Fires brigade: Difference between revisions
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Under the [[restructuring of the United States Army]] initiatives, when [[Brigade Combat Team]]s replaced [[division]]s as the primary maneuver unit, those division [[artillery]] resources that did not decentralize to the BCTs were placed in '''fires brigades'''. The original intent had been to assign both kinetic (ie., physically destructive) artillery as well as non-kinetic resources such as [[electronic warfare]] to them,<ref>{{citation | Under the [[restructuring of the United States Army]] initiatives, when [[Brigade Combat Team]]s replaced [[division]]s as the primary maneuver unit, those division [[artillery]] resources that did not decentralize to the BCTs were placed in '''fires brigades'''. The original intent had been to assign both kinetic (ie., physically destructive) artillery as well as non-kinetic resources such as [[electronic warfare]] to them,<ref>{{citation | ||
| title = The Fires Brigade: Not Your Daddy’s FFA HQ | | title = The Fires Brigade: Not Your Daddy’s FFA HQ | ||
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| journal = Field Artillery Magazine | | journal = Field Artillery Magazine | ||
| url = http://sill-www.army.mil/famag | date = November-December 2005 | | url = http://sill-www.army.mil/famag | date = November-December 2005 | ||
}}</ref> but the deployed form has only kinetic means as well as resources that support them in target acquisition. | }}</ref> but the deployed form has only kinetic means as well as resources that support them in target acquisition. Army electronic warfare is restricted to [[signals intelligence]] collection and the coordination of [[electronic attack]] by other services.<ref>{{citation | ||
| url = http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm3-36.pdf | | url = http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm3-36.pdf | ||
| title = FM3-36, Electronic Warfare in Operations | | title = FM3-36, Electronic Warfare in Operations | ||
| Line 39: | Line 40: | ||
Target acquisition batteries are likely to be supplemented with additional [[counterbattery]] radars such as the [[TPQ-37|AN/TPQ-37]], and a [[geophysical MASINT]] sensor, the Unattended Transient Acoustic MASINT Sensor (UTAMS). | Target acquisition batteries are likely to be supplemented with additional [[counterbattery]] radars such as the [[TPQ-37|AN/TPQ-37]], and a [[geophysical MASINT]] sensor, the Unattended Transient Acoustic MASINT Sensor (UTAMS). | ||
===Brigade support battalion=== | ===Brigade support battalion=== | ||
<ref>{{citation | This unit operates operates an Ammunition Transfer holding Point (ATHP) in the brigade support | ||
area (BSA), and a Quartermaster Collection Company (MA) for Mortuary Affairs Support. The BSBs | |||
of the Fires Brigade contains a headquarters and headquarters company, a distribution company, a | |||
field maintenance company, and Forward Support Companies (FSC) designed to support the particular type of field artillery | |||
battalion of which the brigade is comprised (i.e., Paladin, MLRS, towed). It does not contain a | |||
medical company.<ref>{{citation | |||
| url = http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm4-90.pdf | | url = http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm4-90.pdf | ||
| title = FM 4-90 (FM 4-90.7) Brigade Support Battalion | | title = FM 4-90 (FM 4-90.7) Brigade Support Battalion | ||
| date = August 2010 | publisher = U.S. Army | | date = August 2010 | publisher = U.S. Army | ||
}}</ref> | }}, pp. 1-11 to 1-12</ref> | ||
==Current uses== | ==Current uses== | ||
Concern has been expressed that fires brigades receive inadequate field experience, when the main Army missions are [[counterinsurgency]] and [[counterterrorism]].<ref>{{citation | Concern has been expressed that fires brigades receive inadequate field experience, when the main Army missions are [[counterinsurgency]] and [[counterterrorism]].<ref>{{citation | ||
Revision as of 18:47, 18 February 2011
Under the restructuring of the United States Army initiatives, when Brigade Combat Teams replaced divisions as the primary maneuver unit, those division artillery resources that did not decentralize to the BCTs were placed in fires brigades. The original intent had been to assign both kinetic (ie., physically destructive) artillery as well as non-kinetic resources such as electronic warfare to them,[1] but the deployed form has only kinetic means as well as resources that support them in target acquisition. Army electronic warfare is restricted to signals intelligence collection and the coordination of electronic attack by other services.[2]
Ten to twelve such brigades are planned, half active and half reserve. Now-flexible division headquarters typically would control two fires brigades.
Some of the functions previously under DIVARTY, such as 105mm howitzers in light units and 155mm howitzers in heavy units, decentralized to the BCT. In light units, 155mm support remains at the fires brigade, which is focused less on direct support and more planning and execution for joint fire support operations. Its capabilities to affect the enemy emphasized newer systems to carry out precision-strikes, counterstrikes and shaping, which utilized lethal and non-lethal means.
Organization
In general, these brigades are organized in heavy and light versions, a typical organization of which is shown below. The only constant firing unit is a rocket/missile battalion, with either MLRS or HIMARS. Their headquarters are intended to control one to six firing battalions.
Some heavy brigades also include M109 howitzers. Target acquisitionTarget acquisition batteries are likely to be supplemented with additional counterbattery radars such as the AN/TPQ-37, and a geophysical MASINT sensor, the Unattended Transient Acoustic MASINT Sensor (UTAMS). Brigade support battalionThis unit operates operates an Ammunition Transfer holding Point (ATHP) in the brigade support area (BSA), and a Quartermaster Collection Company (MA) for Mortuary Affairs Support. The BSBs of the Fires Brigade contains a headquarters and headquarters company, a distribution company, a field maintenance company, and Forward Support Companies (FSC) designed to support the particular type of field artillery battalion of which the brigade is comprised (i.e., Paladin, MLRS, towed). It does not contain a medical company.[3] Current usesConcern has been expressed that fires brigades receive inadequate field experience, when the main Army missions are counterinsurgency and counterterrorism.[4] References
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