When war breaks out, the frontlines are guarded by the infantry or foot soldiers who indulge in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy. But, the artillery amplifies the infantry’s efforts. Hence, knowing of the artillery support in Indian Army becomes essential. Today, this is exactly what we talk about by building on the role of the artillery for you.
What is Artillery Support in Indian Army?
Let us begin by understanding what the artillery support in Indian Army really means. Artillery support refers to the use of firepower from large distances to support the ground troops during war.
While you might think that the infantry and artillery are the same, things are quite different in reality. To begin with, the infantry is a combat arm which includes foot soldiers who operate at the frontline and can occupy terrain, conduct assaults and secure targets. The artillery, on the other hand, is a support arm and engages targets from a distance by providing fire support to the troops on ground.
This means that the artillery support in Indian Army creates a sync between the two arms and ensures that the goal is met victoriously.
Explaining The Artillery Support in Indian Army
Now that you know what the artillery is and what it does, we look at the artillery support in Indian Army and how it ensures victory at the battlefield with joint effort.
Engaging the enemy
The major role of the artillery is engaging the enemy and defending own land in the battlefield. During war, when the enemy positions present an obstacle to the infantry, the artillery support proves to be of immense value. It reduces and destroys the war-waging capabilities of the enemy and facilitates the movement of our troops effectively.
The artillery support in Indian Army was quite evident during the 1999 Kargil War when artillery fire using the Bofors guns, devastated the enemy and strengthened the position our troops in operations like the battle for Point 5140.
Supporting the assault by infantry
As we shared above, the infantry is the force which is present at the frontline. It advances towards the enemy and attacks its positions. However, here too, artillery support in Indian Army comes to the picture by engaging and resisting the enemy’s positions.
It facilitates the movement of ground troops, suppresses the sound of their movement, and also provides cover fire to them. However, please know that this support becomes effective only with planning, coordination, communication and timing between the artillery and the infantry.
Countering difficult terrain
We all know that India has a very diverse geography and almost all of our wars have been fought in rugged terrain, which creates difficulty for ground operations. Therefore, the artillery support in Indian Army also includes countering difficult terrain by, let’s say, assaulting the geographical features that are difficult to navigate.
This requires specialized equipment, trained personnel and appropriate logistical planning. Hence, the modernization of the artillery with indigenous and imported guns has gained a lot of traction.
Suppressing the enemy advances
Interestingly, the artillery support in Indian Army also includes suppressing the enemy activities by reducing the enemy’s ability to wage war and use its weapons or positions effectively. This helps the infantry carry out its task with limited resistance from the enemy.
This is quite important when wars happen because the infantry often moves through exposed terrain. Hence, the artillery ensures that its movement is swift.
Final Thoughts
The artillery support in Indian Army is an important part of how the organization conducts its combined-arms operations. Please understand the while the infantry remains on the ground and secures its goals, the artillery ensures the required conditions using firepower to engage enemy positions, suppress opposition and support the troops on ground.
If you aspire to join the artillery in the future, you must know of the points mentioned by us. Similarly, if there is an arm or service that you would like to know more about, do let us know in the comments below.
