For effective warfare, data on enemy positions are extremely important. One of the ways to obtain such information is artillery reconnaissance, whose emblem (sight, two guns and a bat) displays the secrecy and effectiveness of the operations of this kind of troops. The actions of such units are extremely important in terms of both offensive and defense, and there are many reasons for this.
The essence of the process
This type of intelligence is necessary for the accurate operation of artillery in battle conditions. Therefore, the scouts are tasked with obtaining and processing information about the enemy himself and the area where he is.
Important information is about the main targets of destruction, which include command posts, base camps, as well as resistance nodes and strongholds that form defensive lines. The positions of fire weapons do not go unnoticed. We are talking about mortars, combat vehicles, tanks, guns, accumulations of vehicles, columns of armored and automotive vehicles, as well as regular formations and individual infantry groups.
Battery management and artillery intelligence can fully work when a network of observation posts and posts is deployed, which use radar and sound techniques to obtain the necessary information. In addition, object detection devices, as well as reconnaissance groups, can be used.
As a result, after completing the work described above, which is implied by artillery reconnaissance, it will be possible to conduct accurate fire, which allows to destroy obstacles, closures and positions of the enemy as a whole.
Importance of intelligence
Gun fire can only be considered effective if it is fired on specific actual goals on the territory of the enemy. Using this principle, it is possible during the offensive to significantly slow down enemy troops, destroying firing points and nodes of resistance. If the enemy goes on the defensive, then artillery should accurately work on the firing positions and attacking parts of the enemy, which pose the greatest threat.
For the implementation of such combat schemes, artillery reconnaissance equipment is simply necessary.
When not only the targets for firing guns are determined in a short time, but also their activity, character and significance, the maximum damage will be done to the enemy troops.
Artillery Intelligence Structure
It is worth repeating once again the fact that without artillery artillery would not be able to function normally. And in order for the guns to conduct accurate fire and hit actual targets, various reconnaissance units are used that use air and ground resources. But the types of technical equipment used need special attention. They are divided into the following types:
- optoelectronic intelligence;
- radio engineering;
- sound;
- optical;
- radar.
In the case of optoelectronic intelligence (which also includes optical intelligence), artillery and reconnaissance units are used, command and control vehicles, and points that have access to all data from various sources. The optical methodology for obtaining information is focused on opening all enemy control points, as well as positions, positions of the leading edge, firing points, strong points, areas of location of manpower and tanks. The basis for the successful operation of heavy guns and not only is precisely such artillery reconnaissance. Photos taken with optics provide an opportunity to study in detail the location of the enemy and draw up an effective plan of attack or defense.
For sound reconnaissance, special platoons and batteries are used, which use soundmetric systems. As tasks, the notch and fixing the coordinates of the positions of the batteries firing, as well as mortars, rocket launchers and field artillery are determined.
Radar reconnaissance is carried out using the appropriate equipment necessary to detect the launch (firing) positions of the enemy and ground moving targets. In this case, the speed of movement is determined and the service of firing own artillery is performed.
Radio intelligence platoons are engaged in detecting and fixing the exact coordinates and characteristics of existing enemy radar stations. Moreover, tracking the operation of these objects, target designation and subsequent monitoring of the results of the fire of their own guns is carried out.
AR Organization
There are a number of key principles on which artillery intelligence control is based. They underlie the effective operation of heavy, light and infantry guns.
The decision of the combined arms commander is determined as a starting point for the process of organizing the work of artillery.
So, the AP management process itself includes the following elements:
- identification of all relevant goals and key intelligence tasks;
- drawing up an order of actions aimed at obtaining the necessary information;
- submitting applications to the headquarters above and setting tasks for performers;
- the process of withdrawing and deploying intelligence units;
- practical work in preparation;
- monitoring readiness for action and providing assistance if necessary.
The organization of artillery reconnaissance begins from the moment the main combat mission is heard to the command.
Goals
Artillery reconnaissance within the framework of certain processes is focused on the implementation of various urgent tasks. They look as follows:
- On the way to the necessary positions, before the deployment of the side or head detachments begins, it is necessary to identify the ways that artillery can easily go through.
- After the advanced guard units deploy to battle formation, thanks to intelligence, ensure the hidden and quick distribution of guns in those positions that will guarantee the maximum fire support of their own troops, minimizing the degree of defeat from enemy attacks. For this, the artillery intelligence department must find observation points to determine the location of enemy troops and organize high-quality monitoring of both the movements of the enemy and the maneuvers of their own units. After that, constant observation is established in the found and occupied intelligence positions.
- Determining the most successful positions for their guns and identifying ways that will allow you to carry out the necessary maneuvers with the greatest degree of stealth.
- After completing the work described above, artillery occupies the previously defined positions. Monitoring of enemy troops and their own does not stop.
- The next task is to search for additional observation posts that will allow you to identify new parts of the enemy or evaluate the positions of troops during the battle, coordinating the fire.
- When all the tasks described above are achieved, artillery reconnaissance continues to search for firing positions, as well as hidden paths leading to them, which may be necessary in case of movement.
Naturally, all actions must be accompanied by constant communication.
Intelligence Objects
As mentioned above, the AR is focused on collecting data about the enemy. For a more effective search for the necessary information, the military initially set the task of identifying priority objects in the territory occupied by the enemy. These are the following ground targets:
- anti-aircraft and field artillery radars , as well as tactical and army aviation controls;
- fortification sites, barriers and structures;
- anti-aircraft, missile and mortar platoons, as well as specific batteries;
- separate firearms and companies of motorized infantry, tank and other troops;
- helicopters for the location of which advanced landing sites were chosen;
- Items designed to control weapons, brigades, battalions and other units equal to them;
- separate landing craft, ships and transport vessels.
