The recent growth of offensive capabilities in the Soviet forces has stirred concern within the free world. This thesis examines the extent of the current Soviet counterfire threat to the United States field artillery and its capability to provide effective fire support to maneuver forces. A comparative analysis is made using the artillery with a U.S. division and that which the USSR would probably employ against it in Europe during the 1976-1978 period. The investigative vehicle for the analysis is the "principles of effective counterfire," or PEC, which is composed of the fundamental elements of artillery combat: doctrine, tactics, counterfire systems, and personnel preparedness. Proposals are offered which are intended to reduce existing imbalances and vulnerability.

ADA 029882 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)