ARTILLERY COLLECTION: ARTILLERY OPERATIONS DURING A DIVISIONAL OFFENSIVE WITH THE LANDING OF AN AIRBORNE FORCE IN THE TACTICAL DEPTH OF THE ENEMY DEFENSE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T00246A029500430001-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 31
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 9, 2012
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: May 25, 1962
• Content Type: MEMO

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Artillery Operations During a Divisional Offensive
with the Landing of an Airborne Force in the
Tactical Depth of the Enemy Defense
A successful and rapid rout of the enemy troops defend-
ing themselves in the tactical zone of the defense will largely
predetermine the success of the development of the offensive
in the operational depth of his defense.
One of the most important conditions for achieving this
aim is to bring into effect simultaneously all the means
available to the advancing forces in the whole depth of the
enemy defense system, with the object of inflicting maximum
losses on his personnel and equipment, disorganizing the
control of his troops, and thereby creating the conditions
for a rapid advance.
Airborne forces, including also the tactical forces
landed (dropped) in the enemy rear.,. also.assist'in a rapid
breakthrough of the enemy defense and the rout of his troops.
Tactical airborne forces landed in the areas of our
atomic bursts can prevent enemy reserves from moving toward
these areas and make it possible for the divisions of the
first echelon to break through the first zone of the enemy
defense at a high speed.
In the case of prior landing of tactical airborne forces
in the second defense zone, favorable conditions are created
for the forward detachments of the divisions to capture
sectors in the second defense zone precipitately.
The tactical airborne forces can also be given the task
of capturing and holding bridgeheads on water lines and
mountain passes, of destroying enemy offensive atomic weapons,
etc.
50X1-HUM
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Depending on the situation and tasks of the tactical
airborne forces, they can be landed in the enemy rear both
during the artillery preparation as well as during the
artillery support for the attack and advance. At the same
time, it is essential to endeavor to neutralize the enemy
defense by the time the airborne force lands.
It is advisable to land the tactical airborne forces
in the areas of our atomic bursts as soon as possible after
the atomic strike, because only in this case will they be
able to forestall the enemy in his efforts to close the gaps
before the arrival of our troops advancing from the front.
This time is determined mainly by the radiation levels
and by the state of the dust cloud formed during the atomic
explosion. The experience of past exercises shows that it
is possible to land tactical airborne forces in the areas
of atomic bursts 20 to 30 minutes after a strike has been
delivered.
The method of landing tactical airborne troops can be
by parachute, by landing, or, a combination of both (para-
shyutno-posadochnyy). The most convenient and advisable
method is landing by helicopters in the tactical depth of
the enemy defense. In this method no airfields have to be
constructed in the departure area and no special landing
grounds in the area of the landing. Besides this, landing
by helicopters ensures the quickest combat readiness of
the airborne troops, because the landing can be carried out
accurately in a selected landing area, and the unloading,
as the experience of the exercises has shown, takes no
more than 3 or 4 minutes. In this case, no special timing
will be required to assemble the landing force, which is
essential, for example, with a parachute drop.
As a rule, the tactical airborne forces are obtained
from the combinedFarms large units (units) carrying out the
breakthrough of the enemy defense. Most frequently, a
motorized rifle battalion will be assigned to the complement
of an airborne force of a motorized rifle division operating
in the first echelon.
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The depth of the landing of a tactical airborne
force will depend in each individual case on the actual
situation. The determining conditions will be: the
complement and tasks of the landing force, the system
of enemy defense and the degree of its neutralization
before the landing of the force, and the ability of the
troops advancing from the front to bring up weapons for
the combat support of the airborne force after its landing.
On exercises a landing force composed of a reinforced
motorized rifle battalion was landed at the start of the
offensive, usually in the first, but in certain instances,
in the second zone of the enemy defense.
The flight altitude of the helicopters carrying the
airborne force to the area of the landing can be in the
order of 300 to 500 m, but in a number of cases, as the
experience of the exercises shows, it can be up to 800 m.
The length of the column of helicopters carrying a
landing force depends on the complement of the force and
the combat formation of the helicopters. For example,
according to the experience of exercises, the length of
the column of a landing force consisting of a reinforced
motorized rifle battalion, with the helicopters flying
in combat flight formation, reached 10 to 12 km, and the
width of the flight path of this column of helicopters
was 1,000 to 25,000 meters. The optimum width of flight
path for the helicopters, providing the maximum security
for the flight and rapid deplaning of the landing force,
can be considered to be 1,000 to 1,500 m.
The flying time for a landing force depends on the
depth of the landing, the combat formation of the heli-
copters, and also the distance of the emplaning area.
With a distance between the emplaning area and the de-
planing area of 40 to 70 km, this represents on the average
20 to 35 minutes, of which 15 to 20 minutes will be over
enemy dispositions.
Tactical airborne forces are employed by order of the
army commander. The organization and planning, mainly tactical,
for the landing of tactical airborne forces and their support
is carried out by -the army staff.
