"Towed artillery is obsolete" Topic

The Army's towed howitzers, many of which have been sent to Ukraine, are becoming increasingly obsolete, U.S. Army Futures Command head Gen. James Rainey said Wednesday.

"I personally believe that we have witnessed the end of the effectiveness of towed artillery," Rainey said here at the AUSA Global Force conference. "The future is not bright for towed artillery."…

Defense One: link

Not for Light units like the 82d, 101 and 10MTN …

Well, no duh. The light fighter years added to 20 years of fighting LIC has complete dulled the leadership to mechanized warfare. We develop wonderful equipment like Fire Finder Radar but don't think this might pose a threat to our desire to tow artillery behind trucks? At least the conflict in Ukraine is forcing the leadership to wake up and see the current issues at hand,(drones, shoot-n-scoot, mobility on the battlefield, GPS positioning, advanced fire control).

At first view drone-spam makes a lot of things appear obsolete… But hasty decisions can be repented at leisure. I'm going hazard that anti-drone measures will become effective and some form of balance or equilibrium will be reached.

I'd rather have towed artillery supporting me than no artillery…

The US AT battalion at the Battle of the Bulge intentionally left behind their towed guns and wished they hadn't!

Legion 4;
Add my unit, 86 IBCT (MTN) into that mix.

Towed artillery has a task and a purpose. The problem is understanding context and the correct tactical application of that capability.

Eric

Lemme know when you figure out how to slight a 109 under a Blackhawk.

The M777 with M982 Excalibur rounds is one very capable bit of kit. Far from obsolete in my opinion.

The response time for a foe to undertake counter battery fire has decreased, the effectiveness of that fire has improved, the infrastructure necessary to conduct those missions has decreased, and the cost to do them has decreased. Platforms include traditional mortars and artillery as well as an increased array of un-manned systems and loitering munitions.

Electronic warfare capabilities have not only gotten cheaper but more varied. It is possible to jam an artillery battery's electronic systems from not only a front line location but also from an office far, far from the conflict if the target is important enough. The war in Ukraine has demonstrated the necessity to rapidly shoot and disperse for all types of units, not just artillery. The threat is applicable to all formations – light, airborne, Stryker, and Armor/heavy units.

Will every foe possess those capabilities? Probably not. Will every foe have the potential to access them? Yes.

Towed artillery has a task and a purpose. The problem is understanding context and the correct tactical application of that capability.

I agree totally. When I was in the 101 we had nothing but towed artillery. Like all the other Light units in the Army.

Lemme know when you figure out how to slight a 109 under a Blackhawk.

Not anytime soon …I'd think …

Far from obsolete in my opinion.

Yes it still has its uses in certain units. And the use of proper tactics etc.

Rakkasan +1
Some good comments.

Could the answer be disposable systems? Set up a rocket tube with a stand and some kind of guidance system? Counter battery gets to blow up an empty fiber glass tube?

I'm still thinking Light units have to have towed FA. But yes as we know Light units once on the ground don't move that fast.

Towed artillery can be used in a defensive fixed position to support fortifications and urban area.

Yes, that would be one of the best ways to use them. Based on terrain and situation as always.