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PDF THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
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To have wheeled Artillery would warrant an IFV(not APC) equipped infantry battalion, fighting and firing on the move just like MBT's. But if the infantry uses wheeled transport trucks or MRAP's, it will need to dis mount and fight on foot and towed guns can provide all the fire support needed. Infantry also digs in and defends. An infantry Division maybe advance 50 km in a day and then stand and fight, towed guns are fine for that. Artillery deployment would take the same time, there would be no edge for wheeled Artillery. An infantry Division may stay at one position for days or maneuver a bit, even in plains of Punjab or desert. When the infantry digs in, the Artillery also digs in a few km behind it and responds to request of fire for effect. When infantry advances and makes contact, the infantry attacks a position and either holds it or withdraws, towed artillery also keeps up. There is no Arty support required on the move (wheeled Arty), unless its a hit and run OR hit and keep advancing on the go warfare, which tanks do and need Artillery (SP) to keep up always.
An armored or Mechanised Div may travel 50 km just to make contact and then another 50 km maneuvering or chasing enemy and then another 50 km either returning to defensive lines or moving to another location and maybe it comes across enemy formations and needs artillery support on the move, thats where SP Arty comes in. An armored regiment/Brigade maybe running left and right, up and down in a radius of 80 km and would require artillery and AD along with it, maybe even HAT or LAT. PA 1st Armored Division in 1965 was badly mauled by IA infantry formations in Khem Karan, the next day, armored units of 1st Armored Div were reinforcing 6th Armored Div in Sialkot, travelling over 200 km. The armored units went straight in combat supported by SP Arty which kept up with armoured forces through the transit (no big deal, towed might have done also), but SP Arty also kept up with attacks on IA armor in Sialkot during maneuver warfare which towed Arty couldn't have.
How does an MIB operate: infantry formation is accompanying armored forcesin APC's and it needs to keep pace with armor. Infantry Dis mounts APC's and joins combat with MBT's. Area gets captured. Infantry mounts APC's and joins MBT's in advance to next position/location along with SP Arty and SP AD. A sister formation, an infantry Division/Brigade attached with Armored formations takes over the captured area and deploys infantry for defense of the area. Just what 40th Infantry Division is supposed to do along with 1st Armored Div.
For wheeled artillery to be truly effective in infantry Divisions, PA should give its Infantry Divisions an Armored Brigade instead of just an Armored Regiment, that would make good use of wheeled Arty Regiment in infantry formations during maneuvering of Armored Brigade. Put Anza SAM equipped soldiers in Trucks and pick ups to give SP AD cover.
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