Need someone to verify or clarify my understanding of a situation that occurred in Vietnam concerning Arty.

My rifle company was once engaged with an estimated re-inforced NVA company in the central highlands and we called for Tac Air and Artillery support. No Tac Air was availabel but we did get support from a 155 battery. It took 2 rounds to adjust fire (which is very good really)and then the battery fired one more round and ceased firing. When on the prc-25 I was informed by the FDC officer (through relay) that the TAA was met and no more support could be given.

Here is what I was told that means. There was a Tactical Artillery Allowance (TAA)based on tube size, ammmo on the ground, and enroute. This ammo count was divided by that tube size to determine if the battery would run out of ammo faster than it was being resupplied. But this is a hypothetical case based on the fact that every tube of that size in Nam had to fire that many rounds in a day..for example if the TAA for 155's was three, if every 155 in Nam fired more than 3 rounds the existing supply would be exhausted and all 155's would be out of business.

Anyway, this A**wipe FDC officer would not condone firing anymore rounds because he would exceed the TAA based on what had already been fired that day, so we got 3 rounds and that is all...left swinging in the breeze and slugging it out with NVA regulars. We took added causalities because of that. He** was raised all up and down the chain of command between our Infantry BN and the Arty Unit (won't say which one it was, but I have had a grudge against them ever since, or at least against the dimwit OIC.

Can any of you old time Arty guys verify or clarify this for me? Was there a TAA? Have you ever heard of someone discontinuing fire support for a unit in contact because of it or is there possible some other reason?

thanxz, appreciate any light you can shine on this subject.

I've got no answer for you,. I can tell you my Cousin was Divarty CSM of the 101st. He retired when he returned from his tour in Vietnam. He said he couldn't stand some of the BS they had to put up with.
ie: beng forbidden to fire across a valley to assist a Base Camp under attack. They were told a short round might ruin the rice crop in the valley. In the meantime, a SF unit and their ARVNs were fighting for their lives.