Retooling the Artilleryman

[patmc]

Xenophon,

As a former Army FA officer (switched to Intel in June), you are correct in your statement. My BN spent half a year training to do convoy security, then deployed for a year. Upon return, we received a West Point training mission to train infantry skills, then received a warno for a SECFOR deployment. One battery actually touched its howitzers that year, but only for a few months. The SECFOR mission was scratched one month out, and the BN then had to relearn FA after almost 3 years off. As a senior 1LT, junior CPT with 3 months as a FDO, I was one of the most experienced Artillery officers. Sad, but true.

It took a lot of hard work, time in the classroom, MTTs, and many days in the field to relearn what was lost. Adding to that, they fielded the new m777 and all its systems, having to learn the new platform. When the unit finally received a DEPORD, the mission changed again, adding a Radar battery, and Security platoon missions. So now, only half the BN will get FA experience, and quite a few NCOs and 13B's are now reclassed for radar or are guarding a compound.

I just heard from a friend that the BN is putting steel on bad guys as I type this, so the work paid off, but it was not an easy path. There are a couple yeargroups of junior officers, Soldiers, and NCO's that did/will not get Artillery training for several formative years. Soldiers accomplish the mission they are given, but with all the talk of growing the force, there are not enough Infantry or Armor units to perform all the required tasks, so FA and other branches will continue to pay the price.

Fort Sill released the Army FA Campaign Plan last year, and it offers fixes to the problem, but unless FA is allowed to refocus and stop bill-paying, the problem will get worse. As for the technology, as with every new system, a MTT "trains the trainer" who serves as the unit SME until they PCS. It is assumed leaders and Soldiers will figure out the technology as they go along. Just like CPOF.

I'm seeing two large issues in the artillery community right now. (I'm sure Army Redlegs are dealing with the same)

1) Non-artillery missions have seriously degraded the competency level of the artillery community.

2) While artillerymen have been doing these non-artillery missions, the technology has changed drastically in the meantime.

[davidbfpo]

Patmc,

Some of these points have appeared in this thread: http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...ead.php?t=6702

The UK Army during the Northern Ireland campaign, thirty years long, at the height of deployment regularly had artillery and other specialist arms on six month tours. I am sure (hope) lessons learnt are documented and available via UK liaison. IIRC a Royal Artillery officer is always at your HQ (Fort Sill?).

davidbfpo

[Xenophon]

It is assumed leaders and Soldiers will figure out the technology as they go along. Just like CPOF.

That's the worst part about it. Not that I think all of this digital communication is a good idea or anything, but if we HAVE to use it, teach us how.

[RJ]

The Marines are testing for deployment a new lightweight system that fits inside a V-22 Osprey. He is the lead in to the article.

Check out the Marine Corps Times today 2/26/2002

Posted : Wednesday Feb 25, 2009 9:49:07 EST

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Even in field artillery, known for its big guns towed by big vehicles, the concept of “smaller is better” has hit home, or so say the first Marines to receive the Corps’ new Expeditionary Fire Support System.

“They’re a lot faster than the triple sevens,” Cpl. James Boyle, a field artillery canoneer said during a live-fire exercise in mid-February aboard Camp Lejeune. He was referring to the M777A2 Lightweight 155mm Howitzer. “You can get into places that you couldn’t with the triple seven.”

That’s the idea behind the EFSS, a mortar-based system designed to provide mobile fire support for expeditionary forces. It is lightweight and small enough to fit snugly into the MV-22 Osprey, an aircraft designed to get Marines farther inland faster, and the CH-53 Sea Stallion.

Members of Lejeune’s Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 10th Marines, began training on the systems in January. Since then, Marines have learned to drive the new Internally Transportable Vehicle, a type of jeep that also fits inside an Osprey, while simultaneously learning to use the 120mm mortar that fires smoothbore or rifled ammunition.

[Xenophon]

Yeah, I was FDO for the EFSS test battery in '07. Awesome weapon system. Not so awesome prime mover.

[patmc]

My buddies are in A-stan shooting m777's right now, and from I've heard, the Soldiers like them, and they're shooting fast and accurate. We were an Airborne m198 battalion, and heavy dropped that hunk of steel. Army FA is embracing the lighter m777 though.

Is this new system a cannon or a mortar system? If it is just a newer mortar, it will have its benefits like weight and mobility, but will it have the range of a tube howitzer? I would think not, but I don't know anything about this new one.

[RJ]

Xenophon and patmc.

I picked this part of a news story about a Marine Reserve unit serving in Helmand Province, from the online edition of the Marine Corps Times.

We have come a long way since I was a 60mm mortar gunner in the NYNG and spent a little time with a Marine Bn 81mm Mortar Section in the 50's.

2/14 touts advanced artillery system

Staff report
Posted : Saturday Mar 7, 2009 9:33:44 EST

The reservists with Battery D, 2nd Battalion, 14th Marines, had been at Camp Barber only three weeks in February when they conducted a successful field test of their High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, a first for any Marine unit operating in Afghanistan and a sign of what’s in store for the insurgency there, officials said in a news release.

HiMARS is more advanced than a traditional howitzer, Maj. Frankie P. Delgado, battery commander, said in the release. With its three-man crew, the system cradles six 200-pound rockets. Its range can exceed 40 miles, and the rockets, guided by a Global Positioning System, are accurate to within 26 feet.

One of HiMARS’ six rocket tubes can inflict the same damage as one artillery cannon, and it’s a more subtle alternative to airstrikes, he said. The enemy won’t ever see the rocket until it’s too late.

The FO's for that unit must be in pucker factor one most of the time if they are spotting shots 40 miles down range.

[patmc]

I saw HIMARS at Bragg, it is a cool system with a lot of capabilty. It is an improvement on the MLRS, with wheels for mobility, but half the payload. It can get in fast, shoot, and get out. I also know some guys who have called in the guided rounds, and had great things to say about it. FA is moving towards more precision and mobility, but still has its tubes for mass fires which will be needed someday unfortunately.