MILITARY THOUGHT (USSR): THE DETERMINATION OF ARMY ARTILLERY AMMUNITION NEEDS IN CONVENTIONAL WARFARE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP10-00105R000100600001-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2012
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: June 3, 1974
• Content Type: MEMO

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A Methodology for Determining the Amount of Artillery Required
in an Army Offensive Operation Conducted Without the Use of
Nuclear Weapons
by
General-Mayor of Artillery N. Korf, Candidate of Military
Sciences and Colonel V. Kolesov
In his article, "The Artillery Offensive--The Primary Method of Combat
Use of Artillery in an Offensive Operation Conducted with Conventional
Means of Destruction"*, which was based on a profound analysis of World War
II experience and the subsequent development of the artillery of the Ground
Forces, Marshal of Artillery K. Kazakov has indicated a practicable way of
further improving the methods of employing artillery in various conditions
of conducting modern war.
We fully share his opinion concerning the necessity of reviving the
artillery offensive in operations carried out without the use of nuclear
weapons. At the same time, taking into account the urgency of this
problem, we would like to examine in more detail one of the subjects
touched upon in the article--the amount of artillery required to conduct an
artillery offensive in an army. 50X1?HUM
As shown by the experience of the past war, this requirement will vary
in different stages of an artillery offensive (to carry out fire prepara-
tion, to provide artillery support, and to support combat in the depths of
the defense). In this case, the greatest amount of artillery is required
during the period of fire (artillery) preparation.
At present there are several methods of determining the amount of.
artillery required to carry out artillery (fire) preparation. One of them
is to calculate the number of guns based on the cited volume of fire
missions. The essence of this method consists of the following. The
anticipated amount of missions to be accomplished by artillery in the
sector of the breakthrough is calculated; in so doing, all missions are
conventionally reduced to a single one--to neutralize sheltered manpower
with full density (specified area). The required amount of artillery is
calculated in accordance with the established amount of missions and the
fire capabilities of a single gun (tht_sglcaation is_made_fiu_kIZZL
millimeter gun) for the planned duration of the artillery preparation.
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* Collection of Articles of the Journal "Military Thought", 1969, No. 3
(88).
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However, when calculating by this method, the necessity of using the
most advantageous method of destroying targets is not taken into considera-
tion and the requirement for artillery is also underestimated; the number
of guns engaged in the simultaneous delivery of fire on a target is reduced
and, consequently, the density of fire is also decreased. This can be seen
in the following example.
To neutralize a battery of self-propelled artillery mounts (when
firing at a range of up to 10 kilometers) requires the expenditure of 330
rounds. Since the size of the specified target is only 2.2 hectares, it
would seem that a single battery could fulfil this task. However, to do
this would require 17 minutes, delivering fire successively at three sight
settings. In this case, the density of fire would amount to less than 9
rounds per hectare per minute, and errors in preparing the settings for
firing would cause all of the battery's salvos to be deflected to one side.
In these conditions, the effectiveness of fire would be low and the enemy
battery could escape from under the shelling.
At the same time, when a battalion does the firing, the given task can
be fulfilled in 6 minutes and the density of fire will amount to 27 bursts
per hectare per minute. Furthermore, since the firing errors of several
batteries will, as a rule, take effect on various sides, the probability of
covering the target will be considerably enhanced.
Estimating the required amount of artillery by the cited sizes of the
targets (the amount of fire missions) considerably complicates specific
fire planning in artillery headquarters, since fire missions have to be
allocated among separate batteries. And this, in its turn, hampers fire
control.
Therefore we must base the methodology of determining the amount of
artillery required to break through a defense on a method of fulfilling
fire missions (methods of firing for effect) which ensures we achieve the
required effectiveness with a minimum expenditure of shells in the shortest
possible time, i.e., a method which produces a high density of fire against
the target being destroyed.
The most advantageous method of determining the amount of artillery
required for a fire preparation is the following. Initially, on the basis
of specific reconnaissance data (interpreted aerial photographs, results of
laser and optical rangefinder intersection, and also by means of radar and
acoustic reconnaissance) we determine the overall amount of missions which
are to be accomplished by artillery in the breakthrough sectors and the
immediate flanks (number of platoon strongpoints of first-echelon
battalions, artillery and mortar batteries, command posts, radar stations,
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etc.). Based on established norms for the number of guns to be engaged in
destroying individual targets, we calculate the overall number of guns
needed to simultaneously fulfil all of the missions entrusted to the
artillery.
In so doing, the following estimating norms are used: to neutralize
personnel and fire means in strongpoints--two guns per hectare of target
area; to neutralize a self-propelled artillery battery--from 9 to 18 guns;
to neutralize a mortar battery (platoon) or radar station--6 guns; to
neutralize a brigade command post--12 guns; and to neutralize a division
forward command post--18 guns.
