MCWP 3-16.1 Artillery Operations.pdf - Marine Corps Community ...

Mission
The mission of the battalion is to provide close
and continuous artillery support to MAGTF
operations. This support includes accurate and
responsive fires in support of maneuver, longrange
fire to establish operational depth, counterfire
to defeat threat fire support systems, and
assistance in integrating all fire support assets
into combat operations.
Organization
An artillery battalion consists of a headquarters
battery and, normally, three firing batteries. See
figure 5-1 on page 5-2. The headquarters battery
provides the equipment and personnel to assist
the battalion commander control and support his
battalion, and establish an FSCC for the
supported maneuver regiment. Like the regiment,
the battalion headquarters may employ in a main
and rear echelon configuration to best support the
requirements of higher or supported units. The
artillery battalion commander will be located
where he can best control and plan fires. When
assigned the supporting relationship of DS, he
serves as the infantry regiment FSC.
Functions and Employment
The artillery battalion is the basic tactical fighting
unit. It has enough firing units to effectively mass
its fires and engage several targets simultaneously.
The battalion normally employs as a unit
to meet fire support requirements defined by its
CHAPTER 5
BATTALION OPERATIONS
assigned tactical mission. The battalion maintains
communications with its batteries and any attachments,
the supported/reinforced unit, and the artillery
regiment, as appropriate. When a battalion
deploys independently, it receives augmentation
from the artillery regiment; e.g., met support.
When possible, an artillery battalion is associated
through training and liaison with an infantry
regiment. On deployments, battalions normally
support the GCE by providing artillery liaison
officers, FOs, and shore fire control parties to
these regiments, as required. Artillery and naval
gunfire (NGF) personnel may also be provided to
separate maneuver battalions or other units as
dictated by the tactical situation and the mission
assigned to an artillery unit.
Duties and Responsibilities of
Battalion Operations Personnel
Battalion Commander
The artillery battalion commander executes the
fire support responsibilities inherent to his
assigned tactical mission. He is responsible for
the training, morale, and discipline of battalion
personnel. During operations, the commander
reconnoiters routes, PAs, and observation sites.
He guides his staff and subordinate commanders
in fire direction, fire planning, and CSS. When
assigned the tactical mission of DS, the artillery
battalion commander is normally assigned to duty
as regiment FSC. He maintains liaison with the
supported or reinforced unit commander. He also
provides expertise and advice on fire support
coordination to the supported commander.