Page 301 - Le Operazioni Interforze e Multinazionali nella Storia Militare - ACTA Tomo I

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directed toward: targets and activities of the enemy infantry; observation of the enemy
artillery and spotting the Bulgarian artillery fire.
The course of two years’ defensive battles developed the different methods for artil-
lery fire. The basic types of fire used at Dojran in support of infantry were curtain fire
(fixed barrages), destructive fire, harassing fire, and the fire attack. Curtain fire was the
most successfully developed and applied. Its purpose was to block the attacking enemy
infantry. It started 300 meters before the barbed wire obstacles of the defense. The artil-
lery planned a continuous barrier fire in three lines: the first line before the barbed wire
of the front position; the second line before the first trench of the main position, and the
third line before the second trench of the main position. The sectors of the curtain fire
were divided among the batteries in such a way that no ground would remain uncovered
by the artillery. Critically, the battery sectors were usually overlapped. The curtain fire
was divided into four versions, depending on the possible options of the enemy’s attack.
This was done to achieve higher density of fire in case of an enemy attack in a particular
sector; then the fire of all the artillery was concentrated there. Each battery had one main
and various alternate barrage lines. The guns stayed routinely laid for their basic barrage
so gunners could simply load and fire to cover their highest priority defensive sector. Af-
ter a long and systematic training the divisional artillery achieved a one minute response
time. Barrages were standardized at three minutes quick fire followed by seven minutes
at 3-4 shots per gun. The speed of fire was regulated by the platoon and gun command-
ers. Each gun was supposed to cover a front of 40-50 meters. Where possible, the field
gun curtain fire would be supported by the one of the howitzer batteries.

Conclusions and lessons learned for the artillery in WWI
During WWI some lessons about usage of artillery became clear; these were codi-
fied into regulations, norms, and organizations. To Bulgaria, those were a natural con-
tinuation of the principles and of the achievements of the Balkan Wars, although WWI
was obviously less successful for Bulgaria. Nevertheless, the activities of the Bulgarian
artillery during WWI were an interesting combat experience, from which we can make
important conclusions on the combat employment of artillery and of the trends in its
development. Most notably, the war demonstrated the increasing importance that artil-
lery played in combat. That is why it started to be used en masse; for that, command and
management were centralized. But to increase infantry firepower, regimental artillery
was begun, with light and medium trench mortars and infantry guns. Trench mortars
were subordinated to battalion commanders, while the remaining artillery had central-
ized control. The appearance of the armored vehicles caused the appearance of anti-tank
artillery; aircraft caused the appearance of anti-aircraft guns.
In offense and defense, the artillery had a double subordination. Each first echelon
battalion had at its disposal an artillery section, which was still a part of the artillery regi-
mental group. Artillery groups were attached to the infantry, but their management was
centralized by the senior artillery commander. Use of covered battery positions became
standard, and furthermore batteries entrenched their guns, personnel, and shells.