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The commanding officer of the division from which
the landing force is detached organizes and maintains
during the battle the coordination between the units of
the division and the landing force in carrying out the
allotted task,and also assigns the necessary means to
cover its landing and operations. He is also fully respon-
sible for the direct training of the subunit which is
assigned as an airborne landing force.
The artillery tasks performed on behalf of the tactical
airborne force landed in the zone of a divisional offensive
are determined by the actual situation and by the complement
and tasks of the landing force.
In most cases the airborne force in the zone of a
divisional offensive will be landed in the areas of our
atomic strikes delivered against enemy divisional reserves,
and will have the task of holding these areas until the
arrival of the division units advancing from the front.
Under these conditions, together with the normal
tasks performed in an offensive, the artillery must provide
the following: security for the flight, for the landing
of the airborne force, and for the return of the helicopters,
by neutralizing the enemy in the landing area and in the
flight path; boxing in by fire and isolating the area of
combat operations of the landing force; and combat support
for the landing force in capturing the selected lines
(objectives) and repulsing enemy attacks. The artillery
must also deny the approach of enemy reserves to the area
of operations of the airborne force and, in coolperation
with fighter aircraft, provide cover for the airborne
force from enemy air strikes in the departure area, in
the landing area., and along the flight route.
It will be seen that the extent of the artillery tasks
during an attack with the landing of a tactical airborne
force is somewhat greater than under normal conditions.
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Depending on the flight altitude of the helicopters,
the enemy can engage the landing force while it is in the
air by using, with various degrees of effectiveness, fighter
aircraft, antiaircraft artillery, antiaircraft machine guns, and
heavy and light machine guns, as well as other infantry
weapons.
It is well known that fire from infantry weapons is
very effective against slow-moving targets at low altitudes.
For example, to effect a single hit on a sleeve target..
which is about 5 to 6 times smaller than a helicopter will
require 300 to 600 rounds at an altitude of 200 m and with
a towing speed of 300 kph. As a rule, the speed of a heli-
copter does not exceed 130 kph. At such a speed the vul-
nerability of the helicopter increases, and the expenditure
of rounds decreases. Therefore, to provide security
for the flight of a column of helicopters with the landing
force on board to the area of the landing, it is essential
beforehand to neutralize effectively the enemy antiaircraft
artillery and heavy infantry weapons. To make it more
difficult for the enemy to conduct reconnaissance and fire
control of antiaircraft artillery, his radar stations must
also be neutralized. It is advisable to neutralize the
enemy radar stations before the helicopters take off with
the landing force aboard.
The neutralization of the above-mentioned enemy means
must be carried out not only in the flight path of the
landing force but also along the flanks of this path, taking
into account the effective fire of the enemy weapons and
the flight altitude of the landing force. For example,
with an altitude up to 500 m for the flight of the landing
force, the enemy weapons can fire from locations in the
flight path, from the flanks of this path, as well as at
a distance from its edges: small caliber antiaircraft
artillery up to 3 km and medium caliber up to 8 km; anti-
aircraft machine guns up to 1.5 km; and heavy and light
machine guns up to 800 to 1,000 m. 50X1-HUM
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Prevention of enemy antiaircraft fire on the landing
force while in flight to the landing area is attained by
neutralizing these weapons during the artillery prepara-
tion and the artillery support of the assault and offensive.
The safety of the helicopters on their return flight after
landing the airborne force is ensured by neutralizing the
enemy antiaircraft weapons, usually during the artillery
support of the assault and offensive
When landing a tactical airborne force at night or
under conditions of poor visibility, the observance of
the selected flight route by the helicopters and the
accurate approach to the landing sites are made more
difficult. At the same time, it is very important for
the helicopters to maintain their precise routes because
this will permit the shortening of the flight path and
the organization of greater security for the landing.
The designation of the path or demarcation of the
flight route is done by placing markers with illuminating
and smoke shells. At the same time, in order not to blind
the helicopter crews with our own shells, the artillery
and aircraft must place the light markers mainly along
the borders of the flight path of the landing force and
also over the landing area. The demarcation of the flight
route of the landing force can also be carried out by
firing smoke shells along the axis of the route and at
the landing sites of the helicopters.
Special artillery subunits are assigned from the
regimental, divisional, and army artillery groups to
place these light markers. When the landing of the tactical
force is at a greater depth than the effective fire of
illuminating shells by the artillery, the illumination is
carried out by aircraft.
The neutralization of the enemy in the landing area
is achieved first of all by the delivery of an atomic
strike. To attain higher accuracy, the atomic strikes
are delivered by atomic or heavy rocket artillery,, After
an atomic strike on the landing area, shelling is carried
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out with conventional shells. In order that the artil-
lery fire should not interfere with the operations of the
landing force in capturing the landing area, the fire
should cease 1 to 2 minutes before the helicopters start
to land. With the approach of the helicopters to the
landing sites, the artillery fire is transferred to the
neutralization of enemy reserves. The nearest reserves
to the landing area of the landing force are neutralized
first of all to prevent their being used before the un-
loading of the landing force from the helicopters. The
subsequent tasks of the artillery and the sequence in which
they are performed are determined by the actual situation
developing in the area of operations of the landing force.
