US Army launches artillery battalion focused on Europe deterrence

The U.S. Army this fall activated an artillery battalion in New York that is intended to give commanders in Europe new options for long-range strikes and deterrence.

Third Battalion, 12th Field Artillery Regiment was activated under the 56th Theater Multi-Domain Command on Oct. 17, a move that signaled “a significant step in the Army’s ongoing modernization and the expansion of long-range fires capability in the European Theater,” according to the command’s Monday announcement.

Though administratively tied to the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum in New York, the new unit falls under the operational control of the 2nd Multi-Domain Task Force, part of the 56th Multi-Domain Command-Europe.

The activation “reintroduces a modern long-range precision fires battalion,” the press release said, adding that, for the European theater, “it means greater range, more flexible options and additional tools to deter or respond in a rapidly changing security environment.”

The battalion comprises over 500 soldiers and includes High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, known as HIMARS, per the Army. HIMARS is a truck-mounted multiple-rocket launcher that can fire precisely guided rockets up to around 186 miles, depending on the munition, according to the system’s manufacturer, Lockheed Martin.

The unit is also equipped with Mid-Range Capability, or MRC, systems, which are designed to strike even farther away.

Col. Jeffrey Pickler, the task force commander, said in the release that the activation symbolized “commitment to readiness, innovation, and to our allies and partners abroad.”

It remains unknown, however, if — or when — soldiers and equipment will be deployed overseas.

Officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The unit’s activation is part of the Army Transformation Initiative, an effort to reshape the force structure.

Eve Sampson is a reporter and former Army officer. She has covered conflict across the world, writing for The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Associated Press.

今年秋季，美国陆军在纽约启用了一个炮兵营，旨在为欧洲指挥官提供远程打击和威慑的新选择。

根据第 56 战区多域司令部周一发布的公告，第 12 野战炮兵团第 3 营于 10 月 17 日正式成立，此举标志着“陆军正在进行的现代化进程以及在欧洲战区扩大远程火力能力迈出了重要一步”。

虽然行政上隶属于纽约州德拉姆堡的第 10 山地师，但该新部队的作战指挥权归属于第 56 多域司令部欧洲分部下属的第 2 多域特遣部队。

新闻稿称，此次启用“重新引入了一支现代化的远程精确火力营”，并补充说，对于欧洲战区而言，“这意味着更远的射程、更灵活的选择以及在快速变化的安全环境中进行威慑或应对的更多工具”。

据陆军方面称，该营由500多名士兵组成，装备有高机动性火箭炮系统（HIMARS）。HIMARS是一种车载式多管火箭炮，根据弹药的不同，可发射射程最远约186英里（约300公里）的精确制导火箭，其制造商洛克希德·马丁公司表示。

该单位还配备了中程作战能力（MRC）系统，旨在打击更远的距离。

特遣部队指挥官杰弗里·皮克勒上校在新闻稿中表示，此次行动象征着“对战备、创新以及我们在海外的盟友和伙伴的承诺”。

然而，目前仍不清楚士兵和装备是否会被部署到海外，以及何时会被部署。

官方尚未对此事作出回应。

该部队的组建是陆军转型计划的一部分，该计划旨在重塑部队结构。

伊芙·桑普森是一名记者，也是一名前陆军军官。她曾报道过世界各地的冲突，为《纽约时报》、《华盛顿邮报》和美联社撰稿。