Field ArTillery - US Army Center Of Military History

264 The OrganizaTiOnal hisTOry Of field arTillery
The M18 computer was placed in the fire direction center of the direct-support
artillery battalion’s operations section. One former chart operator ran the M18, while
one member of the fire direction center operated the generator as an additional duty.
The general-support battalion had a number of FADACs, one in each firing battery
and one in the battalion headquarters battery. 33
Airmobility
While the ROAD reorganizations were taking place, the Army began to study
the impact of aircraft on ground warfare. On 3 May 1962, CONARC commander
General Powell confirmed the appointment of the United States Army Tactical
Mobility Requirements Board under Lt. Gen. Hamilton H. Howze. In its report of
20 August, the Howze board recommended the organization of an air assault division
under the ROAD structure. Air transportable weapons and aircraft-mounted
rockets were to be substituted for heavy and medium artillery. Because of the weight
of the 155-mm. and 8-inch howitzers, the composite battalion was to be replaced
with an aerial rocket battalion, having six UH–1B helicopters, each armed with
forty-eight 2.75-inch rockets. Army helicopters were to transport the remainder
of the artillery. Thus, when no helicopters were able to fly (because of weather or
poor visibility), the new division would have roughly 80 percent of the artillery
capability of the standard ROAD armored or infantry division and 100 percent of
that of the standard airborne divi sion. When the helicopters could fly, the division
would have the capability, for short periods of time, of putting down more artillery
fire than conven tional divisions. 34
In February 1963, the 11th Air Assault Division (Test) was activated at Fort
Benning to experiment with airmobile concepts, from squad level to division level.
Its division artillery consisted of a headquarters and headquarters battery; an aviation
battery (equipped with twenty helicopters for observation and other aviation support);
an aerial rocket artillery battalion; a Little John battalion; and three 105-mm.
howitzer battalions, each capable of moving 40 miles (64.4 kilometers) to occupy
a position and begin firing in the same time it took a standard infantry division’s
towed 105-mm. howitzer battalion to cover only 10 miles (16.1 kilometers). 35 Only
six of the new M102 howitzers were available during the initial tests, but during
maneuvers, the UH–1D helicopter’s sling-load rigging made it possible to airlift
them up to distances of 30 kilometers (18.6 miles). Two UH–1Ds could move a
section, consisting of one howitzer, its eleven-man crew, and some ammunition in
one lift. Three UH–1Ds were pre ferred for transporting the three-man fire direction
center and additional ammunition along with a howitzer and its crew. For greater
distances, the CH–47A helicopter was used to carry an entire section at one time.
33 FM 6–40–3, Field Artillery Gun Direction Computer M18 Gunnery, September 1964.
34 Edward L. Rowny, “After the Air Mobile Tests,” Army, May 1965, pp. 36–39; John J. Tolson,
Airmobility, 1961–1971 (Washington, D.C.: Department of the Army, 1973), pp. 16–24. See also Rpt,
Howze Board, 20 Aug 1962, copy in CMH files.
35 Ltr AGAO–O (M) (10 Jul 63), DCSPER to CG, Third US Army, and CG, Fifth US Army, 2 Aug
1963, sub: Change in Status of Air Assault Units, copy in HHB, 11th Abn Div Arty, fldr, CMH files.