In several cases a tactical airborne force can be
landed in the depth of the enemy defense during the develop-
ment of a breakthrough.
Under these conditions of accomplishing the tasks of
supporting the operations of the landing force, the artil-
lery preparation is executed during the attack, as a rule,
in a limited time. For this purpose, the artillery tasks
are continually clarified in accordance with the incoming
information on the enemy and the operations of our own
troops.
The success of a tactical airborne landing depends in
many ways on reliable air cover.
Air cove:. for a landing force is carried out by the
antiaircraft artillery in cooperation with fighter aircraft.
The subunits (units) of an airborne force are very
vulnerable from the air when they are in their waiting and
concentration areas, as well as while boarding the heli-
copters. During the landing operation, particularly whi#xi
the force is in the air, its vulnerablilty increases still
more, 50X1-HUM
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But because the landing operation of a tactical
airborne force is carried out in a comparatively short
period of time, the enemy can employ against them in the
main only those aircraft which at that given moment are in
the air (patrolling in the area of the landing). As a rule,
these will be fighter cover for the ground troops..
On landing, the tactical airborne force will be either
on the defensive or carry out offensive combat operations.
Both in the first and in the second case, the area of
operations of the landing force cannot have sufficient work
done on it from the engineer point of view and cannot be
camouflaged from enemy air reconnaissance owing to the
short time the force is in the area. Therefore, the landing
force is also vulnerable in the landing area to enemy air
strikes.
When a landing force is detected, whether at the depar-
ture area for boarding the helicopters or in the area of
combat operations, air strikes can be carried out against
it, as is obvioui,$y small groups of fighter-bombers from
low altitudes and diving. Besides this, the enemy can also
employ pilotless weapons of. air attack and bomber aircraft,
mainly light bombers.
Taking all this into consideration and remembering the
limited capabilities of our fighter aircraft in coping with
low-flying targets, it is essential to organize antiaircraft
artillery cover for tactical airborne forces, principally
small-caliber antiaircraft artillery.
Antiaircraft artillery cover for an airborne force is
organized on a general basis according to the periods of
operations of the landing force in the preparation, the
landing operation, and the execution of combat operations
in the enemy rear.
As a rule, the tactical airborne force will be covered
only by its own organic antiaircraft artillery (machine guns)
in the concentration area. With the move of the landing 50X1-HUM
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force to the waiting area, it is. necessary to detail anti-
aircraft artillery for cover of the force, and this subse-
quently also provides cover during the loading of equipment
and emplaning of the personnel in the helicopters at the
take-off sites.
The antiaircraft weapons of the airborne force which
will be landed in the enemy rear should be included in the
general system of antiaircraft artillery cover only during
the time the landing force is in the concentration and
waiting areas.
Taking into account the size of a battalion (batalon)
waiting area (about 4 km 2) and the relatively low proba-
bility of hitting aircraft during firing by independent
subunits, it is advisable to detail not less than 2 to 3
batteries of small-caliber antiaircraft artillery to cover
an independently located battalion and the helicopter base.
At the departure position the antiaircraft artillery
cover for the landing force can be provided by deploying
antiaircraft artillery from the complement of the army
antiaircraft artillery group.
The antiaircraft artillery cover for the helicopter
units and the landing force in the departure area for em-
planing is organized in advance, i.e., before the arrival
of the helicopters at the take-off sites. The total dura-
tion of the antiaircraft artillery cover for the landing
force will be determined by the time the landing force
remains in the area of emplaning and the time taken by the
flight over our own territory; and the duration of cover
for the helicopters is also determined by the time taken
on the return flight after fulfilling the mission.
From the moment of take-off, it is advisable to place
the responsibility for the cover of the airborne force on
the antiaircraft artillery located along the flight route
and belonging to the antiaircraft artillery groups which are
giving cover to the advancing troops. The cover for the
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landing force after flying over the frontline is provided
by fighter aircraft, and after landing also by the anti-
aircraft machine guns landed as part of the battalion.
The artillery support for a tactical airborne force
landed in the zone of o e v. a first echelon d v sion
and performing tasks in support of the general task of the
division is provided by the artillery of this division with
the participation of army artillery. The fire planning for
the artillery support of the landing and the operations of
the landing force is done by the commander and staff of the
divisional artillery. The army artillery commander and his
staff carry out only the tactical planning, as a result of
which the complement and tasks of the army artillery in the
support of the landing force of a certain division are
determined; the time and procedure for delivering atomic
strikes against the landing areas are fixed; and the tasks
of the army artillery reconnaissance units (subunits) are
determined, including also the artillery reconnaissance
aircraft for reconnoitering the enemy and adjusting the
artillery fire assigned to support the landing forces.
Besides this, the army artillery staff checks and
provides the needed assistance to the artillery staffs of
divisions in organizing and planning artillery support for
the landing and the operations of the landing forces.
In certain cases, for example, when the airborne
forces of two divisions are landed at the junction of their
zones of attack or when a single flight path is selected
for landing forces of several divisions, the fire planning
can be also carried out by the army artillery staff.
