisions go on defense and others conduct flank attack or continue to press ahead.

The artillery goes into position to fight enemy counterattack.

If there is time, temporary defense by one division or so will be prepared and artillery participates in strike on enemy counterattack.

Each antitank brigade also takes position to block counterattack.

When enemy attacks - makes situation clear
When div goes in the defense, it is not reinforced, because it has enough forces, the main objectives is to reinforce the main attack.
Use antitank reserve on defense line.
Conduct fire support in defense too

Soviets say AT reserve of front has brigade can defend a 15-20 km wide zone. The army AT reserve on a 12-8 km width can defend against 1 1/2 divisions. This gives a total of 32-23 km frontage together.
Each AT weapon can destroy 2 tanks. So for this the division in defense doesn't need more artillery.
Consider that enemy counterblow can be held by combination of front and Army AT units.

River crossing - has important effect on offensive for one thing it is an obstacle for reconnaissance.

If enemy defense is strong tempo of offensive will be less.

May need to conduct river crossing on march with short preparation as they analyze situation need speed in crossing.

Engineer forces to conduct river crossings are in front, army, and division.

---Small river can be crossed by division forces.
--- to 60 meters wide is classed as narrow;
--- to 150-160 meters is medium river and crossed by forces of Army;
--- over 150 meters wide is wide category and these need forces of front

In Western TVD every 50-60 km there is a small river.

Every 200-300 km there is a wide river. We will leave analysis of the engineer organization designed for river crossings to lessons on engineer support and planning:

The main point is that they have the engineer assets to attempt to cross river on the march.

However, if enemy defense is strong, then they will do full preparation. During this time artillery take positions and fire on far bank.

So the artillery plan will show the artillery designated to occupy positions to support crossing.

At that time fire support is again a critical issue, so the chief of RT and Arty himself will organize fire support.

If needed, an artillery regrouping takes place to shift the artillery. In general the organization of the forward detachments will call for extra artillery for them.

The chief of artillery takes a command post to control the activity.

The central control radio net is used to support centralized control from lowest to highest units.

Division level artillery fire is completely planned.

As we discussed in the previous lesson, front doesn't do fire planning of the individual division fire missions.

However the army has multiple rocket launcher battalions and artillery, so their fire during time of artillery preparation fire must be planned also. These targets are on the div map also.

In this process there is interaction with the army group.

The targets are divided by c/s of arty at army staff according to policy guidance of Chief of RT and A of Army.

PRACTICAL EXERCISE LESSON FIVE

Lesson 5: Employment of army artillery

Preparation:

Exercise 1

Determine army's artillery groupings and composition of AAG, DAG, and RAG's.
--- army is conducting the attack on two directions. The main direction with 2 divisions, and supporting direction with one division.
--- the following artillery groups are to be formed
----- AAG
----- AGRA
----- first echelon division (DAG's)
----- first echelon regiments (RAG's)
----- the organic and attached artillery troops are shown in the annex (table of army artillery to include one artillery division and army's MRL regt)

Answer:

--a. total available artillery:
-- artillery division: 24 bns + AT bns
-- Army artillery regt (MRL) 4 bns
-- First echelon divisions 3 x 4 bns=12
-- First echelon regiments 6 x 1=6
-- total=45 bns

b. artillery groups to be formed:
-------------- norms
--- AAG=8 bns --- --8 - 10 bns
--- AGRA=4 bns--- -4 - 5 bns
--- DAG-1=5 bns ----4 - 6 bns
--- DAG-2=4 bns
--- DAG 3=4 bns
--- RAG1-1=4 bns -----3 - 4 bns
--- RAG1.2=4 bns
--- RAG2-1=3 bns
--- RAG 2-2=3 bns
--- RAG 3-1=3 bns
--- RAG 3-2=3 bns

Total=45 bns



Exercise 2
Given the attached composition of army artillery, assess (calculate) the artillery capability to support the following breakthrough sectors assigned to the army:
--- main direction=8 kms
--- supporting direction=4 km

Answer
Requirement per norms:
--- main direction: 8 x 100=800 guns
--- supporting direction 4 x 100=400 guns
--- Total 1200 guns

Available artillery:
--- main direction:
--- Division artillery 126 x 2=252
--- (division artillery + 3 regt artillery)
--- supporting direction:
--- Division artillery=126
---Total=378

---artillery division (8 gun btry's)=528
--- army artillery regiment (8 gun btry's)=72
--- Total=978

Difference 1200 - 978=222 guns:

Therefor the following measures can be taken:
--- bring artillery from 2nd echelon division 72 x 2=144
--- BM - 21 Bn from adjacent division=18
--- assign artillery from AT reserve to participate in the artillery preparation fire=54 guns



