Comparison of current American doctrines as to the allocation and employment of accompanying artillery with those of the French, British, German, Italian, Russian, and Japanese armies.

THE STUDY PRESENTED -- A comparison of current American doctrines as to the allocation and employment of accompanying artillery with those of the French, British, German, Italian, Russian and Japanese. The meaning of the term "accompanying artillery", its purpose, and some of its more obvious advantages and disadvantages, are set forth in the Field Artillery Field Manual, Vol. II, 1932 , par. 355 ,a,(2 ), which states: (a)The general term accompanying artillery is employed to designate accompanying batteries and accompanying guns. Accompanying batteries are appropriate units for detachments to infantry regiments or brigades, accompanying guns to infantry assault battalions. (b) The purpose of accompanying artillery is to give close support to the unit to which attached, by attacking, with surprise and rapidity, targets which the supported unit by its own fire power can not overcome. Limited ammunition supply precludes employing accompanying artillery in the firing of barrages or in searching large areas. Targets are attacked on order of the commander of the unit to which attached, or by accompanying artillery commander on his own initiative.