The planning of artillery fire by the divisional
artillery staff is carried out on a general basis, first of
all, to assist the operations of the troops advancing from
the front, taking into account the tasks assigned to the
artillery in support of the landing force.
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Before planning, the artillery staff will know from
the decision of the divisional commanding officer the
following: the complement of the tactical airborne force
and its tasks; the time of landing the force and the flight
path; the battle formation of the helicopters on the flight
route; and also the artillery tasks for covering the flight,
the landing, and supporting the operations of the landing
force. Besides this, the divisional artillery staff will
know from army artillery staff instructions which of the
army artillery is being detailed for the support of the
landing force and its tasks; the yield, at what height,
and when the atomic strikes will be delivered; as well as
the tasks for the army artillery reconnaissance means in
reconnoitering the enemy.
Having obtained such information, first of all the
divisional artillery staff must plan correctly the artillery
fire for the artillery preparation and artillery support of
the attack and the aancein accordance with the time of
the landing of the force and the chart of the artillery
preparation.
If the airborne force lands after the artillery prepa-
ration, then the artillery fire planning for this period will
not present any real peculiarities. It will only require
more detailed examination of the neutralization of enemy
antiaircraft weapons in the selected flight path of the
landing force. It is not excluded, however, that the land-
ing of the airborne force will be done even during the
artillery preparation. Under these conditions the artillery
fire must be planned in accordance with the organization of
the artillery preparation in such a way that the enemy fire
system is neutralized before the take-off of the helicopters.
With this aim in view, it will be neceSSary to plan an atomic
strike and fire concentrations with chemical shells and shells
with conventional fillings against company defense areas,
against fire positions of the antiaircraft artillery, and
against the main enemy radar stations.
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For dependable .neutralization of the enemy fire means
presenting a danger to the landing force, it may be advanta-
geous to employ a greater amount of artillery for the first
fire concentration in the flight path of the landing force
than in the remaining zone of the divisional offensive.
It should be stressed that during a divisional offensive
with a landing of a tactical airbornek fOrc,e, as a rule,
atomic strikes would be delivered before the take-off of
the helicopters. The delivery of atomic strikes when the
helicopters are in the air over enemy dispooitions is not
permitted because this may lead to the destruction of the
landing force.
The following examples show how the neutralization
of the enemy in the flight path of the landing forces was
ensured on exercises with actual landings.
In the zone of advance of a motorized rifle division,
a tactical airborne force was landed in the area of the
atomic strike delivered against the third position of the
first enemy defense zone.
During the artillery preparation just before the flight
of the landing force, the artillery fire plan of this divi-
sion provided for the neutralization of enemy personnel and
fire weapons at the first position by a 13-minute fire con-
centration and against targets at the second position by a
5-minute fire concentration. The enemy artillery, including
the antiaircraft batteries, were neutralized by a subgroup
of the army artillery group with two fire concentrations.
In the zone of advance of another motorized rifle divi-
sion, the tactical landing force was landed in the area
between the first and second enemy defense zones.
It was planned to secure the flight of the landing
force during the artillery support for the `attack- and
advance.. The main attention was concentrated on the neutrali-
zation of enemy antiaircraft weapons and his artillery. 50X1-HUM
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The fire concentration was intended to end on the approach
of the landing force to the area of our own artillery fire
positions. The duration of the fire concentration depended
on the neutralization of these objectives during the artil-
lery preparation,. At the end of the fire concentration it
was planned to fire smoke shells for one minute in order to
blind the enemy fire weapons during the flight of the land-
ing force.
It is worth noting that even with the most dependable
neutralization of the enemy during the artillery preparation,
there is no complete guarantee that part of his fire weapons
will not be able to deliver fire at the landing force during
the flight. This makes it necessary to neutralize the enemy
not only before the take-off of the landing force but also
directly during the flight, when it is most vulnerable.
It is advisable to plan in advance the artillery fire
for neutralizing the enemy fire weapons located in the path
of the landing force during the transit of the helicopter
column. At the same time, the flight of the landing force
must in all cases be made safe 'from -destruction by `our.. own::-
fire. This can be achieved when the height of trajectories
of the artillery shells used in shelling the enemy in the
flight path of the landing force is lower than the average
altitude established for the flight of the helicopters.
The capabilities for delivering fire are shown in Table 15.
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Table 15
Altitude of
flight of the
landing force*
Caliber
300 meters
500 meters
bb
Q.
>t
A
0
Pq
4-4 P-4
bA
wk
bo
CHk
k
wk
bb
w;4
bA
w~
Cd
00
k
00
i-i
00
Cd
00
i-i
00
.i
00
4::
+)
Cd
-P
Cd
+)
4
+)
Cd
4)
Cd
+)
0
bI n
U
.C G)
bA ?n
U
0
bA ?n
ri
0
W-)
0
0
bO i )
U
.~ 4)
b0 ?n
r-I
?rl cd
4)
?rl Cd
b
?r4 Cd
r?I
?rl Cd
+~
H Cd
'0
?r1 Cd
0
-A
0
0tti
0S-i
U!
