What does the art of artillery involve?

The art of artillery primarily involves calculating different firing solutions for accuracy and effectiveness. This is a crucial aspect of how artillery operates, as it requires a thorough understanding of ballistics, the nature of the target, and environmental factors that can affect the projectile's trajectory. Artillery personnel must meticulously compute range, elevation, windage, and other variables to ensure that each round lands accurately on the intended target.

While reading maps and guiding the crew is essential for coordination and situational awareness, it doesn't encompass the technical skills required for targeting and firing. Similarly, preparing targets for engagement is an important task, but it is just one component of the overall artillery operations. Maintenance of the howitzer is vital for ensuring the equipment functions properly, but this function does not relate directly to the tactical decision-making and calculations that are fundamental to the art of artillery. Therefore, calculating firing solutions is central to achieving effective fire support in combat scenarios.