I was doing live fire calls when we did a four battalion (a total of 54 15mm howitzers and 18 8 inch howitzers) Time on Target mission. We were at a safe distance from the impact zone (naturally), but I'm still amazed by the noise, vibration and devastation those guns did with 72 rounds impacting within seconds of each other.
Artillery - King of Battle /Artillery adds dignity to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl!!!!!
I was reading about the battle of the Pusan perimeter in the Korean war. The US at this stage had been pushed back to the perimeter and was just holding on. One unit had spread out on the line so thinly that they were barely a trip war. They would have just enough time to radio/phone it that they were being attacked and that would be that.
They were spread out by fire teams as I remember, not even squads.
A NK unit with about 200 men popped up on a hill on the other side of the river. Rah Roh. :shocked: The NK unit did not attack though, instead, they sat down under a tree and it appeared they were getting a lecture. :confused3: The soldiers called for fire support and got a time on target mission aimed at the tree. I forget exactly what they were able to call in and how many tubes but the time on target worked, the rounds impacted almost all at once, and the NK unit no longer existed.
Another book I was reading was written by a Green Beret LT during the Vietnam war. He was down in the delta with a few other Green Berets and various local units of uncertain loyalty. The rivers/canals were used for most of the movement in the area. During the Tet offensive an observation plane spotted a large number of light moving toward his position along a canal. I forget how many but there were thousands of light and even at two lights per boat it meant there were thousands of men moving on his position. There was no way he position could hold against what was moving towards him especially with the local units suspect abilities and loyalty.
He called for fire support and tactical air strikes but none was available. It was all tied up else where at higher priority battles. :shocked:
His goose looked to be cooked when he was told there was Arc Light(B52s) flight available.
The B52(s) came in a dropped on the line of lights which then ceased to exist. They were close enough to see, hear and feel the explosions. They went out the next day and all they found was parts of weapons, boats, equipment, and people along with just a few blood trails.
It really is unimaginable....
Later,
Dan
