Field Artillery Operations in the Artic

• Main Author: Kubasko, Wayne P.
• Other Authors: ARMY WAR COLL CARLISLE BARRACKS PA
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1987
• Subjects: Military Operations; Strategy and Tactics; *COLD WEATHER OPERATIONS; *ARTILLERY UNITS; *FIELD ARMY; *ARCTIC REGIONS; MAINTENANCE; LOW TEMPERATURE; ORGANIZATIONS; SKILLS; JOB TRAINING; RADAR; VEHICLES; COLD WEATHER; LIMITED WARFARE; GUNNERY; MILITARY COMMANDERS; MANEUVERS; ALASKA; BATTALION LEVEL ORGANIZATIONS; ARMY TRAINING; INFANTRY; TASK FORCES; Arctic; Alaska
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA181367; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA181367

Field Artillery operations in the Artic, although not new to the U.S. Army, have recently taken on increased importance with the activation of the 6th Infantry Division (Light) in Alaska and the 10th Mountain Division at Ft. Drum, New York. Both divisions train for employment in extreme cold weather. Organization of the field artillery in a low intensity conflict in the far north warrants special consideration. The employment of the field artillery in a battalion task force is the most likely way it can expect to fight. Artillery batteries may be attached to an infantry battalion, but the preferred organization is that they remain as part of the direct support battalion. Both field artillery and maneuver commanders must have the flexibility and breadth of understanding to deploy in task force configuration. In addition to organization, artillery units in the Artic must take into account the unique requirements for training to include physical, training, gunnery skills, maintenance training and cold weather training. Recent fielding of equipment such as the Small Unit Support Vehicle, Battery Computer System and Firefinder Radar have been very successful in Artic operations.