Artilleryencompasses a broad category of weaponry designed to project high-explosive shells or rockets over great distances, often targeting distant objectives. While the term primarily refers to the heavier variants capable of launching large-caliber shells across several kilometers, it can also include smaller, even hand-held, artillery pieces. Artillery serves various tactical purposes, such as softening enemy positions before an assault or impeding an enemy's advance. Despite their effectiveness, artillery weapons have inherent drawbacks compared to direct-fire weapons due to the high trajectory and long range of their shells. However, the sheer destructive power of artillery shells is significant, making them capable of saturating an area with explosions and potentially neutralizing multiple targets with a single salvo. Beyond high-explosive shells, artillery can deploy smoke shells to obscure an extensive area from enemy observation, aiding friendly forces in large-scale offensives or retreats. Other types of shells, such as white phosphorus, may also be employed occasionally, often by enemy artillery units.
Artillery plays a significant role in various missions, and its presence varies depending on the context. Typically, enemy artillery units will target friendly (player) forces throughout missions. Occasionally, friendly forces may have their own mortar team for artillery support. While not strictly categorized as artillery, Grenade Launchers are commonly carried by Fireteam Leaders and Squad Leaders in nearly every mission. Additionally, enemy heavy artillery pieces may become mission objectives, requiring players to locate and destroy them in Raid-type missions. In missions where friendly forces have access to artillery, there may be a forward observer on the ground or in the air. Their primary responsibility is to identify enemy positions, mark them on the map, and coordinate fire missions with the artillery team or off-map artillery support. This coordination is crucial for maximizing the effectiveness of artillery fire in achieving mission objectives.
Specifications
The term "Artillery" encompasses unguided weapons that engage targets indirectly, meaning they don't require a direct line-of-sight to the target and often fire at steep angles, effectively going over obstacles. This definition distinguishes artillery from guided missiles, which belong to a separate category of weapons.
While this definition is quite broad, it includes various weapons of different sizes that share a common method of operation. The primary distinctions between artillery pieces are their effective range, accuracy, mobility, and the damage potential of the projectiles they launch. These factors determine how artillery assets are used in military operations.
Mortars
Mortars are a common type of artillery characterized by their short barrel, typically around one meter in length, and equipped with a detachable base or bipod for stability. These weapons are lightweight and can be carried by infantry. A mortar team, usually consisting of two or three individuals, is responsible for operating a mortar. Mortar teams typically position themselves at a distance behind friendly forces whenever possible, as they lack the means to defend themselves effectively in combat.
Mortars primarily fire high-explosive shells, although they can also deploy smoke shells. Their effective range is approximately 1 kilometer, but they can achieve longer ranges with reduced accuracy. Targets are designated either by a forward observer, if available, or by the rifle squads themselves. These targets are typically marked on the map using abbreviations like "TRP" or "TGT." Mortar teams must estimate the direction and range to the target accurately before firing, as mistakes can easily result in friendly fire incidents.
A mortar shell has the potential to inflict casualties on infantry at a considerable distance from the impact point and can even damage or destroy unarmored or lightly-armored vehicles. However, mortars lack the firepower to reliably engage armored vehicles and are rarely used against them.
Heavy Artillery
Heavy artillery, also referred to as "large-caliber artillery," is a seldom-seen physical presence in missions but plays a role in a few scenarios. Typically, it serves as an off-map asset utilized by AI-controlled enemy forces to soften or delay player characters. Players themselves rarely employ heavy artillery, although there have been instances of friendly "off-map" barrages initiated by the Game Master as part of the mission's narrative.
Heavy artillery is exceptionally potent, capable of launching a substantial number of shells that create massive explosions. These explosions have the potential to demolish buildings in a single hit or eliminate a significant number of targets. This formidable firepower is one reason why the use of heavy artillery is limited in missions—it can make the gameplay too easy for players by effectively reducing the number of opponents they have to contend with.
