ABSTRACT
The ultimate value of any weapons system is largely dependent upon its capacity for survival on the battlefield. Artillery is difficult to conceal, easy to locate and a high priority target, given the damage it can inflict. Survivability is all the harder for NATO artillery to achieve, given the overwhelming numbers and dedicated counter battery (CB) resources of a hypothetical WP enemy (1). It is estimated that half of WP artillery ammunition is allocated to CB fire in which mortars and helicopters also play a part. Artillery targets rank second after nuclear systems in WP target priority. The Soviets are also concerned about problems of survivability and the issue has been hotly debated in their journals (2). They regard NATO artillery as the prime threat to their own and have particular respect for NATO’s ability to locate targets with radar, night vision devices and air reconnaissance.
