Artillery Loadouts [was Re: The elusive Columbiad]

> ScottSaylo@aol.com wrote:

Actually, this brings up a question that's been bouncing in the back of my
head.

What's the current loadout of a 'typical' artillery battalion, and is there
any training about firing directly over open sights? I just finished reading
George Blackburn's 3 volume history of a Canadian artillery regiment in WWII,
where he discussed in some detail the training and use of said regiment.
(25pdr Field Artillery)

However in the modern era, the information I've been able to get my hands on
doesn't go into any great detail, but it does suggest that nobody in Western
militaries train for direct fire, and, thusly, loadouts are mostly HE plus
'Improved Munitions' for those countries that can afford it. (Militaries on
the Soviet Model, however, do seem to train for direct fire, or all those SPGs
attached to their tank and motor rifle regiments would be pretty useless.)

Any comments? I've always thought that artillery should train to fire over
open sights, because you never know when you're going to be
attacked, but, then again, I'm just a damned civvie.  (8-)

Thanks,
J.