Artillery reconnaissance performs an autopsy of all these objects. An autopsy should initially be understood as detection, and after recognition and determination of the coordinates of the key targets of the defeat.
It is also necessary to constantly conduct an assessment of the nature of the objects of the AR, which may periodically change. Possible change and the degree of detail of the goals.
How is battery reconnaissance?
Within the framework of the AR, the division (battery) plays an active role. And for its use, there is a certain algorithm of actions based on a number of necessary tasks.
First of all, we are talking about the appointment of a reconnaissance strip and the determination of a special attention area within its borders. Identification of this sector is carried out in full accordance with the task assigned to the division and the capabilities that the intelligence staff has.
The artillery reconnaissance battery uses the above-mentioned area of special attention to concentrate funds and efforts in those places where important targets are most likely located. The size of such a sector may be limited by the capabilities of units.
As for reconnaissance objects, the efforts to determine them are most relevant when conducting a battle in a city or in the event that it is necessary to organize a breakthrough in a fortified area. Work with specific objects is also relevant in the case of preparing an offensive, the main purpose of which is to quickly obtain information about carefully camouflaged enemy structures and specific weapons located in them.
The direction of reconnaissance is necessary in those cases when there is a head-on battle, a retreating enemy is being pursued, or an offensive develops in the depths of the enemy defense.
How is the AP on the offensive?
With such actions, the main resources are concentrated in the direction corresponding to the main strike and the breakout areas determined in advance, as well as their flanks.
In this case, the control and artillery reconnaissance battery sets the task for the units to identify the following elements:
- coordinates of precision weapons, nuclear weapons and areas of their location;
- enemy grouping and composition on the flanks and in its lane, if possible, determines the strategy of the enemy’s actions;
- the nature of water barriers in the direction of movement of their own troops within the framework of the offensive and the terrain in general;
- coordinates of control points for weapons, troops and electronic equipment;
- strong points, outlines of the front edge, the location of fire weapons, features of anti-tank equipment, engineering equipment of the area, as well as a barrage and fire system;
- Army aviation landing sites and airfields.
When organizing an attack and its support with artillery resources, all commanders must personally observe the results of the fire of guns (heavy, medium, infantry), the actions and position of units of their own troops, especially those that fire at objects under battery fire.
During the offensive, the basic resources available to the artillery reconnaissance platoon, used to perform the following tasks:
- at the right time, the advancement and deployment of reserves for counterattacks, as well as second tiers;
- artillery reconnaissance also identifies survivors and new targets, among which antitank weapons, mortar and artillery batteries are the highest priority.
As for the movement of means of the AR during an offensive, it is carried out in such a way that close interaction with the military units and the process of firing remain uninterrupted.
Defense Intelligence
When troops have to defend themselves, artillery reconnaissance units primarily obtain information about those enemy objects that are on the approaches. The same algorithm is used in the case of the introduction of the enemy into the defense and repel his attack.
In such conditions, the main resources of the AR are aimed at opening the following elements of enemy troops:
- control points;
- mortar and artillery platoons;
- electronic equipment;
- motorized infantry units and tank columns located on extension routes, deployment lines and the subsequent transition to the attack.
When the enemy takes active action, the AR determines the coordinates of advancing enemy targets, especially heavy equipment. The guns are also serviced by targets previously discovered.
If the enemy advances, then the artillery reconnaissance station after the permission of the chief assigned to positions that have been previously prepared. Such actions are carried out in the case of the introduction of enemy forces in defense.
When artillery supports its own defending forces, the commander first clarifies the actual tasks, and then concentrates the efforts of all units of the AR on the following goals:
- identification of enemy radar and control points;
- fixing the reserves approach to the wedge site;
- determination of the fact of bringing enemy artillery to new positions;
- obtaining information about the direction of advance of the enemy and the coordinates of objects that managed to wedge.
If counter-attacking actions are taken, then the priority for the Autonomous Republic is to open those objects that will need to be neutralized in the first place. Otherwise, the algorithm of reconnaissance actions during a counterattack remains the same as during the offensive.
Unmasking signs
Artillery intelligence, the emblem of which has long earned respect, uses a number of proven methods to identify existing guns and mortars, including. Artillery firing is detected by the following signs:
- dust that rises within the firing position after the completion of the shot (provided that the soil is dry);
- the sound of gunfire and brilliance;
- smoke rising after a shot from a hidden weapon, acquiring the appearance of translucent clubs and rings.
If observation is carried out at night, then enemy positions can be determined by the short brilliance resulting from the ejection of flame from guns that do not have a flame arrester. As for the sound, the shot is heard at a distance of 15 km, moving artillery makes itself felt in 2 km (dirt road) or 3 km (highway).
As for the detection of mortars, this is not an easy task. The bottom line is that they do not have pronounced unmasking signs and are installed in trenches, hollows, large funnels and other places that are difficult to see. To open such positions, observation of smoke after firing, short flashes and sound is used.
Summary
It is obvious that artillery reconnaissance largely ensures effective defeat of the enemy’s positions with the help of heavy and medium guns. Chevron this kind of troops is associated with accuracy, quick completion of tasks and high professionalism. This is not surprising, because in a real battle, the intelligence that these units produce allows you to quickly neutralize the enemy and protect your own positions.