Field Artillery Branch (United States)
| Field Artillery | |
|---|---|
 Field Artillery branch insignia, featuring two crossed field guns | |
| Active | Created November 17, 1775 |
| Country | United States |
| Type | Combat arms |
| Home station | Fort Sill, Oklahoma |
| Nickname(s) | King of Battle |
| Branch color | Scarlet |
The Field Artillery branch was founded on November 17, 1775 by the Continental Congress, which unanimously elected Henry Knox "Colonel of the Regiment of Artillery". The regiment formally entered service on January 1, 1776. Although Field Artillery and Air Defense Artillery are separate branches, both inherit the traditions of the Artillery branch.
Mission statement
The mission of the Field Artillery is to integrate and deliver lethal and non-lethal fires to enable joint and maneuver commanders to dominate their operational environment across the spectrum of operations.
History
The Field Artillery is one of the Army's combat arms, traditionally one of the three major officer branches (with Infantry and Armor). It refers to those units that use artillery weapons systems to deliver surface-to-surface long range indirect fire. Indirect fire means that the projectile does not follow the line of sight to the target. Mortars are not field artillery weapons; they are organic to infantry units and are manned by infantry personnel.
The term field artillery is to distinguish from the Air Defense Artillery, and historically, from the Coast Artillery (or Coastal Defense Artillery), a branch which existed from 1901-1950. In 1950, the two branches were unified and called simply Artillery, until air defense was made into a separate branch in 1968. The insignia of the Field Artillery branch is a pair of crossed field guns (19th century style cannons) in gold, and dates back to 1834.
The officially stated mission of the Field Artillery is to destroy, neutralize, or suppress the enemy by cannon, rocket, and missile fire and to help integrate all fire support assets into combined arms operations.
The home of the Field Artillery and the Field Artillery School are at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Field artillery is called the "King of Battle". Conflicts in the 20th century saw artillery become exponentially more effective as indirect fire methods were introduced immediately prior to WWI. During World War I and World War II, field artillery was the single highest casualty-producing weapons system on any battlefield.
Members of the Field Artillery are referred to as "Red Legs" because during the American Civil War they were distinguished by scarlet stripes down the legs of their uniform pants. The use of colors to distinguish branches of the United States Army dates to 1833. Branch colors are found on the shoulder straps of officers wearing the blue dress uniform and on branch of service scarves authorized for wear with a variety of uniforms. [1]
Publications
The professional journal of the Field Artillery is published at Fort Sill. Known as the Field Artillery Journal in 1911, it went through many name changes through Field Artillery in 1987. The journal merged with Air Defense Artillery in 2007 to become Fires.[2]
Weapons
M119A2 - 105mm Towed Howitzer
M198 - 155mm Towed Howitzer
M777 - 155mm Towed Howitzer
M109A6, Paladin - 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer
M270A1 - 270mm MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System)
M142 - 270mm HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System)
Current
The U.S. Army employs several types of field artillery weapons systems. The four towed howitzer weapon systems in use are the M102 (105 mm), used primarily by honor guards, the M119A1/A2 (105 mm), the M198 (155 mm) howitzers, and the M777 155 mm howitzer. The M109A6 Paladin is a 155 mm self-propelled howitzer. The M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) is the Field Artillery's heaviest and longest-ranged weapons system, a self-propelled rocket launcher using either 270 mm unguided rockets or the guided Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) Block I missile. The United States Marine Corps currently uses only the M198 howitzer, and plans to transition to the M777.
Historical
During the Cold War, the Field Artillery was responsible for all mobile ballistic missiles weapons systems, including the Lance and Pershing II ballistic missiles.