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18th Fires Brigade (United States)
Encyclopedia
The 18th Fires Brigade is the only fires brigade under XVIII Airborne Corps. It is currently based in Fort Bragg
, North Carolina and supports the 82nd Airborne Division and other Corps units. The 18th Fires Brigade consists of the following units:
A tactical unmanned aerial vehicle
(UAV) battery
will be added to the brigade in the future.
18th Fires Brigade plans, synchronizes and employs joint and combined fires in support of forced entry operations, designated division or Combined Joint Task Forces and on order integrates attached ground and air maneuver forces in order to conduct full spectrum operations.
The 18th Fires Brigade has served in multiple capacities over the past decade in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as well as the primary 155MM Howitzer and HIMARS identity in The War in Afghanistan. The Brigade was the only Airborne Field Artillery Brigade in the United States Army with 1st Battalion (Airborne), 321st Field Artillery Regiment providing the majority of the support for the 18th Fires Brigade's Airborne Mission.
1st Battalion (Airborne), 321st Field Artillery Regiment maintains a fully capacity to provide 155MM Howitzer fires anywhere in the world within 18 hours in support of the 82nd Airborne Division and while supporting other global responsibilities. The unit has the unique ability to employ 155MM howitzer platforms through a "Howitzer Heavy Drop Package" capability which essentially allows for the weapon system to be dropped from an Aircraft while its Paratroopers will then place the weapon into action. 1st Battalion (Airborne), 321st Field Artillery Regiment currently serves as the United States Army's primary 155MM Howitzer response in the Global War on Terrorism.
3rd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment maintains a limited Airborne ability. During 2008 while serving as the General Support Artillery unit in Operation Enduring Freedom 8–9, 3rd Section, Battery C, 3rd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment became the first United States Army Unit to Fire the GPS Guided M982 Excalibur Munition in support of combat operations while serving in the volatile Kunar Province while supporting the 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regimenthttp://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/inf/0503in002bn.htm of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team.
3rd Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment (HIMARS) has served in the capacity to support various United States Army and other agencies with accurate and effective Field Artillery Rocket Fires.
According to The Institute of Heraldry, "The shoulder sleeve insignia was originally approved for the 18th Field Artillery Brigade on 29 May 1979. It was amended to include the airborne tab, add metric measurements and revise the description on 21 October 1992. It was again amended to change the color of the airborne tab on 5 February 2003. The insignia was redesignated for the 18th Fires Brigade and amended to delete the airborne tab on 22 March 2007."
As of August 2009, the 18th Fires Brigade now dons the "All American" patch of the 82nd Airborne Division. The 18th Fires Brigade became a General Support Field Artillery Brigade in July 2008 and currently falls under control of the 82d Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Fort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland and Hoke counties, North Carolina, U.S., mostly in Fayetteville but also partly in the town of Spring Lake. It was also a census-designated place in the 2010 census and had a population of 39,457. The fort is named for Confederate...
, North Carolina and supports the 82nd Airborne Division and other Corps units. The 18th Fires Brigade consists of the following units:
- Headquarters & Headquarters Battery
- 1st Battalion (Airborne), 321st Field Artillery Regiment (United States)321st Field Artillery Regiment (United States)The 321st Field Artillery Regiment is a Field Artillery regiment of the United States Army.-Lineage:Constituted 5 August 1917 in the National Army as the 321st Field Artillery and assigned to the 82d Division...
(M777 HowitzerM777 howitzerThe M777 howitzer is a towed 155 mm artillery piece, successor to the M198 howitzer in the United States Marine Corps and United States Army. The M777 is also used by the Canadian Army, and has been in action in Afghanistan since February 2006 along with the associated GPS-guided Excalibur...
) - 3rd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment (M777 HowitzerM777 howitzerThe M777 howitzer is a towed 155 mm artillery piece, successor to the M198 howitzer in the United States Marine Corps and United States Army. The M777 is also used by the Canadian Army, and has been in action in Afghanistan since February 2006 along with the associated GPS-guided Excalibur...
) - 3rd Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)27th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)The 27th Field Artillery Regiment is an Field Artillery regiment of the United States Army. first Constituted in 1918 in the National Army -History:...
(HIMARSHigh Mobility Artillery rocket systemThe M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System is a U.S. light multiple rocket launcher mounted on a truck.The HIMARS carries six rockets or one Army Tactical Missile System missile on the U.S. Army's new Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles five-ton truck, and can launch the entire M270 Multiple...
) - 188th Brigade Support Battalion
- Battery D (Target Acquisition), 26th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)26th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)The 26th Field Artillery Regiment is an Field Artillery regiment of the United States Army. first Constituted 5 July 1918 in the National Army -Lineage:...
- 206th Signal Company
A tactical unmanned aerial vehicle
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
(UAV) battery
Artillery battery
In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
will be added to the brigade in the future.
18th Fires Brigade plans, synchronizes and employs joint and combined fires in support of forced entry operations, designated division or Combined Joint Task Forces and on order integrates attached ground and air maneuver forces in order to conduct full spectrum operations.
The 18th Fires Brigade has served in multiple capacities over the past decade in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as well as the primary 155MM Howitzer and HIMARS identity in The War in Afghanistan. The Brigade was the only Airborne Field Artillery Brigade in the United States Army with 1st Battalion (Airborne), 321st Field Artillery Regiment providing the majority of the support for the 18th Fires Brigade's Airborne Mission.
1st Battalion (Airborne), 321st Field Artillery Regiment maintains a fully capacity to provide 155MM Howitzer fires anywhere in the world within 18 hours in support of the 82nd Airborne Division and while supporting other global responsibilities. The unit has the unique ability to employ 155MM howitzer platforms through a "Howitzer Heavy Drop Package" capability which essentially allows for the weapon system to be dropped from an Aircraft while its Paratroopers will then place the weapon into action. 1st Battalion (Airborne), 321st Field Artillery Regiment currently serves as the United States Army's primary 155MM Howitzer response in the Global War on Terrorism.
3rd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment maintains a limited Airborne ability. During 2008 while serving as the General Support Artillery unit in Operation Enduring Freedom 8–9, 3rd Section, Battery C, 3rd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment became the first United States Army Unit to Fire the GPS Guided M982 Excalibur Munition in support of combat operations while serving in the volatile Kunar Province while supporting the 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regimenthttp://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/inf/0503in002bn.htm of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team.
3rd Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment (HIMARS) has served in the capacity to support various United States Army and other agencies with accurate and effective Field Artillery Rocket Fires.
According to The Institute of Heraldry, "The shoulder sleeve insignia was originally approved for the 18th Field Artillery Brigade on 29 May 1979. It was amended to include the airborne tab, add metric measurements and revise the description on 21 October 1992. It was again amended to change the color of the airborne tab on 5 February 2003. The insignia was redesignated for the 18th Fires Brigade and amended to delete the airborne tab on 22 March 2007."
As of August 2009, the 18th Fires Brigade now dons the "All American" patch of the 82nd Airborne Division. The 18th Fires Brigade became a General Support Field Artillery Brigade in July 2008 and currently falls under control of the 82d Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.