UNITED STATES ARMY

VII CORPS ARTILLERY Cold War Organization  •  1988

In 1988 VII Corps Artillery controlled three West Germany-based field artillery brigades with a total of thirteen FA battalions. Two battalions were equipped with 155mm self-propelled howitzers, seven were equipped with 203mm self-propelled howitzers, three were equipped with the Lance surface-to-surface missile and one was equipped with the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS). All 203mm howitzer battalions were earmarked for conversion to the MLRS and this process was just beginning in 1988. MLRS was also scheduled to replace the Lance in its non-nuclear role and this process too was just beginning in 1988. In the event the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, ratified by the US Senate in May 1988, eliminated the US Army's nuclear mission. Over the next few years all Lance battalions were either inactivated or converted to MLRS. Organizational flags for separate FA brigades were 3 feet at the hoist by 4 feet on the fly with 2 1/2-inch yellow fringe. The field consisted of two vertical stripes, scarlet and yellow, the FA branch colors. Centered on the flag was the brigade shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI) in proper colors. If necessary for contrast against the field, the SSI was piped scarlet on the yellow portion and yellow on the scarlet portion. Campaign and unit decoration streamers awarded to brigades were always displayed with these flags. Guidons for headquarters elements of separate brigades were of the same design as the corresponding organizational flags. Dimensions were 20 inches at the hoist by 27 inches on the fly with a 10-inch fork. Older guidons made of cotton or wool bunting were still used if serviceable, but new ones were made of heavyweight rayon banner cloth. Note: Active links in descriptions point to pages depicting the guidons of subordinate units.

BACK to VII CORPS Page