Exercise 3

Assess the total breakthrough frontage possible on the basis of the capability of army artillery:

Answer:

1st Variant:
Army artillery without involving artillery from the second echelon:
978 / 100=9.8 km

2nd variant:
Involving artillery from one second echelon division:
1050 / 100=10.5 km

Involving artillery from 2 second echelon divisions:
1122 100 - 11.2 km

3rd variant:
When the army is reinforced with only one artillery brigade and one BM-22 brigade and one anti-tank brigade:
Total available army artillery plus front artillery for preparatory fire is
-- 378 + 192 + 72=642 tubes
-- second echelon artillery 72 to 144 tubes
-- Total of 714 to 786 tubes

Anti-tank reserve - 54 guns

Total of 768 to 840 tubes

768 or 840 ÷ 100=7.68 or 8.4 km

Answer is approximately 8 km.



Exercise 4:

Determine the artillery requirements of three first echelon divisions when:

-- 26 MRD attacking on the main direction and covering 4 km of the army's 6.5 km breakthrough sector in this direction. The division area is going to be supported by 3 artillery battalions from AAG-1 and 5 BM-22 Bns from the AGRA deployed on this direction. The division attacks against German forces.

-- 28 MRD attacking on the main direction and covering 2.5 km of the army's 6.5 km breakthrough sector in this direction. The division area is going to be supported by 2 artillery battalions from AAG-1 deployed on this direction. The division attacks against German forces.

-- 32 MRD attacking on a supporting direction and covering all 3.5 km of the army's breakthrough sector on this direction. The division area is going to be supported by 4 artillery battalions of AAG-2 and 4 artillery battalions from the second echelon division deployed in the area for the artillery preparatory fire. The division attacks against Belgian forces.

-- AAG-1 on the main direction is composed of 5 artillery battalions, AGRA on the same direction is composed of 5 BM-22 battalions.

Division and regimental artillery and AGRA are composed of 6 gun batteries, while AAG is composed of 8 gun batteries.

Answer:

A. Requirements in terms of the width of the breakthrough area.

26 MRD: 4 x 115=460 guns and mortars;
28 MRD: 2.5 x 115=288 guns and mortars;
32 MRD: 3.5 x 110=385 guns and mortars;

B. Available

1. 26 MRD:
--- Division artillery and artillery from 3 first echelon regiments:=126 guns
--- 3 battalions from AAG-1=72 guns
--- 5 battalions from AGRA=90 guns
--- Total of 288 guns

2. 28 MRD
--- Division artillery and artillery from 3 first echelon regiments:=126 guns
--- 2 battalions from AAG-1=48 guns
--- Total of 174 guns

3. 32 MRD
--- Division artillery and artillery from 3 first echelon regiments=126 guns
--- 4 artillery battalions from AAG-2=96 guns
--- 4 artillery battalions from 2nd echelon division=72 guns
--- Total of 294 guns



C. Required

1. 26 MRD: A - B=460 - 288=172 guns

2. 28 MRD: A - B=288 - 174=114 guns

3. 32 MRD: A - B=385 - 294=91 guns

Therefore the following number of artillery battalions are to be attached to these divisions:

--- To 26 MRD: 7 Artillery battalions for a total of 168 guns

--- To 28 MRD: 5 Artillery battalions for a total of 120 guns

--- To 32 MRD: 4 Artillery battalions for a total of 96 guns

D. Total requirements in artillery battalions:


--- 26 MRD -----7 Battalions
--- 28 MRD -----5 Battalions
-- 32 MRD ---4 Battalions
--- Total=----16 Battalions



Exercise 5

On the basis of calculations done in exercise 4 and the number of artillery battalions to be allocated to AAG-1, AAG-2, AGRA, and first echelon divisions; make a list of distribution of artillery to include organic and attached artillery which is as follows:

A- 306 Artillery division:
a. 21st Brigade: 130 mm gun Bde. (4 Bns)
b. 22nd Brigade: 152 mm how Bde. (4 Bns)
c. 23rd Brigade: Anti-tank (4 Bns)
d. 24th Brigade: (BM-22) MRL Bde. (4 Bns)
112 Heavy Artillery Brigade 94 Bns 0
36th 152 gun Brigade (4 Bns)
37th MRL (BM-22) Bde. (4 Bns)

B- Army artillery:

55th Artillery Regiment (3 Bns)
61st MRL (BM-21) Regiment (3 Bns)

Answer:

1. Number of artillery unit (large unit HQ's)

artillery division=1
artillery brigades (except AT bde)=6
artillery regiment=2
artillery regiment (Division artillery)=3

Total=11 hqs

2. Artillery group commands required:

AAG=1
AGRA=1
DAG=3
RAG=9
Total=14

Therefor three RAG's have to be commanded by regimental artillery battalion commanders. The rest of the RAG's, DAG's, AGRA, and AAG can be provided with artillery unit headquarters for troop control.