Strongpoints and reserves located in the depth are destroyed, as a
rule, as secondary targets by the artillery designated to accomplish the
primary missions of fire preparation, and when requirements for artillery
are being determined, these targets do not enter the calculations.
Let us examine a specific example of an artillery requirement arrived
at by the proposed method.
A combined-arms army (made up of one tank division and four motorized
rifle divisions) is breaking through the enemy defense on two axes. Two
motorized rifle divisions are breaking through the first sector, of 8
kilometers, and one motorized rifle division is breaking through the second
sector, of 4 kilometers. One tank division and one motorized rifle
division are in the second echelon. The calculation of the required amount
of artillery for the fire preparation is cited in Table 1.
(See Table 1 on following page.)
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Table 1
Number of
Tar,sets
Required number of
artillery (guns)
Target nomenclature
Sector
No. 1
Sector
No. 2
Sector
No. 1
Secto
No. 2
Total
Company strongpoints of first-
echelon battalions
10
6
360
216
576
Battalion command posts
3
2
18
12
30
Brigade command posts
2
1
24
12
36
Division forward command
posts
1
1
18
18
36
Mortar platoons
9
6
54
36
90
Self-propelled artillery
batteries
15
10
180
120
300
"Honest John" batteries
1
1
12
12
24
203.2-millimeter howitzer
batteries
1
,.
1
36
18
54
Antiaircraft batteries
3
3
36
36
72
1
Radar stations
i 8
5
48
30
78
Total
i
1786
510
1,296
In this case we did not take into consideration company strongpoints
in brigade reserve positions, nor did we consider brigade reserves (tank
companies in concentration areas), which are to be destroyed as secondary
targets. The size of each platoon strongpoint is assumed to be equal to 6
hectares.
As can be seen from the table, for the simultaneous destruction of
established targets, 1,296 guns (786 guns in Sector No. 1 and 510 guns in
Sector No. 2) are required, which amounts to an average density of 108 guns
per kilometer of the breakthrough front. 50X1-HUM
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At the same time, for fire preparation, the army can call upon 432
guns from the three divisions of the first echelon, 144 guns from the
second-echelon divisions, and upon 72 guns from the army artillery gun
brigade, that is, a total of 648 guns.
This amount of artillery (based on the required density) is enough to
carry out fire preparation on a 6-kilometer-wide sector of the front. In
order to support a breakthrough of the enemy defense in the conditions we
have been examining (two sectors on a 12-kilometer front), the army has to
be reinforced by 648 guns (1,296 minus 648 equals 648), or 36 artillery
Artillery support of an attack, as is well known, can be carried out
by successive concentration of fire (PS0), by moving barrage (0V), and
sometimes only by fire concentration on request. In a number of instances,
a combination of these types of fire is permitted. Successive concentra-
tion of fire is most advantageous when attacking an enemy occupying a
defense by strongpoints (when these points have been reconnoitered with
adequate thoroughness and precision), since it will suffice to call upon 1
to 2 batteries to deliver a successive concentration of fire against a
platoon strongpoint covering an area of from 4 to 6 hectares, i.e., on the
average, one artillery battalion will be required per kilometer of
frontage.
To destroy enemy artillery (mortars) and recently discovered important
targets during the beginning of an offensive, it is necessary to contem-
plate placing from 2 to 3 artillery battalions at the disposal of each 1
chief of rocket troops and artillery of the divisions and one artillery'
battalion at the disposal of each chief of artillery of the regiments.
(See Table 2 on following page.)
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Table 2
Method of
supporting
an attack
To deliver a successive
concentration of fire
(PSO) or a moving
barrage (OV)
Trontage,
in kms
Required
per 1 km
of frontage
(guns)
Total
guns
Successive
concentration
of fire
16
18
288
'^loving
barrage
14
30
420
Combined
(PSO and
OV)
18
30
108
270
To destroy
artillery
and
mortars
Total
artillery
required
(guns)
Can call
upon
(without
regimental
or battalion
artillery)
Required
h*einforcement
(guns)
2
e
216
504
216 638
216
594
432
432
432
72
204
162
Note: When calculating flank coverage, 1 kilometer is assumed for a successive concentra-
tion of fire and 500 meters is assumed for a moving barrage (for each breakthrough
sector).
Table 2 shows the calculation of the amount of artillery required to
support an attack by various methods when an army is to break through an
enemy defense in two sectors which have an overall extent of 12 kilometers.
As can be seen from the table, for artillery support using the method
of successive concentration of fire (based on bringing into it the
artillery of second-echelon divisions), we have to call upon an additional
4 battalions of artillery. If successive concentrations of fire are
carried out simultaneously on two lines (as is proposed in the article of
Marshal of Artillery K. Kazakov) with bringing into it at least one
battalion per 2 kilometers of the frontage of the offensive's second line,
then 12 additional battalions are required.
