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Shoot-and-scoot (alternatively,fire-and-displace orfire-and-move) is anartillerytactic of firing at a target and then immediately moving away from the location from where the shots were fired to avoidcounter-battery fire,e.g., from enemy artillery.[1]: 1–51
The first recorded use of this tactic came from theCaucasian War where theChechen NaibTalkhig of Shali became famous for his shoot-and-scoot tactics, termed nomadic artillery by Russians, in the 1830-1850s. According to the Russian historian and professor Nikolay Smirnov, he was one of the first commanders to use this tactic.[2]
The need for such tactics in World War II became obvious from the noticeable smoke signature produced by the use of anti-tank infantry weapons such as the GermanPanzerfaust anti-tank grenade launcher, the AmericanM1 bazooka and its GermanPanzerschreck derivative anti-tank rocket launchers, and also by the various models ofNebelwerfer andWurfrahmen 40 German barrage rocket systems. In modern times, moving after firing is important, as there are a multitude of electronic systems, such ascounter-battery radar that can automatically detect artillery fire in near real-time and directcounter-battery fire from friendly artillery.[1]: 1–52
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Shoot and scoot was originally made possible and used by SovietKatyusha rocket artillery, whose rudimentary construction of rails on a truck chassis made it comparatively light and mobile, while its quick 7-10 second full salvo, slow reload, and complete lack of protection made switching positions its main tactic and best defence.
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Shoot and scoot tactics were first adopted by NATO in the early 1960s by its nuclear artillery units using towed 8-inchhowitzers and truck-mountedMGR-1 Honest John rockets. These operated as single guns or launchers, typically deployed to a hide, came into action when given a nuclear fire mission, fired and immediately came out of action and moved to another hide adjacent to another firing position. These tactics became normal for missile units worldwide and were successfully used by Iraqi missile units in the 1990–1991Gulf War.
Similar tactics were adopted byM270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) platoons when it entered service, although in this case the launchers usually went first to a reload site after firing.[3]: B-18 It may be used byIndian Pinaka MBRL orRussianGrad,Uragan, andSmerch, although originally systems like Grad used more traditional tactics.
The tactic has also been adapted for more general use withself-propelled gun batteries (such as the USM109 Paladin[4]: 1 or GermanPzH2000).
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A refined version are gun manoeuvre areas developed by UK for use byAS-90 batteries when the counter-battery threat is high. These areas cover several square kilometres and the guns move around in them in pairs. The difficult decision is deciding how long guns can remain in one place before moving. This requires judgement about the enemy's counter-battery responsiveness. In these areas, the battery's command elements remain in one place and there are various options for replenishing the guns' on-board ammunition. The tactic is affected by the rate of fire of the manoeuvring guns and the time it takes them to come out of action. However, it is also very wearing on the gun crews and for sustained use relief crews are essential.
South African Defence ForceG6 Howitzers used the technique very effectively in Angola against Cuban forces in theBattle of Cuito Cuanavale.[citation needed]
Trained by the GermanBundeswehr, the Ukrainians have been using this tactic during theRusso-Ukrainian War, employingS-200surface-to-air missile systems against RussianBeriev A-50 surveillance aircraft.[5]