1st Armored Division Artillery (United States)

Last updated

1st Armored Division Artillery
1st Armored Division Artillery logo.png
Active1940-1946, 1951-1957, 1962-2007, 2014-present
Country Flag of the United States.svg United States of America
BranchFlag of the United States Army.svg  United States Army
Type USA - Army Field Artillery Insignia.svg Field artillery
RoleDivision fires HQ
Size Brigade
Part of 1st Armored Division
Garrison/HQFort Bliss, TX
Nickname(s)Iron Steel
Flag 1st Armored Division Artillery Flag.png
Equipment M109A6/A7 Paladin
Commanders
Current
commander
COL Jayson Morgan
Command Sergeant MajorCSM Matthew Richter

The 1st Armored Division Artillery (DIVARTY) is the divisional artillery command for the 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss, Texas. The DIVARTY has served with the division in World War II and the first Persian Gulf War, and in peacetime at Fort Hood, Fort Bliss, Fort Polk and Germany. The DIVARTY was inactivated in 2007 as part of transformation to modular brigade combat teams, but was reactivated in 2014 to provide fire support coordination and mission command for the training and readiness of field artillery units across the division.

Contents

History

World War II

Cold War

1988 saw a major reflagging in the 1st Armored DIVARTY, with 1st Battalion, 22nd Field Artillery reflagging as 2nd Battalion, 1st Field Artillery; 2nd Battalion, 78th Field Artillery reflagging as 3rd Battalion, 1st Field Artillery; and 6th Battalion, 14th Field Artillery reflagging as 6th Battalion, 1st Field Artillery. The DIVARTY also contained a target acquisition battery (Battery B, 25th Field Artillery) and a separate MLRS battery (Battery A, 94th Field Artillery). The DIVARTY focused its training on three objectives:

The DIVARTY Interdiction and Counterfire Exercise (ICE) exercised multi-battalion mass live fires, while Exercise Ironstar focused on support to maneuver forces. [1] During 1989, the DIVARTY continued ICE and Ironstar, as well as a conducting a Battle Command Training Program (BCTP) with the division. [2]

Post Cold War

During 1990, the DIVARTY executed another ICE and participated in REFORGER 90. In late 1990, the DIVARTY deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield, closing on 21 January 1991. As task organized for the conflict, the DIVARTY, commanded by COL Vollney B. Corn, consisted of its organic headquarters; 2nd Battalion, 1st Field Artillery; 3rd Battalion, 1st Field Artillery; Battery A, 94th Field Artillery (MLRS); and Battery B, 25th Field Artillery (Target Acquisition) (B/25th FA). In addition, the 2nd Battalion, 41st Field Artillery was attached from the 3rd Infantry Division Artillery and the 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery was attached from the 210th Field Artillery Brigade.

After participating in the 100-hour ground conflict and post-conflict stability operations, the DIVARTY redeployed to Germany in early May. [3] [4] As part of post-Cold War draw down, in 1991-1992, the 1st Armored DIVARTY inactivated its battalions, and reflagged the 8th Infantry Division Artillery, assuming command of the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery; and 2nd, 4th and 6th Battalions, 29th Field Artillery, in addition to Battery C, 333rd Field Artillery replacing B/25th FA as the divisional target acquisition battery. During the divisional BCTP, the DIVARTY successfully tested an "artillery combat team" concept, employing an MLRS battalion and cannon battalion with a Bradley mechanized infantry security company, Stinger missile teams, and target acquisition radars under the control of the DIVARTY assault command post. The DIVARTY focused its training on artillery maneuver, gunnery and integration of fires. [5] During 1993, the 6th Battalion, 29th Field Artillery upgraded its MLRS launchers to include ATACMS capability. [6]

During 1994, the DIVARTY revised its Mission Essential Task List to focus on Operations Other Than War (OOTW) while continuing its training focus on artillery maneuver, gunnery and integration of fires. The DIVARTY was the first active division artillery to field the Initial Fire Support Automated System (IFSAS). As part of continued force reductions across the Army, the 2nd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery redeployed from Germany to Fort Lewis, Washington with the 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, the brigade it habitually supported. [7]

