Firebases

Firebases are fortified artillery bases established in or near combat zones to provide sustained indirect fire and close support to ground forces. They are typically temporary or semi-permanent installations positioned within range of enemy positions, often on elevated or defensible terrain to maximize observation and firing angles.

A firebase generally combines firing positions for artillery, mortars, or rocket launchers with observation posts, command and control facilities, ammunition dumps, and logistical support. Defensive works such as trenches, berms, and camouflage are used, along with communications links to forward observers, infantry units, and higher command echelons. Firebases rely on a steady flow of ammunition, fuel, and rations, and require engineers and security personnel to establish and maintain them and to protect them from counter-battery fire, air strikes, and ground assault.

Operationally, firebases enable concentrated artillery fire to shape terrain, disrupt enemy movements, and support infantry advances. They are especially important for battlefield shaping, pre- or post-landing operations, and in areas lacking secure base infrastructure. Because they draw enemy attention and can be overrun, their establishment and operation emphasize concealment, redundancy in ammunition, and rapid redeployment if threatened.

Historically, firebases have been used in many 20th-century conflicts, most prominently during the Vietnam War, as a means to project artillery power into contested areas. They also appeared in earlier and later conflicts where artillery play a central role. In modern warfare, the concept has evolved into fire support bases or integrated fire support nodes within larger military formations, with a greater emphasis on mobility and joint operations.

See also: fire support base; artillery battery; forward observer.