ST 3.09.50.1  THE XO's HANDBOOK,   Cannon Battery Leader's Guide

Dated 1 May 2019

INTRODUCTION

“The mission of the field artillery is to destroy, neutralize, or suppress the enemy by cannon, rocket, and missile fire and to integrate and synchronize all fire support assets into large-scale ground combat operations.”

PURPOSE AND SCOPE

The spirit of the Field Artillery is that dedication to speed, accuracy, and lethality that drives Field Artillerymen to seek every means to bring immediate effective fire on the enemy when it is requested. The information that follows presents many precise and detailed actions that the battery leadership must take WHEN TIME PERMITS. There are many situations in which a few rounds "right now" would have decisive effect, while many rounds minutes hence may not. The good leader knows how and when to get effective rounds out in the shortest possible time, and he prepares himself and the firing battery now, for that eventuality. He trains himself and the firing battery to be responsive, flexible, accurate, and decisive in any tactical situation. This document is intended to support Field Artillery Units conduct Combat Operations and Operations under degraded conditions.

HISTORY OF THE XO’S HANDBOOK

Originally published in 1942 as the “Field Artillery Guide” by the Field Artillery Journal and the Field Artillery Association for use as a field guide giving Field Artillerymen across the force all necessary working data to operate in the field. Over the years it has been published more than 26 additional times by the Field Artillery School as the Executive Officers Handbook.

In Color

This book is a "mini" (7 1/4 inches high by 5 1/2 inches wide) size - A popular size to carry anywhere (briefcase, large pocket, purse) but the print is large enough for easy reading.  The binding is coil, allowing for easy page turning with no jamming.

The covers are laminated for weather protection with black and white inside printing.

On this website, we also have this book in "BIG" size, the size of a regular sheet of paper.