In 1995, the DIVARTY continued its training focus on artillery maneuver, gunnery and integration of fires. In July, the 6th Battalion, 29th Field Artillery inactivated, ending the U.S. Army's occupation of Strassburg Kaserne in Idar-Oberstein. To continue MLRS support to the division, the DIVARTY reactivated Battery A, 94th Field Artillery in May 1995. [8] The 1994 focus on OOTW proved fortuitous, when the DIVARTY deployed with the division to Bosnia in December 1995. The DIVARTY was task organized for the operation with its organic headquarters; 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery; 4th Battalion, 29th Field Artillery; Battery A (MLRS), 94th Field Artillery; and Battery C (Target Acquisition), 333rd Field Artillery. The addition of two additional target acquisition batteries: Battery A, 25th Field Artillery (from the 41st Field Artillery Brigade) and Battery B, 25th Field Artillery (from the 1st Infantry Division Artillery) raised the DIVARTY's operational strength to over 2,300. The DIVARTY continued operations in Bosnia, including weekly howitzer platoon displacements and 2-gun raids to maintain fire support for maneuver operations. The DIVARTY also supported various multi-national units and conducted partnered training with the Nordic-Polish Brigade, a Russian mortar battery and a Turkish 155mm howitzer battery. [9]

In 1997, the DIVARTY redeployed from Bosnia and executed a re-training program of command post exercises, including Operation Victory Strike, a corps BCTP focused on high intensity conflict. The battalions also conducted field artillery live fires and multinational exercises and demonstrations. The 4th Battalion, 29th Field Artillery reflagged as the 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery and Battery C, 333rd Field Artillery reflagged as Battery C, 25th Field Artillery. The DIVARTY returned to Bosnia in the fall and winter of 1997. [10] The DIVARTY Headquarters remained deployed to Bosnia through June 1998, controlling two fire support elements for two brigades and an organic firing battery, as well as two firing batteries from 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment and additional Army National Guard elements. The two cannon battalions fielded the M109A6 Paladin howitzer, with 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery completing training in May and 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery completing training in July. The DIVARTY then again returned to training for high intensity conflict, participating in Operation Rolling Steel 98, the largest maneuver rights exercise in Germany since 1990. [11]

Global War on Terrorism

Lineage and honors

Lineage

Campaign participation credit

World War II: Tunisia; Naples-Foggia; Rome-Arno; Anzio; North Apennines; Po Valley

Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait

Decorations

Heraldry

None Authorized [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3rd Infantry Division (United States)</span> Active US Army formation

The 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) is a combined arms division of the United States Army based at Fort Stewart, Georgia. It is a subordinate unit of the XVIII Airborne Corps under U.S. Army Forces Command. Its current organization includes a division headquarters and headquarters battalion, two armored brigade combat teams, one aviation brigade, a division artillery, a sustainment brigade and a combat sustainment support battalion along with a maneuver enhancement brigade. The division has a distinguished history, having seen active service in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Global War on Terror. The Medal of Honor has been awarded to 61 members of the 3rd Infantry Division, making the division the most honored in the Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Infantry Division (United States)</span> Active US Army formation

The 2nd Infantry Division ("Indianhead") is a formation of the United States Army. Since the 1960s, its current primary mission is the pre-emptive defense of South Korea in the event of an invasion from North Korea. There are approximately 17,000 soldiers in the 2nd Infantry Division, with 10,000 of them stationed in South Korea, accounting for about 35% of the United States Forces Korea personnel. Denoted the 2nd Infantry Division-ROK/U.S. Combined Division (2ID/RUCD), the division is augmented by rotational Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) from other U.S. Army divisions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4th Infantry Division (United States)</span> Active US Army formation

The 4th Infantry Division is a division of the United States Army based at Fort Carson, Colorado. It is composed of a division headquarters battalion, three brigade combat teams, a combat aviation brigade, a division sustainment brigade, and a division artillery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Cavalry Division (United States)</span> United States Army combat formation, active since 1921

The 1st Cavalry Division is a combined arms division and is one of the most decorated combat divisions of the United States Army. It is based at Fort Cavazos, Texas. It was formed in 1921 and served during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, with the Stabilization Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina, in the Iraq War, in the War in Afghanistan as well as Operation Freedom's Sentinel and Operation Inherent Resolve. As of July 2023, the 1st Cavalry Division is subordinate to III Armored Corps and is commanded by Major General Kevin D. Admiral.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5th Infantry Division (United States)</span> Inactive US Army formation

The 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized)—nicknamed the "Red Diamond", or the "Red Devils" —was an infantry division of the United States Army that served in World War I, World War II and the Vietnam War, and with NATO and the U.S. Army III Corps. It was inactivated on 24 November 1992 and reflagged as the 2nd Armored Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">9th Infantry Division (United States)</span> Military unit

