Bird_Gunner45 said:
Currently, there is talk of creating the "4 GSR", which would consist of Air Defence, STA, and Counter Battery (HIMARS) Batteries making up what used to be 4 AD. Also, there's the thought of creating the all arm arty Regiment, which would see 1 and 2 RCHA and 5 RALC consist of a Field Battery, AD Battery, and STA Battery.
What's the best option?
The problem with this thread is that the initial question is flawed. It is not a matter of "which is the best option" because they are not mutually exclusive. Keep in mind that 4 GSR stands for 4 General Support Regiment, then keep in mind what the Artillery Tactical Task of GS means. I have attached a link in case anyone isn't familiar with Arty Tactical Tasks. 1,2,and 5 Regts are Direct Support (DS) to their respective Brigades and the Batteries are usually DS to a particular manoeuvre unit be it a Inf Bn or Armd Regt of that Bde. Admittedly since Afgh they have started using the term OPCOM but that should be another debate about what is in reality a theatre specific nuance.
http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/caj/documents/vol_03/iss_1/CAJ_vol3.1_04_e.pdf
So, the fewer Btys a DS Regt has the fewer manoeuvre units can be supported at the same time. While people may argue "who cares because we only ever deploy one unit at a time anyway". I would say that may be true now but what about the future. Anyone who has been tracking what the CLS has been saying will know he is pushing big time for us to get back our formation level fighting ability to specifically include Artillery firing at the Regimental level. As an aside, while you may see the current regts drop to two gun batteries, they will not go to one for a number of reasons not the least of which is how do you force generate the next battery when the one battery is in theatre?
In any case, back to 4 GSR. This is not a new concept and has been in existence (doctrinally) for ever. You can not use the DS Regts to fight the deep battle or their supported units go without support and those are the guys getting shot at. DS regiments do not generally do counter battery either, they are usually supporting the close fight and may or may not have the range to do it. Make no mistake though, they have extended range ammunition and precision rounds, so despite what some have alluded to in this thread, that is not why we need HIMARS (I won't say MLRS because we will not buy it). We need HIMARS to fight that deep/shaping battle throughout the battlespace of the Bde, not just a unit. 4 GSR will not need FOOs (although they may have them) because it's sensors will be soundranging, UAV, radar etc., all resident in the Regiment. In the end, this capability will not work for a unit but the Bde as a minimum. Right now we have a Bde HQ in theatre with no fire support as the BG owns everything (hopefully that soon changes) but having a GS capability will give the formation more ability to influence the fight. - i.e. shape the battlefield for its units.
As for AD however, combining field and AD is just a bad idea all the way around. They may wear the same cap badges but jobs they do are completely different and require very different skills, experience, training and expertise... it's just a really dumb idea.
No matter what decisions are made, the Regs will always need Reserve augmentation and the Res will always need Reg spt as well. People on both sides are going to have to grow up and learn to play nicely.
This is a topic for which there are numerous classes on various courses a number of which I have taught. One thing it is not is a new concept. To say I have only skimmed the surface is an understatement - I acknowledge that but just tried to keep the post short.
-CH