ARRC JOURNAL
MN FAB considerations:
1. Survivability
a. Speed
b. Mobility
c. Protection
2. Mobility
a. Strategic
b. Tactical
c. Air (via strategic air lift)
d. G
round (Road
(wheeled) and Cross-
country (tracked)
3. Capabilities
a. Precision
b. Mass
4. Effects
a. Point
b. Area
Figure 7. MN FFAHQ Heavy Option - Roles and Responsibilities
The number of personnel within the
MN FFAHQ must be kept at acceptable
levels so as to make the organisation
both tenable and manoeuvrable. A
number of the functions that the US
equivalent would be able to accomplish
unaided require support from other
branches within the ARRC or elsewhere
within the UK. The refinement of the
TEP is heavily dependent on the G2 and
G2 ISR support, and the clearance of
fires and battle space management will
require support from the ARRC G3, G35
and OPSCEN staff. 3 Where the light to
medium configurations are limited in the
number of battery and/or battalion-sized
S2S fires units they can command, due
to the limited numbers of staff, the heavy
option provides greater staff capacity
and the ability to command a MN FAB or
even multiple FABs. 4
The MN FAB (Supporting MN
FFAHQ – Heavy Configuration)
The type of fight the heavy MN FFAHQ
configuration supports requires an
associated MN FAB that can shape the
deep, support the close and protect the
rear. It demands greater fires flexibility,
additional
firepower,
ISTAR
and
integrated C2. It must be able to mass
fires and strike point and area targets
throughout the area of operations (AO)
with precision, 24/7. This MN FFAHQ
and MN FAB must also be resourced
to conduct effective pre-emptive and
reactive CFs, support anti-access
area denial (A2AD) operations and
suppression of enemy air defence
(SEAD) tasks in collaboration with
combined (aviation deep strike or Joint
Air-Attack Team (JAAT) activities) or joint
assets (air component command (ACC),
maritime component command (MCC),
special operations component command
(SOCC)).
The organisation of a NATO fires battalion
differs depending on the country of
origin. Some are integrated and consist
of a number of complimentary equipment
types, like the German model (UAVs,
radars, sound ranging, 2 x 52-calibre gun
batteries and a Multiple Launch Rocket
System (MLRS) Battery plus associated
combat service support (CSS)). While
others like a US High Mobility Artillery
Rocket System (HIMARS) battalion
consist of a single equipment platform.
A potential order of battle (ORBAT) for a
MN FAB is pictured in Figure 8 below.
This ORBAT meets the varied and
considerably versatile criteria required
by a MN FAB supporting the ARRC. The
criterion listed below is not exhaustive,
but it is quite comprehensive and was
identified by asking the question, “What
does the ARRC want its FAB to be able
to do?”
By using the combination
of assets listed in Figure
6, most, if not all, of the
considerations listed above are achieved
without diluting the effects required.
Most of the weapons platforms address
a number of these aspects, but have a
focussed advantage in a particular area.
Referring back to the organisation in
Figure 8:
1. The
Italian and German MLRS
battalions, being both tracked
and
armoured,
provide
highly
manoeuvrable and survivable deep
fires precision, but arguably limited
area effects capability. However, they
have the additional advantage of
being able to carry twice the amount
of ammunition to that of a HIMARS.
2. The US HIMARS and French Caesar
battalions, coupled with Q53 radars,
are wheeled and therefore reduce the
CSS burden. They can move quickly
by road and have the advantage
of strategic mobility via suitable air
transport, which is particularly useful
when the ARRC is acting in the role of
an LCC headquarters and is required
to move fires assets quickly in support
of the main effort or when conducting
planned artillery raids.
3. The
Romanian LAROM and US
Paladin battalions have the ability
to execute precision point and area
targets out to 45 kilometres. They are
ideal to reinforce the commander’s
3 At the 72-hour point the TEP will be passed to the FFAHQ for refinement. The time between the allocation of the TEP to the FFAHQ and subsequent engagement requires the ARRC G2 and
ARRC G2 ISR to update the FFAHQ with refined Target Areas of Interest (TAI) and target locations. It also requires communications with the ISTAR assets linked to the TAI for engagement
purposes to positively identify the target and provide Phase 1 Battle Damage Assessment.
4 The limitations of the proposed MN FFAHQ are yet to be determined. The current suggested limit is six battalion-sized units for the heavy configuration; this is based on the author’s
perception of the expected capabilities required by a FAB conducting high intensity warfighting.
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ALLIED RAPID REACTION CORPS