G)F~
Q
0
+J
r-I
4
N
.~' +~
W
'.4 +
ri
-'Li' +)
N
'-7r'' +P
Max
imum range in meters**
85
mm
Gun
7000
260
-
-
-
-
8150
426
-
-
-
-
100
mm
Gun
8200
256
-
-
-
-
9600
427
-
-
-
-
130
mm
Gun
9800
263
8650
264
7650
267
11700
437
10300
433
9100
43
152
mm
Gun
7900
259
6650
265
5500
267
9400
431
8000
436
6700
44
122
mm
How.
5150
259
4800
261
4400
250
6300
441
5900
434
5500
43
152
mm
Gun/
6900
265
6450
265
6250
263
8400
438
7800
434
7600
43
How.
*By the flight altitude of the helicopters is understood altitude
in relation to the highest point of the terrain (local features)
along the route.
**The maximum range of the firing is given taking into consideration
the dispersion (4 Vdpp) (adjusted range probable error). The
height of the targ "'over the firing position was not taken into
account in the calculations. 50X1-HUM
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50X1-HUM
The above table shows, firstly, that artillery whose
plane of fire passes through the flight path of the landing
force can neutralize the enemy, taking into account that
the firing positions are 5 to 8 km away in the rear; secondly,
the fire from guns and howitzers must be delivered primarily
with full or first (second) charges.
When delivering fire with mortars and rocket and howitzer
artillery, it is advisable when possible to locate the
firing positions of this artillery along the flanks of the
flight path of the landing force. Besides this, to annihilate
fire weapons in the immediate depth of the enemy defense, it
is necessary to make considerable use of the fire of the guns
assigned for firing by direct 'laying..
During the flight of the landing force, it is advisable
to deliver fire not only with chemical and fragmentation
shells but also with smoke shells. The employment of smoke
shells by the artillery and smoke bombs by aircraft makes
it more difficult for the enemy to use his fire weapons.
When planning fire in the landing area of the airborne
force, the special features of helicopter landing must be
considered. It is known, for example, that with a flight
altitude of 300 to 500 m, the helicopters begin to lose al-
titude 4,500 to 5,500 m away from the landing places.
To prevent hitting the landing force while the heli-
copters are coming down, it is advisable for the artillery
located in the flight path to cease firing on the landing
zone.
At the same time it is necessary to remember that even
a short pause in the cessation of fire on the landing area
of the airborne force will be used by the enemy to bring up
his reserves into this area. A way out in this case, we
think, may be found, first, by bringing the fire of the
artillery located on the flanks of the landing force's
flight path against the landing area when the helicopters
are coming down; and secondly, by delivering artillery fire
50X1-HUM
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over the head of the landing force after the tail of the
helicopter column has passed over the firing positions.
To deliver fire over the head of the landing force, the ;long
range and heavy rocket artillery could be brought in,whose
trajectory would be above the flight altitude of the
helicopters. The above method of support for a landing
force has not been practiced in the exercises that have
been conducted. It therefore requires thorough investi-
gation in exercises with actual landing of troops.
The time for the artillery to stop firing on the
landing area of an airborne force is determined separately
in each specific case. At the same time, the landing force
must not be hit by shell splinters from our own artillery.
A particularly dependable neutralization of the
nearest enemy reserves must be planned at the time of the
landing of the airborne force and until it takes up battle
formation.
The primary artillery targets during the artillery
preparation are the enemy radar stations and antiaircraft
weapons. Their destruction (neutralization) will facilitate
the flight and landing of the airborne force. In, this re-.
spect, it is advisable to neutralize the radar stations
before the take-off of the helicopters. With this aim in
view, the beginning of the artillery preparation can coincide
with the emplaning of the landing force in the helicopters.
The complement of the artillery assigned for direct
support of a landing force is determined by the depth of the
landing of the force, its tasks, by the quality of the
available divisional artillery, and also by taking into
account the artillery of the subunit to be landed.
For direct support of an airborne force, the experience
of exercises has shown that it is necessary to assign 2 to 4
artillery battalions (divizion), mainly long range ones.
These battalions can be assigned from the complement of the
divisional artillery group as well as from the complement (50X1-HUM
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the army artillery group. Besides this, the destruction
of the reserves which the enemy can employ against the
landing force can be carried out by an army special artillery
group.
In a case when the airborne force is landed during an of-
f ensive,it is necessary to plan particularly thoroughly the
movement of artillery assigned to support the landing force.
It will often be necessary to begin moving the artillery
somewhat earlier than in offensive without landing an air-
borne force, so that it will be ready in time to perform
tasks on behalf of the landing force from new firing positions.
Fire planning for the artillery detailed for the direct
support o e landing force consists of the assignment of
sectors for a concentrated standing barrage in order to
box in the area held by the landing force, concentrated
(massed) fire on areas where enemy reserves are located, and
fire along the routes of their possible movement. Besides
planned fire, the artillery must be in constant readiness to
neutralize .: new targets that appear during the battle, for
which purpose continuous reconnaissance of the enemy is
made in the operational area of the airborne force. A
particularly efficient method of reconnaissance is the use
of spotter-reconnaissance aircraft and helicopters. It is
therefore advisable to attach them directly to the divi-
sional artillery commander.