Heavy artillery can fire various types of shells, including smoke, guided, and white phosphorus. While the latter two are rarely employed, they pose significant danger to infantry due to their incendiary nature.
Rocket Artillery
Rocket artillery is an important subtype of heavy artillery, as mentioned in the previous section. These weapons are equipped with multiple barrels, each loaded with high-explosive rockets. When fired, rocket artillery launches all of these rockets in rapid succession, saturating the designated target area with a barrage of deadly explosions within a very brief timeframe. While the rockets themselves are highly visible as they traverse the air, the fiery trails disappear before impact, leaving those in the target zone to anticipate the sudden onslaught of multiple explosions. Rocket artillery is just as infrequent in missions as conventional heavy artillery and may be employed by either BLUFOR or OPFOR depending on the scenario's requirements. Up to this point, rocket artillery has been observed utilizing high-explosive munitions exclusively, although in reality, rockets with different types of warheads exist.
Grenade Launchers
In nearly every mission, grenade launchers play a prominent role and are usually carried by squad leaders, fireteam leaders, and other command officers. Some vehicles are equipped with fully-automatic grenade launchers capable of firing rounds in rapid succession. Although grenade launchers share some similarities with artillery in terms of their firing mechanism and ability to launch projectiles in an arcing trajectory that doesn't always require a direct line of sight to the target, they are only considered artillery in the broadest sense of the term. Automatic grenade launchers, in particular, are employed similarly to artillery, aiming to saturate a specific area with explosive rounds. However, grenade launchers are not typically classified as artillery pieces because their explosions are considerably smaller and less powerful than those produced by other artillery weapons.
MUNITIONS
Artillery primarily serves the purpose of destroying infantry and light vehicles within the target area, typically using High Explosive shells or rockets. Additionally, various types of artillery weapons can deploy a range of different warheads, each designed to produce various effects, including non-damaging effects like smoke or illumination.
High Explosives
The majority of artillery barrages primarily employ high explosive shells or rockets. High explosive warheads contain a significant amount of explosive material, typically TNT, and detonate upon impact with any object. Due to the size and weight of artillery shells, the resulting explosion is both impressive and powerful. It can inflict casualties or fatalities on infantry within a considerable radius of the impact point, easily destroy light vehicles, and possess a chance of disabling heavier vehicles. A large artillery shell may even demolish a building in a single strike or a few hits at most. High explosive shells are a standard ammunition type for all types of artillery weapons. Grenade launchers, including automatic variants, usually fire High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) shells instead, which release numerous fragments and offer a slightly improved anti-armored vehicle effect. However, grenade launchers are not typically categorized as artillery weapons.
Smoke
Specialized smoke shells can be fired by artillery to create a substantial smoke screen. This is a relatively uncommon occurrence and is typically carried out by player-operated mortars and grenade launchers. Smoke screens serve to provide concealment for a significant friendly force, allowing them to traverse open terrain without coming under effective enemy fire. Artillery units usually fire smoke shells directly at the enemy position, although grenade launchers can employ them in different ways.
Flares
During night missions, artillery can deploy flares to illuminate an area temporarily, facilitating the identification of enemy movements in that region. Flares are typically fired from grenade launchers, and their primary function is to provide illumination during nighttime operations. These flares are launched high into the air, triggering a chemical reaction at the apex of their arc, resulting in a bright glow. They also feature parachutes to slow their descent, allowing for extended illumination. However, the chemical reaction eventually depletes, causing the flare to extinguish, typically after approximately two minutes.
While mortars can also provide flares during night missions, they tend to offer longer-lasting and brighter illumination but require more time to fire, and they might be engaged in firing high explosive shells at the enemy most of the time.
