Artillery

"…and I've always said, if Exar Kun had artillery at Toprawa, your Jedi Chancellor would be sporting yellow eyes today."

―Jarrow Rusher to Kerra Holt^[1]

Artillery was a term used to describe medium and heavy weapons systems or vehicles designed for long-range bombardment, generally against fortified targets such as bunkers and shield generators but also vehicles and infantry. Most artillery pieces were stationary, fed by high-output power generators, serviced by large crews and protected within armored housing, although many examples of mobile pieces existed. Light artillery pieces, also known as heavy weapons or infantry support weapons, are not included in this category, nor are the immense planetary weapons used to attack orbiting spacecraft.^[2]

Direct fire artillery included blasters and Slugthrowers which could only hit targets within their line-of-sight. While this limited their range and what they could target, their shots generally traveled fast enough that the enemy had almost no chance to avoid getting hit.^[2]

Indirect fire artillery included missiles, rockets and shells traveling on a ballistic trajectory which could hit targets outside their line-of-sight, whether behind cover or over the horizon. While this gave them superior range, the projectiles they fired were also vulnerable to being shot down by antimissile systems. As well those with guidance systems, while capable of making midflight course corrects, could be fooled by enemy countermeasures.^[2]

Imperial Army[]

Overview[]

Unit	Commander	Light artillery piece	Medium or heavy artillery piece	Size

Artillery section	Sergeant	2	1	Squad

Artillery line	Lieutenant	8	4	Platoon

Artillery battery	Captain	32	16	Company

Artillery battalion	Major	96	48	Battalion

Artillery regiment	Lieutenant Colonel	288	144	Regiment

Classification[]

The Imperial Army classified artillery pieces in three major categories; light, medium and heavy. An artillery section would typically have a single heavy or medium artillery piece. Or two if they were using light artillery pieces.^[3]

Military organization[]

Artillery section

Main article: Artillery section

The smallest artillery formation in the imperial army was the artillery section. These squad sized units would typically consist of eight humans. The section could sometimes be further divided into two four man gun crews each using a single light artillery piece. Or alternatively work together to crew a single medium or heavy artillery piece.^[3]

Artillery line

Main article: Artillery line

An artillery line would have four artillery sections. Plus a command element which consisted of commanding officer at the rank of lieutenant and a sergeant major who served executive officer which was the second-in-command of the unit. These lines could be augmented with the addition two more artillery section an heavy weapons squad and a line squad.^[3]

Artillery line organizational chart on the Imperial Army Order of Battle

Artillery battery

Main article: Artillery battery

The artillery battery had four artillery lines, a command element and three support units. The Logistics section was made up by eight logistics personnel, eighty eight droids and a logistics officer. The medical team consisted of four medical personnel, eight droids and a medical officer. The technical group had eleven technical personnel, twenty two droids and a technical officer. The battery could be augmented with the addition of two assault platoon and two more artillery lines.^[3]

If the captain was rendered unable to command, would the company lieutenant take command.^[3]

Captain (Commanding officer of the battery)^[3]
Company lieutenant (Second in command)^[3]
Logistics officer (Third in command)^[3]
Medical officer (Fourth in command)^[3]
Technical officer (Fifth in command)^[3]

Artillery battery organizational chart on the Imperial Army Order of Battle

Artillery battalion

Main article: Artillery battalion

The artillery battalion consisted three artillery batteries, an assault company, a security platoon and three support units. The artillery batteries conducted fire support missions, the assault company secure ground and defend the other units, while the security platoon only defended the captain and his or her power. The argumentation process allowed the battalion to essentially double in strength.^[3]

Artillery battalion organizational chart on the Imperial Army Order of Battle

Artillery regiment

Main article: Artillery regiment

The artillery regiment was the largest official artillery formation in the imperial army. It consisted three artillery battalions, an assault battalion, a scout troop and the traditional support and security units within the regimental headquarter. The regiment could be augmented with the addition of an repulsorlift battalion and three artillery battalions.^[3]

Artillery regiment organizational chart on the Imperial Army Order of Battle

Role[]

During the formation of the Imperial Army, artillery had been given the least priority of the combat arms, with the common thinking that artillery would play no significant role on modern battlefields. The Rebellion, however, proved them wrong and attempts were made to quickly revitalize this force. Officially an artillery regiment would be attached to a battlegroup and operate as a single unit. However due to some complaints by junior officers on occasion smaller artillery units were assigned at the regimental or battalion level, such as an artillery battery being attached to a line battalion, although this was not reflected in the OB.^[3]