The 9th Infantry Division is an inactive infantry division of the United States Army. It was formed as the 9th Division during World War I, but never deployed overseas. In later years it was an important unit of the U.S. Army during World War II and the Vietnam War. It was also activated as a peacetime readiness unit from 1947 to 1962 at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and Fort Carson, Colorado, and from 1972 to 1991 as an active-duty infantry division at Fort Lewis, Washington. The division was inactivated in December 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">41st Field Artillery Brigade</span> Military unit

The 41st Field Artillery Brigade " is a Field Artillery Brigade of the United States Army. Initially only operating from October to December of 1918, it has since operated as a Brigade level staff from 1921 to 1931, 1942–1944, 1952–1969, 1972–2005, 2007–2015, and 2018 to present. It has been stationed in Virginia, Hawaii, Oklahoma, Texas, and Germany. It has served in World War II, Vietnam, Operations Desert Shield & Desert Storm, Kosovo, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brigade combat team</span> Basic deployable unit of maneuver in the U.S. Army


The brigade combat team (BCT) is the basic deployable unit of maneuver in the U.S. Army. A brigade combat team consists of one combat arms branch maneuver brigade, and its assigned support and fire units. A brigade is normally commanded by a colonel (O-6) although in some cases a brigadier general (O-7) may assume command. A brigade combat team contains combat support and combat service support units necessary to sustain its operations. BCTs contain organic artillery training and support, received from the parent division artillery (DIVARTY). There are three types of brigade combat teams: infantry, Stryker, and armored.

Field Artillery Brigades are field artillery and rocket formations of the United States Army. They were previously named Fires Brigades for a short period. Fires Brigades were then either inactivated and reflagged as Division Artilleries (DIVARTY) or reorganized and redesignated as Field Artillery Brigades. Currently active Field Artillery Brigades are:

82nd Field Artillery Regiment is a field artillery regiment of the United States Army. The regiment has been involved in American conflicts dating back to the Mexican Civil War, as well as modern operations such as the War on Terrorism. There are two active and three inactive battalions in the regiment. Traditionally, the regiment has been aligned with the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Cavazos, Texas and Fort Bliss, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">212th Field Artillery Brigade</span> Military unit

The 212th Fires Brigade is an artillery brigade in the United States Army. It was based at Fort Bliss, Texas and was a subordinate unit of III Corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">214th Fires Brigade (United States)</span> Military unit

The 214th Fires Brigade is an inactive field artillery brigade in the United States Army. The brigade inactivated on May 21, 2015, at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">75th Field Artillery Brigade (United States)</span> Field artillery brigade of the III Armored Corps, US Army

The 75th Field Artillery Brigade is an artillery brigade in the United States Army. It is currently based in Fort Sill, Oklahoma and supports the III Armored Corps. The brigade is officially tasked to train and prepares for combat; on orders deploys to any area of operations to plan, synchronize and execute combined, and joint fires and effects. Integrate attached ground and air maneuver forces and on order function as a maneuver headquarters in support of full spectrum operations.

The 210th Field Artillery Brigade, also known as "the Thunder," is a U.S. Army field artillery brigade forward deployed in the Republic of Korea. Its mission is "On order, 210th Field Artillery Brigade provides fires in support of ACC Operations and Ground Component Commander's (GCC’s) counter fire fight. On order, transitions to offensive operations." It provides fire support for Eighth United States Army. The brigade is based at Camp Casey, Republic of Korea and its assets include the M270A1 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">25th Field Artillery Regiment</span> US military unit

The 25th Field Artillery Regiment is a field artillery regiment of the United States Army, first constituted 5 July 1918 in the National Army (USA). Although the regiment did not see action during World War I, elements participated in World War II, Vietnam, Panama, the Gulf War, and the Global War on Terrorism. Currently the regiment one active battalion, a towed light artillery units equipped with the M119A3 105mm Howitzer and the M777A2 155mm Howitzer. The 5th Battalion is assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division at Fort Johnson, Louisiana. The 4th Battalion was inactivated on 14 August 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Infantry Division Artillery (United States)</span> Military unit

