ATP-3-09-02 Field Artillery Survey Download
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Chapter 3 3-8 ATP 3-09.02 16 February 2016 SURVEY REQUIREMENTS 3-37. If the Paladin battalion is to accomplish its mission effectively, survey operations must be continuous and carefully coordinated. The battalion S3 and Chief Surveyor must use their limited survey assets wisely. The primary responsibility of the IPADS or IPADS-G team is to establish update points along the routes of march and one update point per weapon system to ensure that no Paladin has to travel more than 16 miles or 26 kilometers without updating. If the battalion has set up a rearm, refuel, resupply, and survey point, update points should be set up next to the fuel trucks so the howitzers can perform an update while refueling. If no rearm, refuel, resupply, and survey point is set up, establish update points, spaced 50 to 100 meters apart, near the release point of a tactical road march. These points should be easily identifiable and accessible without detouring far from the route of march and without clogging traffic along the route of march. This will allow the entire platoon to update at once, so they will not hold up the rest of the battalion. ALTERNATIVE SURVEY CONTROL 3-38. If the IPADS or IPADS-G becomes inoperative, the Chief Surveyor must ensure that the survey mission continues. In this situation, survey control should be obtained from other FA units operating in the area or may be established by using hasty survey techniques. The IPADS or IPADS-G team can continue the mission by using survey methods that can be performed by two men with a theodolite and the handheld terminal unit (HTU) (FOS device). Refer to Chapter 7 for hasty survey techniques. Battery personnel must help the IPADS or IPADS-G team in the survey effort by using the AN/PSN-11 PLGR or AN/PSN 13 DAGR to provide the best available update points possible until the IPADS or IPADS-G is operating again. Hasty survey methods or a Precise Positioning System (PPS) GPS receiver can also be used by the howitzer crew as a last resort. DESCRIPTION OF THE GUN LAYING AND POSITIONING SYSTEM 3-39. The gun laying and positioning system (GLPS) supplements the M2A2 aiming circle, and will be the primary instrument used to orient howitzers in cannon units not equipped with digitized weapon systems. When used in conjunction with the PLGR, the GLPS will determine grid location, establish directional control, and allow the operator to transfer directional control to the individual howitzers using standard laying commands. Additionally, the GLPS eye-safe laser range finder eliminates the need to measure sub tense to determine the distance to the howitzer. The system is man-portable and tripod-mounted. It can be emplaced and used much the same as the M2A2 aiming circle, but without the need for external survey support. 3-40. GLPS is not a survey instrument and doesn’t provide common survey across the area of operations. It only provides local common survey (for example, if you lay a gun and then move the GLPS to another location to lay another gun, the guns are not on common survey). 3-41. Technical data on GLPS capabilities are shown in the table 3-1. Battery leadership must be proficient in the setup and orientation procedures for the GLPS as listed in the equipment operator’s manual. An independent check of the GLPS orientation must be made before using it to lay the howitzers. Table 3-1. Gun laying and positioning system technical data Gyroscope Accuracy of orientation ±0.2 mils probable error (PE) for latitudes 0° to 70° North or South. ±0.3 mil PE for latitudes above 70° to 75° North or South. Theodolite Telescope magnification 10X Graduation 0.1 mils Resolution of horizontal and vertical circles 0.1 mils Laser Range Finder Accuracy ± meters Range 30 meters to 2,000 meters