White Phosporus
In extremely rare instances, artillery can deploy an unconventional warhead known as white phosphorus, designed to inflict lasting harm over time. Upon impact, these shells initiate a burning process that can affect exposed infantry within a wide impact area, often spanning several dozen meters. White phosphorus releases intensely hot particles that rapidly burn through a person's skin, causing severe injuries. Its primary purpose, however, is to generate a substantial amount of smoke. When used, it causes targeted individuals to catch fire. It's important to note that white phosphorus shells do not appear to have any significant impact on vehicles or buildings, but they may affect any soldiers inside these structures. These shells are exceptionally rare in artillery deployments.
USAGE
Heavier artillery is typically not available for player use and can only be employed by the Game Master as needed for mission scenarios. In contrast, lighter artillery, especially grenade launchers, is commonly used by players, although the methods of use can vary depending on the specific weapon in question.
Grenade Launchers
Grenade Launchers are commonly carried by players in leadership positions, including Fireteam Leaders and above. They typically have access to various types of grenades, such as HEDP (High Explosive Dual Purpose), Smoke, and Flare grenades.
Most Grenade Launchers are mounted under the barrel of the player's primary weapon, allowing for quick switching between the two. However, in Low-Tech scenarios, players might carry a separate grenade launcher slung over their back, which results in a slower transition to the GL.
These launchers often feature special sights that aid in targeting distant objectives, although they are not essential for close-range engagements. When firing flares for illumination, they are usually launched nearly straight up or at a high angle to maximize their time in the air. Explosive grenades, like HEDP, have a minimum arming distance, which varies depending on the launcher model. If the grenade impacts a target before reaching its minimum flight time, it will not detonate and will be rendered inert.
Mortars
Mortars are operated by specialized 2-man or 3-man infantry teams known as mortar teams. Their sole responsibility is to handle the mortar weapon system. Typically, mortar teams position themselves well behind the main force, choosing a concealed location that offers protection from enemy fire. In some cases, Platoon HQ may share the same position with them.
Operating a mortar involves a division of labor within the team. One team member loads the mortar, while another aims and fires it. A third team member may be present to lead the unit, facilitate communication with the rest of the force, and provide flank security.
To prepare a mortar for firing, it must be set up. This process includes placing a tripod on the ground and mounting the mortar barrel on top of it. Afterward, the mortar is loaded with the appropriate shell. When it's time to relocate the mortar to a different position, it must first be unloaded and disassembled. Each member of the team carries different components of the mortar, with shells being distributed among those who have the capacity to carry them. For transport and additional shell storage, a vehicle, often a Recon Vehicle like an unarmed HMMWV, may be used. The actual operation of the mortar can vary between different missions and versions of ArmA. It consistently involves determining the distance and direction to the target. The individual who conveys the target information may also request the specific number and type of shells to be fired. To minimize the risk of friendly units entering the target area during the bombardment, the mortar team will announce the start and completion of firing operations.
Heavy Artillery
Heavy Artillery is not typically directly accessible to players. It is usually under the control of the Game Master, who determines when and where it should be used. Heavy Artillery may not even be physically present on the in-game map; the shells can be fired from an off-map asset, such as a heavy battleship located offshore. The capability for the commanding officer of the player-controlled side to request an artillery barrage when it's available is currently uncertain. It's possible that the Game Master initiates artillery strikes based on mission parameters and objectives.
Enemy-controlled Heavy Artillery, on the other hand, often appears on the in-game map and may frequently shell the players during a mission. In such cases, it is either directed by the game's AI or by the Game Master overseeing the mission.
Artillery as a Mission Objective
In certain scenarios, the enemy may have heavy artillery assets on the in-game map that serve as mission objectives to be destroyed by the players. Players will need to locate these artillery assets, mark their positions on the map, and, if instructed to do so, eliminate the artillery pieces using methods such as explosive charges, anti-tank launchers, or other weapons capable of destroying vehicles. The necessity to destroy these artillery assets can vary depending on the mission. Sometimes, it's crucial to eliminate them to prevent them from shelling the players directly, while in other cases, their destruction may be required to prevent them from attacking other targets or fulfilling specific mission objectives.