3-4 guns (a platoon/troop) may well get some damage. But that really would be for harrasing fire only, the minimum unit of fire of Arty on any worthwhile target is usually an entire battery (6-8 guns). e.g - a platoon of enemy infantry in the defence would be such. A company sized infantry target needs a batallion (UK Regiment).
However, in order to really break up armoured formations you really need a battalion sized stonk, preferably more. Artillery is a club, so the more weight the better.
The chapter on artillery in Isbys "Weapons and Tactics of the Soviet Army" has this to say on weight of fire (in Soviet terms, Projectile Expenditure Rate or PER):
Quote:
The PERs recognise that mass creates effectiveness. To get the equivalent effect of one three-batallion volley (54 shells) against infantry in the open requires ten one-batallion volleys (180 shells) or 43 one-battery volleys (258 shells).
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If a British FOO called "Uncle target, Uncle target, Uncle target", All guns within range (unlike the e.g. Americans, for emergency fires the British would pull guns off any programmed missions etc) would fire 6-8 rounds FFE onto the coordinates within 5 minutes of the call, without registration. This was a standard response to a platoon sized tank target in 44. Apparently, it would turn the earh over a metre deep in a 500 metre circle. tanks would be flipped on thier backs.
As a school army cadet, I went on a weeks artillery course in the mid 70s at the School of Artillery at Larkhall. Fun with 25 pounders
. At the weekend it happened to be the annual Artillery Day public show. The grand finale was a divisional shoot by 72 guns. Most impressive. But that would be a "Victor" target an "Uncle" was the entire arty park of the AGRA (Army Group, Royal Artillery), barring the FLAK.
Cheers
Andy