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Direct Fire to Indirect Fire: Changing Artillery for The Future?

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Direct Fire to Indirect Fire: Changing Artillery for The Future?

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Title	Direct Fire to Indirect Fire: Changing Artillery for The Future?
Subcollection	Field Artillery Boards\ The Interwar Years: 1919-1939
Description	In 1907 the artillery community initially codified indirect fire concepts learned during the period between the US Civil War and the Russo-Japanese War. These initial concepts identified the scientific elements of the indirect fire problem. Widespread distribution of the new doctrine throughout the artillery community did not occur until forces were committed into combat in France. Because the US was not a party to the war in Europe during the early years of World War I, the American people and its Army remained isolated from the war. By choosing isolationism as a national policy the President and the Congress chose not to fund preparations for the massive build-up that occurred in 1917. U.S. artillery entered the war in France lacking both the equipment and the experience necessary to provide effective indirect fire. Lessons learned from World War I were captured in artillery notes, doctrinal manuals and in the findings of post World War I boards. The findings and lessons learned from World War I continue to influence artillery doctrine today. The codification of the science of artillery has benefited both maneuver and artillery units because the science of artillery has improved the accuracy of the weapons employed. Likewise the application of meteorology, and radars improved the science of artillery and, thus, was implemented rather effectively. The application of new technology such as radios, computers and MLRS has provided new capabilities that must be incorporated in future artillery doctrine. While the MLRS community has applied these new technologies to change doctrine, the cannon community has been slow to adopt new procedures and organizational structures. Consequently, the conditions shaping today's artillery decisions are similar to conditions that allowed the United States artillery to enter World War I unprepared.
Author	MAJ. Dave Wellons
Publisher	School of Advanced Military Studies
Date	May 15, 2000
Type	Text
Format	Monograph
Identifier	ADA 389830
Rights	Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Direct Fire to Indirect Fire: Changing Artillery for The Future?

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