When attached to a special forces unit, an artillery observer is often tasked with coordinating fire from long-range artillery guns against high-value targets such as enemy headquarters. Equipment used in the observer role ranges from binoculars to laser rangefinders to unmanned aerial vehicles. The observer serves as the eyes of the guns, by sending target locations and if necessary corrections to the fall of shot, usually by radio. In the 21st century, Joint Tactical Fire Support observers emerged usually using sophisticated communications engineering systems.īecause artillery is an indirect fire weapon system, the guns are rarely in line-of-sight of their target, often located miles away. The development of optical and communication aids for observation advanced significantly in the First and Second World Wars. Elevated observation posts could be used as an aid to facilitate communication between the guns and the observers. The proximity of the observer to the target depended on the terrain and battlefield situation. This made a forward observer essential in order to be able to use artillery effectively. As ranges increased, methods of employing indirect fire were developed. In the era of bombards or Steinbüchse, the gunner could usually still fire directly on the target by line-of-sight. Historically, the range of artillery steadily increased over the centuries.

History Medieval direct line-of-sight fire Spotters ensure that indirect fire hits targets which those at a fire support base cannot see. An artillery observer usually accompanies a tank or infantry unit. JSTOR ( January 2013) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)ĭanish Defence artillery observer using a thermal imaging camera and a laser rangefinder A Canadian Armed Forces artillery observer watching an artillery strike during a live fire exerciseĪn artillery observer, artillery spotter, or forward observer ( FO) is a soldier responsible for directing artillery and mortar fire support onto a target.Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.įind sources: 'Artillery observer' – news Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. This article needs additional citations for verification.

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