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based on the FM 100-series and Weapons and Tactics of the Soviet Army.

The artillery offensive is intended to suppress enemy defenses before and during an attack and precedes the assault units as they advance from one objective to another. It may be combined with air strikes and NBC weapons (if needed). It strength and duration depend on the time available to prepare the offensive; the type of attack being launched as well as other factors.

In the attack from march, artillery support is limited and will often be provided by the battalion's mortars or by the regiment's howitzer battalion in the direct-fire role. The artillery offensive becomes more refined in support of the hasty attack, and increases in its sophistication, duration and size up to the breakthrough attack when the Soviets will mass the fire of 80-100 guns and expend 10,000-20,000 shells per kilometer of frontage.

Reconnaissance and target acquisition will precede the artillery offensive. For a hasty attack, the artillery will rely on the reports of reconnaissance patrols or troops in contact to identify targets. A breakthrough attack will be preceded by lengthy and through reconnaissance and systematic target acquisition. A detailed list of targets will be drawn up: the destruction of nuclear capable delivery systems having first priority, followed by command posts, observation posts, communications and radar centers, field and air defense artillery units, combat units in reserve positions, combat support positions and defensive strongpoints.

In the hasty attack, target identification and the allocation of guns to each target are carried out orally and on the spot, usually by the artillery regiment/battalion commander.

In the breakthrough attack, the artillery offensive will be set out in detail, with barrage plans prepared with the aid of extensive charts and formulas to calculate the number and type of shells each target will require. Typically, these plans are drawn up by the Army's Chief of Rocket Troops and Artillery (ACRTA). If time does not permit, then the planning will take place at divisional or even regimental level.

Once reconnaissance and target acquisition has been completed, the artillery offensive takes place over three phases: The Preparation Phase; The Fires in Support of the Attack Phase and the Fires Through the Depths of the Defense Phase.

In a hasty attack, the preparation phase depends on the tactical situation and how quickly the artillery can deploy into its firing positions. Preparation for a hasty attack averages between 10-20 minutes while the troops form up for the attack and includes direct-fire.

In a breakthrough attack, the preparatory fires can list 40-60 minutes. All preparatory fires are halved if a nuclear strike is planned. The purpose of preparatory fires is to suppress enemy defenses; disorganize command and control; neutralize defending artillery and fire control; and create passages through obstacles. False preparatory fires can be used to disguise the location of an attack.

Preparatory fires start with several minutes of firing at the maximum rate, then reverts to a slower sustained rate for most of the preparation and then ends with several minutes of firing at the maximum rate. Only enemy batteries that have actually opened fire will be engaged so that front-line targets will receive the full weight of the preparation.

As the assault units advance from the line of departure, the fires supporting the attack phase commences. These fires are both pre-planned and available on call (usually through direct-fire). The centralization mode will end as attacking units (only!) assume control of their artillery assets.

The fires supporting the attack will continue to hit enemy front-line positions until the lead attacking tanks are 250 meters from them; a shorter distance would make the tanks vulnerable to their own shells and a longer distance would give the enemy time to engage the tanks.

As the tanks reach the enemy positions, the fires supporting the attack phase ends and the fires through the depth of the defenses phase begins, this proceeds the advance as the assault unit breaks through the forward positions and into the depths of the defense. This is not a rolling barrage, but rather is a pre-planned shift of fires to targets in the enemy's rear designed to suppress and defenses. By this point, army control of the artillery ceases and
control of any remaining artillery is released to regimental/divisional control. In addition, a reserve of artillery will be maintained on call to defeat enemy counterattacks.

During this latter phase, Soviet artillery will start moving forward (no more than one third of the batteries moving at any one time). The Soviets believe that effective suppression requires continuous, uninterrupted fire. SP batteries will displace more frequently than towed batteries (who will typically remain in place to provide on call fire).

The Soviet artillery offensive is a vital part of the Soviet combined-arms approach to warfare.