The 2nd Infantry Division Artillery (DIVARTY) or "Warrior Strike" is the Force Field Artillery Headquarters for the 2nd Infantry Division. The DIVARTY served with the division from 1917 to present, including combat service in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. In addition to peacetime service with the division at Fort Lewis, Washington, Fort Benning, Georgia, and in Japan and Alaska, the DIVARTY spent 40 years in Korea. After seven years stationed at Joint Base Lewis–McChord, where the DIVARTY provided fire support coordination and mission command for the training and readiness of five field artillery battalions, the Army restationed the DIVARTY to Camp Humphreys on 16 September 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3rd Infantry Division Artillery (United States)</span> Military unit

The 3rd Infantry Division Artillery (DIVARTY) is the divisional artillery command for the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia. The DIVARTY has served with the division in World Wars I and II, the Korean War, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and in peacetime at Fort Stewart and Germany. The DIVARTY was inactivated in 2004 as part of transformation to modular brigade combat teams, but was reactivated on 17 October 2014 to provide fire support coordination and mission command for the training and readiness of Field Artillery units across the division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Infantry Division Artillery (United States)</span> Divisional artillery command of the 1st Infantry Division, US Army

The 1st Infantry Division Artillery (DIVARTY) is the divisional artillery command and force fires headquarters for the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas. The DIVARTY has served with the division from 1917 to 1939, 1940–1995, 1996–2005, and reactivated in October 2015. The unit has been stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, and in Germany, and has seen combat in World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The DIVARTY provides a single proponent with the division for standardized fires certification and leader development while exemplifying effective mission command, and supporting the seamless cross-attachment of units with common procedures and a shared understanding of the fires warfighting capabilities.

The 1st Cavalry Division Artillery (DIVARTY) or "Red Team" is the Force Field Artillery Headquarters for the 1st Cavalry Division. The DIVARTY served with the division from 1941 to 2005, including combat service in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and Operation Iraqi Freedom and in peacetime in Japan, Korea, and Fort Hood, Texas. As the Force Fires Headquarters, the DIVARTY provides fire support coordination and mission command for the training and readiness of field artillery units across the division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">101st Airborne Division Artillery</span> Military unit

The 101st Airborne Division Artillery (DIVARTY) is the force fires headquarters for the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The DIVARTY has served with the division in World War II, Vietnam, Operations Desert Shield and Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and in peacetime at Camp Breckinridge and Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and Fort Jackson, South Carolina. The DIVARTY was inactivated in 2005 as part of transformation to modular brigade combat teams, but was reactivated on 16 October 2014 to provide fire support coordination and mission command for the training and readiness of field artillery units across the division.

References

  1. "Silhouettes of Steel: 1st Armored Division Artillery," Field Artillery HQDA PB 6-88-6 (December 1988): 14.
  2. "Silhouettes of Steel: 1st Armored Division Artillery," Field Artillery HQDA PB 6-89-6 (December 1989): 20.
  3. "Silhouettes of Steel: 1st Armored Division Artillery," Field Artillery HQDA PB 6-90-6 (December 1990): 14.
  4. "Silhouettes of Steel: 1st Armored Division Artillery," Field Artillery HQDA PB 6-91-6 (December 1991): 14.
  5. "Silhouettes of Steel: 1st Armored Division Artillery," Field Artillery HQDA PB 6-92-6 (December 1992): 15.
  6. "Silhouettes of Steel: 1st Armored Division Artillery," Field Artillery HQDA PB 6-93-6 (December 1993): 31.
  7. "Silhouettes of Steel: 1st Armored Division Artillery," Field Artillery HQDA PB 6-94-6 (December 1994): 31.
  8. "Silhouettes of Steel: 1st Armored Division Artillery," Field Artillery HQDA PB 6-95-5 (November–December 1995): 29.
  9. "Silhouettes of Steel: 1st Armored Division Artillery," Field Artillery HQDA PB 6-96-6 (November–December 1996): 33.
  10. "Silhouettes of Steel: 1st Armored Division Artillery," Field Artillery HQDA PB 6-97-6 (November–December 1997): 33.
  11. "Silhouettes of Steel: 1st Armored Division Artillery," Field Artillery HQDA PB 6-98-6 (November–December 1998): 33.
  12. 1 2 http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/060/60-11_pt1/CMH_Pub_60-11_pt1.pdf Archived 20 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine McKenney, Janice E. (2010). "Headquarters and Headquarters Battery 1st Armored Division Artillery (Bombards)". Field Artillery Part 1. Army Lineage Series. United States Army Center of Military History. pp.25-26. PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .