18th Fires Brigade (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 18th Fires Brigade (ABN)


caption=
dates= June 13, 2007
country=United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Army
type=
role=
size=
command_structure=82nd Airborne Division
garrison= Fort Bragg, NC
garrison_label=
nickname= The Steel Brigade
patron= Saint Barbara
motto= "Tough, Proud, Disciplined"
colors=
colors_label=
march=
mascot=
equipment=
equipment_label=
battles=
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=
commander1=
commander1_label=
commander2=
commander2_label=
commander3=
commander3_label=
notable_commanders=The 18th Fires Brigade (ABN) is an artillery brigade in the United States Army. It is currently based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina and supports the XVIII Airborne Corps. The 18th Fires Brigade (ABN) is currently composed of:

* Headquarters & Headquarters Battery ( [http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/fa/0018firebrig.htm] )
* 1st Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment (M198 Howitzer)
* 3rd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment (M198 Howitzer)
* 3rd Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment (HIMARS)
* 188th Brigade Support Battalion
* D Battery, 26th Target Acquisition Battery
* 206th Signal Company

A tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) battery will be added to the brigade in the future.

DISTINCTIVE UNIT INSIGNIA

Description: A gold color metal and enamel device 1 3/16 inches (3.02 cm) in height overall, consisting of a gold vertical cannon barrel with muzzle end up centered in front of a black fleur-de-lis, and issuant from either side of the barrel below the trunnion a scarlet wing upraised enclosing the sides of the fleur-de-lis; attached in base a gold scroll of three folds bearing in black letters the words "SWEAT SAVES BLOOD."

Symbolism: Scarlet and yellow are the colors associated with Artillery. The cannon barrel denotes the organization's basic mission, and the wings refer to the air deployment capability. The fleur-de-lis represents service in Europe during World War II.

Background: The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 18th Field Artillery Brigade on 28 August 1979. It was redesignated for the 18th Fires Brigade with the description updated on 22 March 2007.

SHOULDER SLEEVE INSIGNIA

Description: On a scarlet shield arched at top and bottom, 2 inches (5.08 cm) in width and 3 inches (7.62 cm) in height, a vertical yellow winged cannon, cascabel in base, all within a 1/8 inch (.32 cm) yellow border.

Symbolism: Scarlet and yellow are colors traditionally associated with Artillery units as well as the cannon barrel. The wings are indicative of the mobility, speed and devastating accuracy of the modern artillery.

Background: The shoulder sleeve insignia was originally approved for the 18th Field Artillery Brigade on 29 May 1979. It was amended to include the airborne tab, add metric measurements and revise the description on 21 October 1992. It was again amended to change the color of the airborne tab on 5 February 2003.

References

* [http://www.bragg.army.mil/18firesbde/ "18th Fires Brigade", United States Army]