Owing to the deviations of the ground zeros of the
atomic bursts from the selected objectives, changes in the
direction of movement of the radioactive cloud, the meteoro-
logical conditions, and for other reasons, the planned
flight path of the landing force and the landing area can
be altered during the battle. In connection with this,
during the planning an alteration in the tasks of the artil-
lery assigned to support the airborne force must also be
envisaged. It is also advisable to have an alternative
plan for the artillery in case of late arrival of the
helicopters with the landing force at the forward defended
localities and their return to the take-off airfields afte50X1-HUM
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landing the airborne force. All alterations in the tasks
must be passed to the artillery as quickly as possible
after the decision has been reached by the combined-arms
commanding officer.
When planning artillery fire to secure the return of
the helicopters after landing the airborne force, the
requirements to be observed are the same as those for the
flight of the airborne force to the landing area. Only
it is worth noting that the take-off of the helicopters
after landing the airborne force is carried out at low
horizontal speed. This allows the delivery of fire on the
enemy located near the landing area of the airborne force.
When landing a tactical airborne force in the zone of
a divisional attack, the artillery staff, as a rule, does
not work out any special planning documents. Artillery
tasks on behalf of the landing force are shown in the
divisional artillery fire plan.
An exemplary layout for divisional artillery fire
during an advance with the landing of a tactical airborne
force is given in Appendix 3.
The coordination of the artillery with the landing
force is organized by the divisional commanding officer,
base on the instructions of the army commander and the
decision reached for the advance. During the organization
of coordination the following are defined more accurately:
the tasks of the landing force, the time and procedure of
the landing operation, the flight path and altitude of the
landing force, and the tasks of the artillery in securing
the landing and supporting the operations of the landing
force. Besides this, the divisional commanding officer
establishes the marking procedure for the flight route of
the landing force and control signals and also determines
on the ground the base _ point for calculating the alti-
tude laid down for the helicopters and accordingly*the heights
of the artillery trajectories. 50X1-HUM
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The following participate in organizing the coordina-
tion: the commanding officer of the landing force, the
commanding officer of the helicopter group, the divisional
artillery commander, and representatives of aviation and
of the army artillery group.
In accordance with the divisional commanding officer's
instructions on coordination, the artillery commander first
of all informs the commanding officers of the artillery
groupsof the tasks of the landing force and the procedure
of the landing operation, clarifies on the ground the,
flight path of the landing force and gives the flight alti-
tude for the helicopters, and informs them of the tasks
to be performed for the landing force by the army artillery
and of the time and procedure for delivering atomic strikes.
Besides this, the artillery commander defines more
precisely the complement and tasks of the artillery detailed
for direct support of the landing force, informs the artil-
lery of the coordination-and artillery fire control signals,
and shows on the ground the point from which the height of
the trajectories of the shells must be calculated.
To ensure the safety of the flight of the force and
its landing, lines are established; and when the landing
force reaches these the artillery, on receipt of an agreed
signal, must cease firing. These lines can be: the rear
border of the area of the artillery firing positions, for-
ward edge of the battle area, and others.
At the same time, to ensure the safety of the returning
helicopters after landing the airborne force, similar lines
are established; and with the approach of the helicopters to
them.,the artillery ceases firing.
As in the first instance, these lines can be: border
of the destruction zone of an atomic burst; lines in the
enemy's disposition, and the forward edge and rear border
of the firing position area.
One of the possible ways of organizing artillery fire
control in the flight path of the helicopters is given be'-
50X1-HUM
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Signals for artiller fire control in the flight path
of the helicopters an example)
The position of the Operations of the artillery
helicopters and Artillery outside the Artillery in the
the signals flight path flight path
Reached the area of firing Delivers unrestricted fire Delivers fire at trajectory;
positions. Radio: "Fire height not higher than the
101" ("ognevyye 101") flight altitude
Reached the forward edgecf Delivers fire when the
battle area. Radio: "For- 'descending part of the
ward edge 202" trajectory is below the
flight altitude of the
helicopters
The tail reached line No.l. Delivers fire up to line No. 1 without
Radio: "Tail over line any restrictions.
No. 1 303" ,
On targets located be- Does not fire on targets
yond line No.1 when the located deeper.
descending part of the
trajectory is below the
flight altitude of the
helicopters
.The landing of the last Fire delivered without any restrictions
!Take-off after unloading. Fire delivered up to line No. 1 without
Radio: "Take-off 505" any restrictions.
The head has reached line Delivers fire when the Delivers fire when the
No.l. Radio: "Return line height of the descending height of the trajectory
No.1 606" part of the trajectory is is below the flight a1ti-
below the flight altitude I.,;de. Mortars do not fire.
of the helicopters
On targets located deeper Does not fire on targets
than line No.1 when descen-(located deeper than the
ding part of the trajec- battle position..
tory is below the flight 11
altitude of the helicopter!
