Page "Artillery" Paragraph 62

Control of fire against opportunity targets is an important differentiator between different types of artillery system.

In some armies only designated artillery HQs have the tactical fire control authority to order fire units to engage a target, all ' calls for fire ' being requests to these HQs.

This authority may also extend to deciding the type and quantity of ammunition to be used.

In other armies an ' authorised observer ' ( for example, artillery observation team or other target acquisition element ) can order fire units to engage.

In the latter case a battery observation team can order fire to their own battery and may be authorised to order fire to their own battalion and sometimes to many battalions.

For example a divisional artillery commander may authorise selected observers to order fire to the entire divisional artillery.

When observers or cells are not authorised they can still request fire.