For a moving barrage. 12 additional artillery battalions are also
required, and for support by the combined method (a moving barrage on the
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main axis and a successive concentration of fire on the second axis), 9
battalions are required.
For artillery support of the offensive during combat in the depth of
the enemy defense, and to assure a rapid rate of advance, powerful
regimental groups (each composed of no less than 2 to 3 artillery battal-
ions), and also divisional groups (3 to 4 artillery battalions each), are
established in first-echelon divisions. The establishment of an army
group, in our view, is advisable only during the period when the enemy's
defense is being broken through.
For
regimental
artillery
groups
For For army
divisional artillery
artillery group
groups
Table 3
Total Can call
artillery From 1st
battalions echelon
divisions
12 - 18
9- 12
4 25 - 34
upon (battalions) Required
From army Total reinforcement
field artillery (artillery
artillery battalions battalions)
brigade
12 4 16 9-18
Table 3 shows the number of artillery battalions required to establish
regimental and divisional artillery groups and an army artillery group
under the conditions in which a first-echelon army has three divisions (six
regiments).
As seen from the table, to establish the indicated artillery grouping
for an army will require, on the average, approximately 12 additional
artillery battalions.
Thus a combined-arms army breaking through a defense on two sectors of
a front that extends for 12 kilometers (without the use of nuclear weapons)
requires reinforcement by 36 artillery battalions during the fire prepara-
tion phase and by 9 to 12 battalions during the phase of supporting the
attack (in the condition when a moving barrage is delivered on one axis and
a successive concentration of fire is delivered on the second axis). At
the same time, such reinforcement will permit establishing the
aforementioned artillery groupings (regimental artillery groups, divisinnni
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artillery groups, and an army artillery group).
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If a portion of the artillery of the second echelon of the front (army
field artillery brigade and the artillery of the three divisions)T-ITIOunt-
ing to 16 artillery battalions, is engaged in the fire preparation
delivered in the zone of the offensive of the army we have been discussing,
then also in this case it will be necessary to reinforce the army with 3 to
4 artillery regiments, i.e., with one artillery division of present-day
strength.
When the army is to break through the enemy defense in a single sector
(on a frontage of 8 kilometers) and there are two divisions in the first
echelon, calculations show that to conduct the fire preparation (with
allowance for bringing into it the artillery of the second-echelon
divisions of the army), there is a requirement to additionally bring into
it up to 4 more artillery battalions, and to establish groupings that
assure a high rate of advance during combat, 9 to 10 more artillery
battalions will still be needed.
All of the calculations listed are correct only when the enemy defense
is organized as strongpoints which are not connected with each other by
communications trenches. Otherwise, the requirement for artillery to break
through such a defense increases sharply.
Our probable enemy has at his disposal highly efficient earthmoving
equipment which allows him to set up all types of trenches and communica-
tion trenches in a short period of time. Therefore, at times it will be
very difficult to make out on the terrain the specific strongpoints in his
overall defense system, and during fire preparation, it will be necessary
to hit the enemy over the entire frontage of the breakthrough sector. In
this case the requirement for artillery will increase from 1.5 to 2 times.
All of this must be taken into account when planning an offensive opera-
tion in a non-nuclear war.
From the editors
The methodology proposed by the authors to determine the amount of
artillery required when a breakthrough of an enemy defense is to be made
without the employment of nuclear weapons, does not give rise to doubts
from the point of view of the accuracy of the calculations carried out.
However, the editorial office considers it its duty to call to the
attention of readers (and primarily of artillerymen) the fact that a
one-sided examination of the function and place of one or another arm of
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troops in operations will always lead in practice to an overestimation of
the requirements for that arm.
The solution of the problem examined must be sought not only by
concentrating a large mass of artillery on the breakthrough sectors (Which
will always be linked to the necessity of considerably reinforcing with
artillery one or another combined-arms formation), but primarily by maximum
exploitation of the firing efficiency of guns and mortars, by increasing
the accuracy of their fire, by using more effective methods of firing for
effect, by increasing the effectiveness of the action of projectiles on the
targets, by the wide use of salvo firing of rocket artillery, and by the
use of operational-tactical and tactical rockets with cluster-type scal-Hum
(burst-type) warheads.
Along with the problems of destroying the enemy on the battlefield, we
must also solve the problem of the integrated use of all available forces
and means (aircraft, tanks, combat vehicles, infantry, etc.), whose
capabilities have considerably increased under present-day conditions.
Only by such an approach can we most correctly determine the requirements
for a particular branch of the armed forces (arm of troops) in an
operation.
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