The tail has paused the
fox ward edge. Radio: "Re - Delivers fire without any restrictions
turn forward edge 707"
The tail has passed the rear
border of the firing posi- Fire delivered without any restrictions
tion area. Radio: "Return
firing position area 808"
Note: Line No. 1 ?? rear boundary of' the comlxit position
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The example given is made up for a situation when
there is little gun artillery in the flight path or this
artillery is located outside the flight path of the heli-
copters.
The lines for stopping (resumption) of fire and the
control signals must be known to the commanding officers
of those artillery subunits which have been detailed to
support the landing force.
To bring about coordination with the helicopters it
is advisable to have a representative from the helicopter
group at the observation post of the divisional artillery
commander with a radio set for contact with the commanding
officer of.this group.
When organizing the coordination, the commanding offi-
cers of the artillery groups (subunits) detailed to support
the landing force must understand all the details of the
tasks of the landing force and the sequence of their exe-
cution, the artillery tasks in supporting the combat opera-
tions of the landing force, and the limits for the safe
delivery of fire.
To facilitate control of the fire of the artillery
detailed to support the landing force, it is advisable to
show on the control map of the divisional artillery com-
mander the following: flight path of the landing force,
the chart of the flight of the landing force, and the esti-
mated time taken for the landing operation; the artillery
tasks, including the antiaircraft artillery, in support of
the landing force, depending on the situation of the force;
the permitted trajectory heights for the artillery located
in the flight path of the landing force; and coordination
signals of the artillery with the commanding officer of the
helicopter group and with the commander of the landing
force, as well as how the light markers (svetovoy orientir)
are to be placed when marking out the flight path and the
route of the landing force. 50X1-HUM
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Fire control of the artillery assigned to support the
landing force is usually exercised by the divisional artil-
lery commander from his command observation post through
the commanding officers of the appropriate artillery groups.
Adjustment of fire is carried out by spotter-reconnaissance
aircraft or with the assistance of radar stations. In
several cases, for conducting reconnaissance and adjustment
of fire, artillery spotter-reconnaissance groups can be
landed as part of the airborne force with means of control.
As a rule, these groups are assigned from the units support-
ing the landing force. As experience in exercises has
shown, such a group can consist of 3 or 4 men,,of whom 1 or
2 are officers and 2 or 3 are scouts (razvedchik) and radio
operators.
The commanding officer of the spotter-reconnaissance
group spells out in detail the procedure on how to maintain
communications with the divisional artillery commander, with
the commanding officer of the army artillery group, and, if
necessary, with the army special artillery group, and 'gives
out signals to start and stop fire.
When landing an airborne force during an advance,, the
coordination is organized basically in the same way. In
this, particular attention is given to the problems of
making more specific the artillery tasks and checking its
preparation to carry out the assigned tasks, and to the
movement of the artillery to new firing positions and its
readiness to open fire.
The complement of the artillery of a tactical airborne
force and, consequently, the requirement of helicopters for
it depend on the actual situation.
In those cases where the force is landed within the
limits of the enemy first defense zone and a considerable
amount of artillery can be brought in for its support from
the troops advancing from the front, the motorized rifle
battalion may have only its organic artillery or get small
reinforcements, mainly of antitank weapons. 50X1-HUM
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When the landing of a tactical airborne force is in
the depth of the enemy second defense zone, a greater
reinforcement of it by artillery may be required. Usually
this would be antitank artillery, primarily recoilless guns,
as well as mortars. These weapons are the most transportable
and can be employed effectively in performing fire tasks to
support the combat of the landing force.
Artillery is landed mainly by MI-4 helicopters, which
have a load capacity of up to 1600 kg. The alternative
loads of the helicopter can be the following: a 57 mm auxil-
iary-propelled gun, gun crew (2 men), and 20 rounds; a
107 mm B-11 recoilless gun, gun crew (5 men), and 60 rounds;
two 82 mm B-10 recoilless guns, gun crews (8 men), and 60
rounds; one 82 mm mortar with a crew, 10 boxes aid 6 shell
trays with mortar shells; or a GAZ-69 motpT vehicle with a
driver.
When landing an airborne force in the tactical depth
of the enemy defense, it is very difficult and sometimes
impossible to replenish the artillery of the landing force
with ammunition. It is necessary, therefore, to supply
air-landed artillery with such quantities bf munitions as
will be necessary for it to perform the tasks for the air-
borne force before the arrival of the troops advancing
from the front.
The experience of past exercises and preliminary cal-
culations show that for a landing force to carry on opera-
tions for 2 to 4 hours it is necessary to have the following
quantity of ammunition:
-rounds for 57-mm guns - 0.4 to 0.5 unit of fire;
-rounds for 82-mm and 107-mm recoilless guns - 044
to 0.6 unit of fire;
-rounds for 82-mm and 120-mm mortars - 0.5 to 0.6
unit of fire. 50X1-HUM
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When there is a shortage of helicopters, the number
of transport vehicles for the artillery in the landing
force can be limited to a few GAZ-69 vehicles for the
purpose of transporting ammunition from the unloading
places to the firing positions.
When military-transport aviation is equipped with
helicopters with greater load and volume capacities, this
limitation may not be required.