3. The artillery can be divided as follows:

AAG:
a. HQ's: 306 Artillery division

b. Troops: 3 bns from 21st Artillery Bde
2 bns from 22nd Artillery Bde
2 bns from 112th Artillery Bde
1 Bn from 36th Artillery Bde
1 Bn from 55th Artillery Regt.

AGRA:
a. HQ's: 24th MRL Bde Hq.

b. Troops: 4 Bns of 24th MRL Bde.
1 Bn from 37th MRL Bde.

Attached to 26th MRD:
a. 21st Artillery Bde (less 3 Bns)=1 bn
b. 112th Artillery Bde (less 2 Bns)=2 bns
c. 2 bns from 36th Artillery Bde=2 bns
d. 37th Artillery Bde (less 2 Bns)=2 bns

Attached to 28th MRD:
a. 22nd Artillery Bde (less 2 Bns)=2 bns
b. 1 Bn from 55th Artillery Regt=1 bn
c. 61st MRL Regt (less 1 Bn)=2 bns

Attached to 32nd MRD:
a. 36th Artillery Bde (less 3 Bns)=1 bn
b. 1 Bn from 37th MRL Bde=1 bn
c. 55th Artillery Regt (less 2 Bns)=1 bn
d. 1 Bn from 61st MRL Regt=1 bn



Exercise 6

Given the organic and attached anti-tank units determine the composition of army and division's anti-tank reserves.

Answer:

A. Available anti-tank units:

attached 23rd Anti-tank Bde from 306th Artillery Division (4 bns).
army anti-tank regiment (3 bns)
anti-tank artillery battalions of first echelon divisions (3 bns)

B. Requirement:

The following anti-tank reserves must be established:

one or two army anti-tank reserves (2-3 anti-tank battalions each);
first echelon division anti-tank reserves (one battalion each);
first echelon regimental anti-tank reserves (1-2 batteries each);

C. Grouping:

Army anti-tank reserve 1: 23rd AT Bde (less one battalion);
Army anti-tank reserve 2: Army's AT Regt. (less one battalion);
26th MRD AT reserve: one battalion from 23rd AT Bde;
28th MRD AT reserve: one battalion from army's AT regiment (less one battery);
32nd MRD AT reserve: division AT battalion one battery plus one battery (ATGM) from army's AT regiment;
Regimental AT reserves are to be organized from divisional AT sub-units attached to regiments and regimental AT sub-units.


Exercise 7

Prepare suggestions of the CRT&A to army commander during his decision process on the basis of prepared situation map.

Answer:
See prepared text


Exercise 8

Prepare the plan of the employment of the artillery to include:

grouping of artillery;
deployment in initial situation;
planned fires;
support of breakthrough areas;
support of commitment of the second echelon;
support of the repulsion of the counterattack;
support of the river crossing;
support of airborne assaults.

Answer

Prepared plan of the employment of the army artillery.

Exercise 9

Prepare instructions on artillery to subordinate large units (divisions) and combat instructions to artillery units.

Answer

See prepared texts of the instructions.


Exercise 10

Determine the requirement of the artillery to support the commitment of the second echelon division on the basis of the following assumptions.
Duration of preparatory fire is 20 min.
Total effective surface of targets against the line of commitment is 480 hectares.

Required rounds per one hectare is 50.

Use 122mm howitzer as the standard weapon.

Answer:

A. Requirement in terms of targets:

Where: S=overall effective area of targets=480 hectares
N_i=Number of i type (122mm How) guns
n_i=Number of rounds that can be fired by one gun in 20 minutes=50
m_i=Number of rounds required for the desirable destruction per hectare=50.

Therefor:

N_i=480 guns and mortars

B. Requirement in terms of frontage:

The norm for density of artillery in support of the commitment of the second echelon division is 50 - 60 guns and mortars per km of frontage.

The frontage is 8 km, therefor 8 x 50 - 60=400 - 480 guns and mortars.

