Warriors in Peace Operations - Strategic Studies Institute - U.S. Army

• LA Angela (47th FSB)—Svc Battery/Battalion & Cbt
Trains.
Field Artillery combat configuration within a lodgment
area usually consisted of a platoon occupying a corner of the
base camp in a box formation with a 6,400 mil firing
capability. Each howitzer section was fortified with sand
bags and engineer barrier material for force protection. My
guidance was to provide sufficient force protection for troops
to remain out of sniper sight and hand grenade range from
any external site. Fighting positions were prepared to
standard, constantly improved upon, and occupied 24 hours
daily. Soldiers filled thousands of sandbags. At night,
movement in sector seldom occurred; however, firing
platoons maintained hot gun status at all times. Until living
conditions improved at the base camps (once Brown and
Root arrived in sector), troops lived in sandbag reinforced
tents within feet of their howitzers.
From these lodgment areas (or base camps, as they were
commonly referred to), the battalion focused on four major
tasks: artillery raids and demonstrations (force protection
and fire support); Former Warring Factions (FWF) weapons
storage site inspections; howitzer and small arms gunnery;
and support to the force.
By narrowing our efforts to these four mission-essential
tasks, we were able prevent ourselves from being piecemealed
for “hey you” tasks. My unit remained engaged in
one or more missions at a time. For example, Cannon
Platoons and Radar Sections moved and repositioned on a
daily basis to support operations in sector. Our standard
rule within the brigade was that no maneuver unit would
operate outside radar or cannon range. This often meant
repositioning platoons in sector for extended periods of time,
as did response to changes in maneuver task organization
and closing of lodgment areas. Headquarters Battery
personnel were deeply involved in weapon site inspection.
Training and logistic support to the force never stopped,
143