Rethinking FASCAM (Family of Scatterable Mines) Principles for the Use of Artillery Delivered Mines

摘要

This monograph addresses existing shortcomings in the principles for employment of scatterable and remotely delivered mines. Such mines, part of an overall revolution in the conduct of land mine warfare, are an integral component of the deep, close and rear battlefields. Yet, the doctrine and principles of these mines has not kept pace with the advances in land mine technology. One area in which this is abundantly clear is in the use of Field Artillery weapon systems to deliver scatterable mines. While the Field Artillery has made great advances in the development and integration of such systems as precision guided munitions and advanced artillery data technology, the RAAM (Remote Anti-Armor Mine) and ADAM (Area Denial Artillery Munition) systems lack adequate doctrine and principles to fully exploit their potential on the battlefield. In schoolhouse exercises, and FTX's worldwide, the lack of such doctrine is reflected in ad hoc, highly personal approaches to FASCAM (Family of Scatterable Mines) employment. While the lack of any wartime testing of these systems precludes definitive doctrine on the subject, most often these systems are employed without fully understanding their potential or shortcomings. The author argues for the development of thorough and consistent doctrine for the use of artillery scatterable mines. As one component in a 'Triad' of delivery systems, the artillery may be the most responsive and flexible leg of that triad, but it is also the most vulnerable. (KR)