C. Artillery units required:

Division artillery: 4 x 18=72;

Regimental artillery: 3 x 18=54;

Total 126

Artillery to be attached to the division on commitment (5 bns)=120;

Total 246

AAG and AGRA 120

Artillery from first echelon division (5-6 bns required) 90 - 108;

Total 456 - 474

LIST OF VIEWGRAPHS LESSON 5

VG 1 - Outline Lesson V

VG 2 - Organizing artillery support in army offensive

VG 3 - Organization of combat employment of artillery and rocket troops in army offensive operations

VG 4 - Planning combat employment of artillery

VG 5 - Methods for assessing army requirement for artillery in offensive operations

VG 6 - Exercise 1

VG 7 - Answer

VG 8 - Determining capability of artillery in terms of width

VG 9 - Exercise 2

VG 10- Exercise 3

VG 11- Determine artillery requirement of first echelon divisions

VG 12- Exercise 4

VG 13- Answer

VG 14- Distribute artillery to divisions

VG 15- Exercise 5

VG 16- Answer

VG 17- Anti-tank reserves

VG 18- Points included when the army's chief of rocket troops and artillery assigns missions to antitank reserves

VG 19- Exercise 6

VG 20- Sequence

VG 21- Suggestions of chief of artillery

VG 22- Report of chief of artillery

VG 23- Preparation and content of plan on map

VG 24- Duties of chief of rocket troops and artillery while planning the army offensive operation

VG 25- Points in the graphic part of the plan

VG 26- Points in the written instructions

VG 27- Points contained in the work document

VG 28- Times for committing army second-echelon forces into combat

VG 29- Reasons for second-echelon commitment

VG 30- Missions of the artillery during artillery preparatory fire

VG 31- Types of defensive artillery fires from covered positions

VG 32- Types of fire in defense

VG 33- Reasons for conducting counterblows

VG 34- Artillery assigned to support counterblows

VG 35- Plans for support of counterblow made on the basis of the army commander's decision

VG 36- During the conduct of artillery and air preparatory fire, losses are inflicted on the following:

VG 37- Norms for preparatory fire

VG 38- Individuals assigned missions by the chief of army rocket troops and artillery

VG 39- Conveying decision to executing elements

VG 40- Sample

VG 41- Other preparations

VG 42- Organizing artillery action during the operation

VG 43- Exercise 10

PLANNING ARMY ARTILLERY

organizing artillery support in army's offensive operations

planning the combat employment of artillery

determining the capability of army artillery in terms of width of breakthrough areas

determining the artillery requirement of first-echelon divisions

distributing artillery units and headquarters to the first-echelon divisions and grouping of AAG and AGRA

composition, missions, fire lines, grouping, and action of army anti-tank reserves

distributing antitank artillery units to support the establishment of army an division anti-tank reserves

format and content of army chief of artillery's suggestions to the army commander on the combat employment of artillery

preparation and content of the plan of the employment of army artillery on the map to include the following:

conveying the decision (plan) to the executing elements:

preparing FUP areas

collecting and stockpiling of material means

preparing troops for combat action

organizing the action of artillery during the operation

ORGANIZING ARTILLERY SUPPORT IN ARMY'S OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS

making the decision on employing the artillery;

planning the artillery action;

conveying the decision to executing elements (combat instructions, organization of interaction and combat support measures);

organizing troop control and signal systems;

monitoring and assisting subordinate actions;

preparing FUP areas;

collecting and stockpiling the material means.

PLANNING THE COMBAT EMPLOYMENT OF ARTILLERY, WITH THE ARTILLERY REQUIREMENT ON THE FOLLOWING BASIS

directions of attack;

number of divisions and regiments in the first-echelon;

number of targets (if known) on the attack directions.

DETERMINING THE CAPABILITY OF ARMY ARTILLERY IN TERMS OF WIDTH OF BREAKTHROUGH AREAS THAT CAN BE SUPPORTED

calculate on the basis of required guns per km of breakthrough area

measures to increase the width of breakthrough area when army artillery is not sufficient

bring up second-echelon division artillery

use of BM-21 battalion of adjacent division

employ part of army's antitank reserve for preparatory fire

DETERMINING THE ARTILLERY REQUIREMENT OF FIRST-ECHELON DIVISIONS ON THE FOLLOWING BASIS

availability of artillery;

width of assigned breakthrough area;

level of artillery support (mission planned) in the division's sector by AAG and AGRA;

nationality of opposing enemy forces.

DISTRIBUTING ARTILLERY UNITS AND HEADQUARTERS TO THE FIRST-ECHELON DIVISIONS AND GROUPING OF AAG AND AGRA

required number of artillery units is attached to divisions;

artillery headquarters are distributed in a way to furnish artillery groups with artillery headquarters and to facilitate troop control and use of artillery's organic communication means.

