Artillery Offensive

the total combat operations of the artillery in an offensive. The concept of artillery offensive arose in the Soviet Army during the Great Patriotic War and was fixed in the Military Regulations of the Infantry (parts 1 and 2, 1942). The objectives of an artillery offensive were to achieve the uninterrupted participation of artillery in battle, the close coordination of artillery with infantry and tanks, and the continual and simultaneous neutralization of the enemy at the maximum depth of his defenses. The artillery offensive was divided into three periods—preparation of the attack, support of the attack, and the support of infantry and tank operations in the depths of the enemy’s defenses. Preparation of the attack consisted of concentrated fire attacks on the entire tactical depth (8–10 km) of the enemy’s defenses; support of the attack consisted of one or two artillery barrages, the successive concentrating of fire on previously designated targets, or the application of both these kinds of fire together; support of infantry and tank operations consisted of artillery fire and maneuvering of the artillery until the accomplishment of the assigned combat missions. When the enemy’s defenses included especially solid defense installations which could not be destroyed during fire preparation for the attack, provision was made for a preliminary bombardment lasting several hours or even days. Today, instead of artillery offensives, provision is made for fire preparation for an offensive and for fire support.