When reinforcing the battalion with a platoon of re-
coilless guns, a platoon of 57-mm guns, and a platoon of
120-mm mortars, 20 to 25 MI-4 helicopters will be required
on the average to transport this artillery, including the
ammunition.
The commanding officers of the subunits must know the
plan for loading the armament and equipment and emplaning
the personnel in the helicopters.
When planning the loading, the tactical integrity'
of the subunits is preserved, i.e., a battery is loaded into
the helicopters of the same squadron; the crew, gun, and
prime mover are loaded into helicopters of the same flight.
This facilitates the preparation of the guns and the bat-
teries as a whole for operations in the enemy rear immedi-
ately after unloading them from the helicopters.
Because the subunits of the landing force will be
required to conduct combat operations on ground contami-
nated with radioactive substances, during the preparation
of the landing force, attention is paid to supplying artil-
lery personnel with the means of personal antichemical pro-
tection and decontamination.
The main task of the artillery subunits of the landing
force during the fighting in the enemy rear is engaging
enemy tanks, because they are extremely dangerous to the
airborneaforce. The neutralization of enemy fire weapons
and personnel in the operational area of the landing force
is carried out by the artillery of the troops advancing 50X1-HUM
from the front as well as by aircraft.
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The preparation of the artillery for combat operations
in the enemy rear is made in a limited period of time, and
therefore, while still in the departure area, arrangements
are made to accelerate the readiness of the subunits to
deliver fire after unloading from the helicopters.
The assignment of tasks to the artillery subunits, the
organization of their coordination with the infantry and
the commanding officers of the helicopterr" subunits, and
the informing of personnel of the tasks are done in the
departure area several hours before emplaning (loading)
into the helicopters.
To reduce the time of readiness of artillery to open
fire, the landing places are selected, as far as possible, in
the areas of probable firing positions. With this aim in
view, the officers must study the terrain thoroughly in the
area of the landing and around it; and this will facilitate
orientation on the ground after landing from the helicopters.
The study of the terrain is done with relief maps, aerial
photos, and models of the terrain. Particular attention is
paid to memorizing the relative positions of distinctive
landmarks, the landing places, and the areas selected for
firing positions.
The guns, munitions, and instruments, including night
vision equipment, are prepared with special thoroughness,
because time will not be available to prepare them for use
after one is in the enemy rear.
When time is available, the training of the artillery
of a tactical landing force for combat operations in the
enemy rear can be carried out by means of practical exer-
cises on the ground.
Before the start of the drills, personnel are
allotted to helicopters (mock-ups of helicopters) on which
the problems of emplaning and deplaning of personnel and
loading and unloading of equipment from the helicopters are
worked out. Training is conducted at the same time with
personnel in individual means of protection in case of the
breaking loose, and in the unloading,of combat equipment 50X1-HUM
and other cargo.
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The methods of orientation in the landing area are
also worked out with all personnel, having in mind that
the relief ~ of the ground is considerably changed after
an atomic explosion.
All personnel must know for certain the signals for
warning, mutual recognition, and target designation, the
safety measures when conducting combat on contaminated
terrain, and the procedure for partial and complete medical
treatment and decontamination.
The problem reviewed in this article on artillery
support for the landing and operations of a tactical air-
borne force landed in the zone of a divisional off.ensive show
that under these conditions a number of additional tasks
are given to the artillery. The planning of artillery
operations and the organization of its coordination with
the landing force must be done so as to take into account
the artillery tasks on behalf of the landing force and the
time and methods of its landing. Together with reinforcing
the landing force with artillery, it is also necessary to
plan to support it with artillery, primarily long-range gun
artillery and heavy rocket artillery, drawn from the comple-
ment of troops advancing from the front.
The problems raised in this article are fairly new,
and therefore the recommendations made are not final.
During the forthcoming exercises with an actual landing
of troops, it will be necessary to make further investi-
gations of the operations of the artillery in supporting
tactical airborne forces, and make the separate proposi-
tions suggested in this article more exact.
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CONVENTIONAL SIGNS AND ABBREVIATIONS USED IN INSERT 3
SIGNS EXPLAINED ON MAP)
,ill 1111
Border of the flight path.
Border of the zone for neutralizing of
infantry weapons.
Border of zone for neutralization of
small-caliber antiaircraft artillery.
Artillery fire before and during the
flight of the landing force (helicopters).
Artillery fire during the battle of the
landing force.
50X1-HUM
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Artillery atomic strikes.
Heavy rocket artillery atomic strikes.
Missile atomic strikes.
Operations area of the airborne force.
Heavy rocket fire.
Artillery smoke screen.
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AK
ASAG
DAG
ABBREVIATIONS (NOT GIVEN IN FULL ON MAP)
= Army corps.
= Army special artillery group.
= Divisional artillery group.
PAG - Regimental artillery group.
brtd = Armored division.
brtp = Armored regiment.
msd = Motorized rifle division.
bgr = Battle group.
tb with bgr = Tank battalion with battle group.
tr = Tank company.
pr Infantry company.
sr - Rifle company.
tb with pr - Tank battalion with infantry company.
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