ANTI-TANK RESERVES

composition, missions, fire lines, grouping, and action of army anti-tank reserves

distributing antitank artillery units to support the establishment of army an divisional antitank reserves

format and content of army chief of artillery's suggestions to the army commander on the combat employment of artillery (Exercise #7)

PREPARATION AND CONTENT OF THE PLAN OF THE EMPLOYMENT OF ARMY ARTILLERY ON THE MAP

grouping of artillery;

deploying in initial situation;

planned fires of AAG and AGRA:

--- during artillery preparatory fire;

--- during assault support fire;

--- during the accompanying fire.

supporting the commitment of the second-echelon;

supporting the repulsion of counterattack;

supporting river crossing;

supporting airborne assault

CONVEYING THE DECISION (PLAN) TO THE EXECUTING ELEMENTS

format and content of combat instructions to artillery units and instructions on artillery to subordinate formations (divisions);

organizing interaction;

instructions on combat supporting measures.

preparing FUP areas

collecting and stockpiling material means

preparing troops for combat action

ORGANIZING THE ACTION OF ARTILLERY DURING THE OPERATION

artillery action during the breakthrough;

artillery action during the commitment of the second-echelon;

---- calculations of the required artillery on the basis of likely targets
---- on the basis of frontage of attack at the line of commitment;

artillery action to support the repulsion of enemy's counterattack;

action of army's antitank reserve during the operation;

relocating and regrouping army artillery during the operation.

METHODS FOR ASSESSING ARMY REQUIREMENT FOR ARTILLERY IN OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS

in terms of the volume of the artillery missions during preparatory fire:

during breakthrough (penetration) of enemy defenses a great number of missions are required to be accomplished by the artillery.

army requirements of artillery will be determined by the following two methods:

---- a. In terms of the volume of missions in a specific condition of the situation based on accurate reconnaissance information.

---- b. in terms of enemy organization and armament in one kilometer of front


in terms of organization of artillery groupings:

---- regimental artillery group (RAG) each three to four artillery battalions;

---- divisional artillery groups (DAG) each four to six artillery battalions;

---- army artillery group (AA) eight to ten artillery battalions including four to five longer range artillery.

ORGANIZATION OF COMBAT EMPLOYMENT OF ARTILLERY AND ROCKET TROOPS IN ARMY OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS

make decisions on employment of the artillery and rocket troops and assignment (conveying) of combat missions;

plan combat employment of artillery and rocket troops;

establish groupings of artillery and rocket troops;

organize coordination (interaction);

prepare (FUP) areas for the attack and positions for the artillery and rocket troops to support the deployment of main groupings of forces to repulse enemy blows (attacks);

collect and stockpile (dump) material means;

organize political affairs of artillery and rocket troops;

organize all types of combat support measures to prepare troops for combat actions;

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

DUTIES OF THE CHIEF OF ROCKET TROOPS AND ARTILLERY WHILE PLANNING THE ARMY OFFENSIVE OPERATION

clarify the mission;

study the decision of the army commander on the employment of rocket troops and artillery;

study instructions from higher echelons on the employment of rocket troops and artillery;

conduct a full assessment (estimate) of the situation;

make decisions on employment of rocket troops and artillery on which the plan for combat employment is prepared.

POINTS IN THE GRAPHIC PART OF THE PLAN

situations and actions of enemy forces, his important groupings, and targets of rocket troops and artillery;

situations and missions of army forces and divisions and boundaries between them;

missions of rocket troops in the initial and subsequent nuclear strikes, number of targets, yields of nuclear rounds, types of bursts, subunits and units launching the strikes, and time of delivery of strikes;

employ rocket troops against enemy nuclear means;

directions of movements and positions areas of rocket troops and army technical rocket subunits in attack (FUP) positions, position areas of rocket battalions of divisions in the attack (FUP) areas, and in the security and border areas;
relocate positions of rocket troops and rocket technical subunits during the course of conduct of operations;

artillery groupings of the army, divisions and regiments in attack (FUP) areas and in security and border areas;

penetration (breakthrough) areas and density of artillery in these areas;

areas of deployment of antitank reserves of the army, divisions, and regiments and the directions of their actions;

areas of deployment of front antitank reserves and directions of their actions;

maneuver of rocket troops and artillery during the course of conduct of operations;

positions of air defense artillery and areas of radar;

other elements of army combat formations.

combat composition of rocket troops and artillery, distribution of attached and organic artillery among the divisions and elements of combat formations, and their regroupment during the course of conduct of operations;

specify numbers of nuclear an chemical rockets allocated for operations and their distribution in terms of their allocation to the initial nuclear strike and army's missions and in terms of their distribution to different divisions;

availability and distribution of conventional rockets in terms of their allocation to army missions and their distribution to different divisions;

distribution of artillery rounds in terms of their allocation to army missions and in terms of their distribution to different divisions;

composition of antitank reserves of the army, divisions, and regiments.

method, time of preparation, and delivery of rockets to troops;

calculation of time for bringing rocket troops and artillery to full combat-readiness;

calculation of time for movement of army and divisions rocket troops;

expenditure of conventional rounds in operations and for each mission during the operation;

measures for protecting troops against enemy mass-destruction weapons.

