INTRODUCTION TO FIELD ARTILLERY

105MM HOWITZER SECTION

Is a light towed FA weapon normally used in direct support of the Infantry Division. The
105mm Bn includes three (3) Firing Batteries with six (6) Howitzers each.

Mission

To destroy, neutralize, or suppress the enemy, by cannon, rocket and missile fires and to
assist in integrating fire support into arms operations.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Call for Fire — a concise message prepared by the Forward Observer. It contains all
information needed by the FDC to determine the method of target attack. Call for fire is a
request not an order. It must be sent quickly and clearly.

MIL — the smallest angular measurement that divides a circle into 6400 mils.

Observer Identification — tells the FDC who is calling for fire.

Warning Order — consist of type of mission, the size of the element to fire for effect and
the method of target location.

Fire for Effect — observers should always strive for first round fire for effect

Fire Mission — a warning order to alert the FDC personnel that message to follow
(request for fire), warning to communicated personnel that the observer has a priority
message.

Direction — a horizontal clockwise angle measured from the north or base direction.

Left or Right — means to correct the deviation as observed along the observes target line.

Add or Drop — to increase or decrease the distance of burst from the observer.

Up or Down — to announce the difference in altitude between the RP and Target or

between OP and target.

Volley Fire — a method of fire in which a piece of battery or a portion thereof fire
simultaneously.

Sa/v'o Fire — a method of fire in which a piece of a battery or a portion thereof fire
successively at specific interval.

Repeat Range — to obtain fire at the same distance from the observer as the previous
round or volley fire not observed.

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Correction — a term used in a fire message to show that the observe made an error and
that the corrected data will follow.

HISTORY

In the dawn history, war engines were performing the function of artillery (which may be
loosely defined as a means of hurling missiles too heavy to be thrown by hand), and it was
from the use of these crude weapons that the basic principles of artillery originated. The
scriptures record the use of ingenious machines — probably predecessors of the catapult
and ballista getting power from the ropes made of hair hide, or sinew — on the walls of
Jerusalem eight centuries BC.

The Ballista had horizontal arms like a bow and was used to reduce fortification. The
arms were set in rope, a cord, fastened to the arms like a bowstring, fired arrows, darts,
and stones. Like a modern field gun, the ballista shot low and directly toward the enemy.

The Catapult was the howitzer or mortars of its day. It could throw a 100 pounds stone 600
yards in a high are to strike the enemy behind his wall or to batter down his defenses.

THREE ELEMENTS OF GUNNERY TEAM

Forward Observer — serves as the eyes & ears of all indirect fire. It is the element of
gunnery team that detects, select suitable targets, request for fire and make necessary
adjustment.

Fire Direction Center — serves as the brains of artillery system, receives the call for fire
from the observer, plot the target location on the firing chart and converts firing data into
appropriate fire commands.

Firing Battery — serves as the brawn/arm of the artillery system. They will manipulate the
data into the howitzer being sent by the FDC.

COMPOSITION OF 105MM HOWITZER SECTION

1. Chief of Section
2. Gunner
3. Assistant Gunner
4. Cannoneer #1
5. Cannoneer #2
6. Cannoneer #3
7. Cannoneer #4
8. Cannoneer #5
9. Cannoneer #6

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FA CAPABILITIES AND LIMITATIONS

Capabilities

a. Shifting fires rapidly within a large area without displacing.

b. Massing fires on one or more targets.
C. Placing indirect fires on targets from positioning in defilade.
d. Can deliver fire on all conditions (weather and terrain)
e. Placing fires on targets in defilade.
f. Delivering accurate fires without adjustments.
g. Displacing rapidly to new positions.
h. Destroying point targets.
I. Direct fires against enemy forces.
j. Provide battlefield illumination.
k. Target acquisition — detecting suitable targets & their location thru map.

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