Field Artillery Support for Brigade Heavy-Light Operations

This study investigates the role of the field artillery during brigade heavy-light operations. Using historical analysis, this study examines the sufficiency of U.S. field artillery doctrine, and requirements for tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) to support this mission. A key shortfall identified is insufficient fire support TTP manuals for a heavy brigade commander to assist him in conducting this operation. TTP for corrective action include: a high priority on counterbattery fires during the operation to protect the light force; movement and positioning of firing units to support the heavy-light operation; designing maneuver control measures and fire support coordination measures to facilitate execution of fires while providing the requisite protection to the entire maneuver force; a completed fire plan distributed prior to the beginning of heavy-light operations; heavy-light fire support rehearsals; and modifications to the field artillery unit basic load to support the heavy-light operation. Other TTP consider the communications requirements for the heavy-light brigade to include: TACFIRE/non-TACFIRE communications; lack of range and redundancy of the light communications systems; and secure equipment compatibility. The study concludes that the brigade heavy-light mission is sufficiently different from other operations and that fire support appendices or a heavy-light fire support field manual should address it.