TIMES FOR COMMITTING ARMY SECOND-ECHELON FORCES INTO COMBAT

after accomplishment of the army's immediate mission;

at the beginning of the conduct of long-range missions of the army.

COMMITMENT OF SECOND-ECHELON

to expand (to intensify) the strength of the striking power in areas of first-echelon divisions;

to support momentum of the attack (at a higher speed) or in the gaps created between the first-echelon divisions during the attack;

to shift main efforts to another direction;

to reinforce first-echelon troops which have suffered heavy losses.

destroy enemy nuclear delivery means;

suppress enemy antitank defenses in areas of commitment of the second-echelon into combat;

\ suppress or destroy enemy artillery and mortar batteries;

suppress enemy personnel, firing means, and tanks in strong points.

TYPES OF DEFENSIVE ARTILLERY FIRES FROM COVERED POSITIONS

distant fires in defense;

massive fires;

concentration fires;

barrage fires (fire barrages);

fires from antitank means (antitank guns, antitank guided missiles, and tanks).

distant defensive fires

inflicting losses on the enemy during deployment

\ fires during the initiation of enemy attacks

during enemy penetration in the defense

repulsing attacks by enemy groupings of tanks

prior to initiating the counterattack (blows) of the second-echelon

to destroy the enemy who has penetrated or broken through into the defense;

to initiate a decisive attack by the troops.

ARTILLERY ASSIGNED TO SUPPORT COUNTER BLOWS

artillery of units and large units defending on the first-echelon;

artillery of units participating in counterblows (divisional and regimental artillery group);

army's artillery group.

PLANS FOR SUPPORT OF COUNTERBLOW BASED OF THE ARMY COMMANDER'S DECISION

establish groupings of artillery and their time of arrival to fire positions;

duration and structure of artillery preparatory fire or fire strikes;

methods of support for counterblows by the artillery;

measures on troop control, etc.

DURING THE CONDUCT OF ARTILLERY AND AIR PREPARATORY FIRE LOSSES ARE INFLICTED ON THE FOLLOWING

newly detected enemy nuclear delivery means;

artillery and mortar batteries;

personnel and firing means of enemy first-echelon battalions;

enemy second-echelon troops and command posts.

duration based on time required to inflict required losses, or on time required for forces to move and deploy;

may be 15 - 20 min. or up to 30 - 40 min;

ammunition expended up to .5 to .7 BK;

executed in several fire strikes.

commanders of army artillery brigades;

commanders of antitank reserves;

chiefs of artillery of divisions.

POINTS INCLUDED IN MISSIONS TO ANTITANK RESERVES

likely composition of enemy groupings of tanks;

firing lines;

methods and times of deployment on firing lines;

missions on each fire line;

methods of coordination (interaction) with other units.

EXERCISE 1

Determine army's artillery groupings and composition of AAG, DAG, and RAG's.


--- army is conducting the attack on two directions. The main direction with 2 divisions, and supporting direction with one division.

--- the following artillery groups are to be formed
------ AAG
------ AGRA
------ first echelon division (DAG's)
------ first echelon regiments (RAG's)

the organic and attached artillery troops are shown in the annex (table of army artillery to include one artillery division and army's MRL regt)

EXERCISE 1 - ANSWER

a. total available artillery:
------artillery division: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------24 bns + AT bn
------Army artillery regt------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (MRL) 4 bns
----- First echelon divisions--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 x 4 bns=12
----- First echelon regiments -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6 x 1=6
----- total=-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------45 bns

b. artillery groups to be formed:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- norms
----- AAG=8 bns ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8 - 10 bns
----- AGRA=4 bns---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 - 5 bns
----- DAG -1=5 bns ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4 - 6 bns
----- DAG -2=4 bns
----- DAG -3=4 bns
----- RAG 1-1=4 bns --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3 - 4 bns
----- RAG 1-2=4 bns
----- RAG 2-1=3 bns
----- RAG 2-2=3 bns
----- RAG 3-1=3 bns
----- RAG 3-2=3 bns

Total=45 bns

EXERCISE 2

Given the attached composition of army artillery, assess (calculate) the artillery capability to support the following breakthrough sectors assigned to the army:

----- main direction=8 kms

----- supporting direction=4 km

ANSWER

Requirement per norms:

