Abstract
Artillery and its firepower are still an important element in land tactical activities, which is once again being proven by the current conflict in Eastern Europe. However, two distinct approaches to using its fire capabilities are discernible. One approach views artillery as a precise means of destruction, similar to a sniper with significant firepower and range. The other approach considers artillery fire a weapon of destruction similar to a hammer or a road roller, destroying everything in its path without any selectivity of fire. In the face of such perspectives, the considerations set forth in the following article focus on the former of the presented approaches to using artillery and the determinants that will ensure the implementation of such an approach in the form of the new capabilities of modernized Polish artillery. The presented content results from comparative analyses and observations focused on the needs and effects of artillery use, and factors that are important in its effective operation on the modern battlefield.
References
AArtyP-5. (2015). AArtyP-5 Allied Artillery Publication, Edition B, Version 1, NATO Fire Support Doctrine, Stanag 2484. NATO Standardization Office (NSO).
NSS. (2020). National Security Strategy of the Republic of Poland. National Security Bureau. https://www.bbn.gov.pl/ftp/dokumenty/National_Security_Strategy_of_the_Republic_of_Poland_2020.pdf
AC-Fires. (2021, September, 15). Army Futures Command Concept for Fires 2028. AFC Pam 71-20-6. US Army Future Command Futures and Concepts Center. https://api.army.mil/e2/c/downloads/2021/10/06/869ca62b/afc-concept-for-fires-2028-oct21.pdf
ATP 3-09.23. (2015, September, 24). Field Artillery Cannon Battalion, ATP 3-09.23 (FM 3-09.21). Headquarters Department of the Army. https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/atp3_09x23.pdf
BAE Systems. (2022). ARCHER Mobile Howitzer. BAE Systems, Inc. https://www.baesystems.com/en/product/archer
Cranny-Evans, S. (2022, February, 14). The Role of Artillery in a War Between Russia and Ukraine. The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). https://rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/role-artillery-war-between-russia-and-ukraine
EDA. (2017, March, 2). EDA project helping to increase artillery accuracy. The European Defence Agency. https://eda.europa.eu/news-and-events/news/2017/03/02/eda-project-helping-to-increase-artillery-accuracy
FM 3-0. (2022). FM 3-0 Operations. Headquarters, Department of the Army. https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN36290-FM_3-0-000-WEB-2.pdf
FM 3-09. Fire Support and Field Artillery Operations. (2020). Headquarters, Department of the Army. https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN21932_FM_3-09_FINAL_WEB.pdf
Freedberg, S.J. JR. (2018, March, 23). Army Will Field 100 Km Cannon, 500 Km Missiles: LRPF CFT. BREAKING DEFENSE. https://breakingdefense.com/2018/03/army-will-field-100-km-cannon-500-km-missiles-lrpf-cft/
Freedberg, S.J. JR. (2020, January, 27). Artillery Seeks Robot Ammo Haulers. BREAKING DEFENSE. https://breakingdefense.com/2020/01/artillery-seeks-robot-ammo-haulers/
Freedberg, S.J. JR. (2021, April, 16). ERCA: Army Contracts To Help New Cannon ‘Fire Faster’. BREAKING DEFENSE. https://breakingdefense.com/2021/04/erca-army-contracts-to-help-new-cannon-fire-faster/
Golonka, A. (2021). The Role of Artillery in Joint Fire Support. Safety & Defense, Vol. 7, No 3, pp. 10-21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.37105/sd.136
HSW. (2021). Moździerze samobieżne 120 mm. HSW PGZ. https://www.hsw.pl/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/rak_samobiezna.pdf
Husheena, M. & Downing, K. (2020, June, 28). Lessons Learned from Combined Training with Polish Artillery and Forward Observers. USFAA. https://www.fieldartillery.org/news/3-16FAR-Atlanticresolve-part8
Jacobson, M. & Scales, R.H. (2016, October, 6). The United States needs to get serious about artillery again. WAR ON THE ROCKS. https://warontherocks.com/2016/10/the-united-states-needs-to-get-serious-about-artillery-again/
Jarecki, C. & Malinowski, P. (2007). Kierunki rozwoju środków i sposobów wsparcia ogniowego, Tendencja – 2. [Unpublished research report]. National Defence Academy, Warsaw.
Judson, J. (2020, March, 6). US Army takes 40-mile shots from extended-range cannon in demo. DefenseNews. https://www.defensenews.com/land/2020/03/06/army-takes-40-mile-shots-from-extended-range-cannon-in-demo/
Judson, J. (2020a, December, 21). Army long-range cannon gets direct hit on target 43 miles away. DefenseNews. https://www.defensenews.com/land/2020/12/21/army-long-range-cannon-gets-direct-hit-on-target-43-miles-away/
Kiński, A. (2007). Pierwsza Langusta przekazana. Nowa Technika Wojskowa (in Polish), No. 4/2007, (pp. 16–20). Magnum-X.
Korsvold, T. (2019, February, 6). The range revolution. NAMMO. https://www.nammo.com/story/the-range-revolution/
McCardle, G. (2022, April, 24). Canada is Sending Ukraine Excalibur Precision-Guided, Extended-Range Artillery Shells. SOFREP. https://sofrep.com/news/canada-is-sending-ukraine-excalibur-precision-guided-extended-range-artillery-shells/
NAMMO. (2022). ROCKET MAN. NAMMO INSIGHTS MAGAZINE. https://www.nammo.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Nammo_in_2022-SCREEN.pdf
Paździorek, P. & Całkowski, T. (Eds.). (2021). Aspekty sztuki operacyjnej w praktyce. War Studies University, Warsaw.
PC22. (2022, October, 31). Project Convergence 22: What is Sensor-Decider-Effector? (2022, October, 31). ARMY BE THE BEST. https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2022/10/project-convergence-22-sensor-decider-effector/
Rheinmetall. (2019, November, 27). Rheinmetall sets three new distance records for indirect fire in South Africa. Rheinmetall Group. https://www.rheinmetall-defence.com/media/editor_media/rm_defence/publicrelations/pressemitteilungen/2019/2019-11-27_Rheinmetall_indirect_fire_south_africa_en.pdf
Świętochowski, N. & Rewak, D. (2021). The role and place of artillery in combating “Anti-Access/Area Denial” A2/AD systems. Scientific Journal of the Military University of Land Forces, Volume 53, Number 2(200), pp. 387-401. DOI: 10.5604/01.3001.0014.9797
USAASC. (2022, October, 12). Precision Guidance Kit (PGK). USAASC. https://asc.army.mil/web/portfolio-item/precision-guidance-kit-pgk/
WB GROUP. (2021). FLYEYE mini UAS. FLYTRONIC WB GROUP. https://www.wbgroup.pl/app/uploads/2017/06/flyeye_eng_large_21q03.pdf
Wrzosek, M. (2022). Challenges of contemporary command and future military operations. Scientific Journal of the Military University of Land Forces, Volume 54, number 1(203), pp. 35-51. DOI: 10.5604/01.3001.0015.8025
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.