UK - Special Observers

Source: Forces News

The role of special observer is unique. Their job is to march up to 100km ahead of the frontline - deep into enemy territory and in the dead of night construct observation posts in buildings, bushes or underground. Then they must watch and wait, silently logging the enemy’s every move and feeding it back to command. The information they send will be crucial.

4/73 (Sphinx) Special Observation Post Battery RA

4/73 Battery comprises a Battery Headquarters and four Patrols Troops. It has a strength of six officers and 58 other ranks. Three troops, each of a 3-man Headquarters and two 6-man Patrols provide support to the brigades of 3rd Mechanised Division and others. One troop of a 3-man Headquarters and one 6-man Patrol at high readiness to support 16 Air Assault Brigade.

Special Observers give commanders the ability to deploy a specialist force element at range, in proximity to the enemy and in all weathers, to locate and prosecute targets as required. Working as the ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) group in each of the brigades, the STA Patrols Troop are subject matter experts on Static Covert Surveillance (SCS) and complement the reconnaissance activity conducted by other Ground Manned Reconnaissance (GMR) forces in the Brigade.

The skill set includes:

• manned observation post (OPs)
• real time transmission of information
• comprehensive technical surveillance, through use of: long lens optics, cameras and data transfer systems, to provide imagery of evidential quality
• deployment of Long Range Electro Optical (LREO) systems: covert remote cameras and sensors
• initiation of the full spectrum of joint fires
• conduct of battle damage assessment (BDA)
• trained in Survive, Evade, Resist, Extract (SERE)

US - Joint Effects Targeting System (JETS)

Source: U.S. Military Times

 This New Weapons System Turns U.S. Army Artillery Into a 'Sniper Rifle'

The Joint Effects Targeting System significantly improves precision targeting. The M777 Lightweight 155mm howitzer provides timely, accurate and continuous firepower in support of Marine and Army infantry forces and replaces the M198 towed Howitzer. In 2005, the Army and Marine Corps began fielding the M777, a much smaller, lighter (9,000 pounds lighter) and more maneuverable towed cannon weapon than its predecessor, resulting in improved transportability and mobility without impacting range or accuracy. Seven-ton trucks are used to move the M777s, enabling artillery units to move faster between positions. A must for equipment in an expeditionary force, the howitzer is also highly deployable, able to be lifted externally by both the MV-22 Osprey and CH-53E Super Stallion and a single CH-47 Chinook.

UK - Royal School of Artillery

UNITED KINGDOM 

ROYAL SCHOOL OF ARTILLERY

NATO - Spearhead Force Artillery

 Artillery of the NATO "Spearhead Force" demonstrates firepower

Source: Bundeswehr

Missiles, mines, precision ammunition. Artillerists from Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Norway practise their combat capabilities by sharpshooting.

Four nations in one battalion. Under the aegis of the 325th artillery demonstration battalion, all soldiers belong to NATO’s spearhead VJTF (Very High Readiness Joint Task Force).

Their mission: to destroy the enemy as quickly as possible.

BELGIUM - LG1 Towed Howitzer

GERMANY - KZO UAV (Target Acquisition)

GERMANY - MARS II MLRS

NORWAY - M109

HOLLAND - PzH 2000