----- main direction: -----------------------8 x 100=800 guns
----- supporting direction -----------------4 x 100=400 guns
---- Total -----------------------------------1200 guns

Available artillery:

----- main direction:
----- Division artillery --------------------126 x 2=252
----- (division artillery + 3 regt artillery)
----- supporting direction:
----- Division artillery--------------------=126
----- Total-----------------------------------=378

----- artillery division --------------------(8 gun btry's)=528
----- army artillery regiment -------------(8 gun btry's)=72
---- Total---------------------------------=978

Difference --------------------------------1200 - 978=222 guns:

Therefor the following measures can be taken:
----- bring artillery from 2nd echelon division -------------72 x 2=144
---- BM - 21 Bn from adjacent division--------------------=18
---- assign artillery from AT reserve to participate in the artillery preparation fire=54 guns

EXERCISE 3 - ANSWER

1st Variant:
---- Army artillery without involving artillery from the second echelon:
---- 978 / 100=9.8 km

2nd variant:
---- Involving artillery from one second echelon division:
---- 1050 / 100=10.5 km

---- Involving artillery from 2 second echelon divisions:
---- 1122 100 - 11.2 km

3rd variant:
---- When the army is reinforced with only one artillery brigade and one BM-22 brigade and one anti-tank brigade:
---- Total available army artillery plus front artillery for preparatory fire is
---- 378 + 192 + 72=642 tubes
---- second echelon artillery 72 to 144 tubes
---- Total of 714 to 786 tubes

Anti-tank reserve - 54 guns

Total of 768 to 840 tubes

768 or 840 ÷ 100=7.68 or 8.4 km

Answer is approximately 8 km.

EXERCISE 4

Determine the artillery requirements of three first echelon divisions when:

----- 26 MRD attacking on the main direction and covering 4 km of the army's 6.5 km breakthrough sector in this direction. The division area is going to be supported by 3 artillery battalions from AAG-1 and 5 BM-22 Bns from the AGRA deployed on this direction. The division attacks against German forces.

----- 28 MRD attacking on the main direction and covering 2.5 km of the army's 6.5 km breakthrough sector in this direction. The division area is going to be supported by 2 artillery battalions from AAG-1 deployed on this direction. The division attacks against German forces.

----- 32 MRD attacking on a supporting direction and covering all 3.5 km of the army's breakthrough sector on this direction. The division area is going to be supported by 4 artillery battalions of AAG-2 and 4 artillery battalions from the second echelon division deployed in the area for the artillery preparatory fire. The division attacks against Belgian forces.

----- AAG-1 on the main direction is composed of 5 artillery battalions, AGRA on the same direction is composed of 5 BM-22 battalions.

----- Division and regimental artillery and AGRA are composed of 6 gun batteries, while AAG is composed of 8 gun batteries.

EXERCISE 4 - ANSWER

A. Requirements in terms of the width of the breakthrough area.
------- 26 MRD: 4 x 115=460 guns and mortars;
------- 28 MRD: 2.5 x 115=288 guns and mortars;
------- 32 MRD: 3.5 x 110=385 guns and mortars;

B. Available:

1. 26 MRD:
------- Division artillery and artillery from 3 first echelon regiments:=126 guns
------- 3 battalions from AAG-1=72 guns
------- 5 battalions from AGRA=90 guns
------- Total of 288 guns

2. 28 MRD
------ Division artillery and artillery from 3 first echelon regiments:=126 guns
------ 2 battalions from AAG-1=48 guns
------ Total of 174 guns

3. 32 MRD
------ Division artillery and artillery from 3 first echelon regiments=126 guns
------ 4 artillery battalions from AAG-2=96 guns
------ 4 artillery battalions from 2nd echelon division=72 guns
------ Total of 294 guns

C. Required:
------1. 26 MRD: A - B=460 - 288=172 guns
------2. 28 MRD: A - B=288 - 174=114 guns
------3. 32 MRD: A - B=385 - 294=91 guns

Therefore the following number of artillery battalions are to be attached to these divisions:
----- To 26 MRD: 7 Artillery battalions for a total of 168 guns
----- To 28 MRD: 5 Artillery battalions for a total of 120 guns
----- To 32 MRD: 4 Artillery battalions for a total of 96 guns

D. Total requirements in artillery battalions:
----- 26 MRD 7 Battalions
----- 28 MRD 5 Battalions
- 32 MRD 4 Battalions
------ Total=16 Battalions

EXERCISE 5

On the basis of calculations done in exercise 4 and the number of artillery battalions to be allocated to AAG-1, AAG-2, AGRA, and first echelon divisions; make a list of distribution of artillery to include organic and attached artillery which is as follows:

------ A- 306 Artillery division:

------------------ a. 21st Brigade: 130 mm gun Bde. (4 Bns)
------------------ b. 22nd Brigade: 152 mm how Bde. (4 Bns)
------------------ c. 23rd Brigade: Anti-tank (4 Bns)
------------------ d. 24th Brigade: (BM-22) MRL Bde. (4 Bns)

----- 112 Heavy Artillery Brigade (94 Bns)
----- 36th 152 gun Brigade (4 Bns)
----- 37th MRL (BM-22) Bde. (4 Bns)

----- B- Army artillery:

------------------- 55th Artillery Regiment (3 Bns)
------------------- 61st MRL (BM-21) Regiment (3 Bns)

EXERCISE 5 - ANSWER

1. Number of artillery units (large unit HQ's)
------- artillery division-----------------------------------------------=1
------- artillery brigades (except AT bde)-------------------------=6
------- artillery regiment----------------------------------------------=2
--- artillery regiment (Division artillery)------------------------=3
------ Total---------------------------------------------------------------=11 hqs

2. Artillery group commands required:

----- AAG------------------=1
---- AGRA-----------------=1
---- DAG-------------------=3
RAG--------------------=9
--- Total--------------------=14

Therefor three RAG's have to be commanded by regimental artillery battalion commanders. The rest of the RAG's, DAG's, AGRA, and AAG can be provided with artillery unit headquarters for troop control.

3. The artillery can be divided as follows:
----- AAG:
---------- a. HQ's: 306 Artillery division
---------- b. Troops: 3 bns from 21st Artillery Bde
--------------------- 2 bns from 22nd Artillery Bde
--------------------- 2 bns from 112th Artillery Bde
-------------------- -1 Bn from 36th Artillery Bde
-------------------- -1 Bn from 55th Artillery Regt.

------ AGRA:
------------------ a. HQ's: 24th MRL Bde Hq.

------------------ b. Troops: 4 Bns of 24th MRL Bde.
---------------------- 1 Bn from 37th MRL Bde.

Attached to 26th MRD:
------ a. 21st Artillery Bde (less 3 Bns)=1 bn
------ b. 112th Artillery Bde (less 2 Bns)=2 bns
------ c. 2 bns from 36th Artillery Bde=2 bns
------ d. 37th Artillery Bde (less 2 Bns)=2 bns

Attached to 28th MRD:
------ a. 22nd Artillery Bde (less 2 Bns)=2 bns
------ b. 1 Bn from 55th Artillery Regt=1 bn
------ c. 61st MRL Regt (less 1 Bn)=2 bns

Attached to 32nd MRD:
------ a. 36th Artillery Bde (less 3 Bns)=1 bn
------ b. 1 Bn from 37th MRL Bde=1 bn
------ c. 55th Artillery Regt (less 2 Bns)=1 bn
------ d. 1 Bn from 61st MRL Regt=1 bn

EXERCISE 6 - ANSWER

A. Available anti-tank units:

----- attached 23rd Anti-tank Bde from 306th Artillery Division (4 bns).
----- army anti-tank regiment (3 bns)
----- anti-tank artillery battalions of first echelon divisions (3 bns)

B. Requirement:

The following anti-tank reserves must be established:
---- one or two army anti-tank reserves (2-3 anti-tank battalions each);
---- first echelon division anti-tank reserves (one battalion each);
---- first echelon regimental anti-tank reserves (1-2 batteries each);

C. Grouping:

Army anti-tank reserve 1: 23rd AT Bde (less one battalion);
Army anti-tank reserve 2: Army's AT Regt. (less one battalion);
26th MRD AT reserve: one battalion from 23rd AT Bde;
28th MRD AT reserve: one battalion from army's AT regiment (less one battery);
32nd MRD AT reserve: division AT battalion one battery plus one battery (ATGM) from army's AT regiment;
Regimental AT reserves are to be organized from divisional AT sub-units attached to regiments and regimental AT sub-units.

EXERCISE 10

Determine the requirement of the artillery to support the commitment of the second echelon division on the basis of the following assumptions.

----- Duration of preparatory fire is 20 min.
----- Total effective surface of targets against the line of commitment is 480 hectares.
----- Required rounds per one hectare is 50.
----- Use 122mm howitzer as the standard weapon.

Answer

A. Requirement in terms of targets:

Where: S=overall effective area of targets=480 hectares
N_i=Number of i type (122mm How) guns
n_i=Number of rounds that can be fired by one gun in 20 minutes=50
m_i=Number of rounds required for the desirable destruction per hectare=50.

Therefor:

N_i-------=480 guns and mortars

B. Requirement in terms of frontage:
----