Howitzers on High Ground: Considerations for Artillery Employment in Southwest Asia

摘要

The current U.S. Army involvement in Afghanistan requires an expanded field artillery arsenal of weaponry and munitions. This expansion should include rockets, medium and light howitzers, and pack howitzers. These weapon systems offset the limitations that the rugged mountainous terrain of Southwest Asia and enemy tactics place on the effectiveness of aircraft and infantry. Enemy exploitation of the mountains and the environmental conditions creates a dynamic that increases the demand for and reliance on field artillery of all calibers in the region. Historical case studies validate the necessity, utility, and efficacy of artillery use in the region. These studies center on the Soviet Union's occupation of Afghanistan, the India-Pakistan conflict over the Siachen Glacier and around the city of Kargil, and the recent experience of the United States in Afghanistan. Insights from these examples establish artillery as an essential capability that supports conventional and asymmetric operations in this region.