ATP-3-09-12 Field Artillery Counterfire and Weapons Locating Radar Operations Download
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AN/TPQ-50 Weapons Locating Radar System Characteristics and Employment 26 October 2021 ATP 3-09.12 I-5 Note. All sectors facing the other AN/TPQ-50 systems are blanked, or turned off and the frequencies are separated as described above. SITE ACCESS I-16. The WLR site should have more than one route of approach. Routes of approach should be accessible by section vehicles, free from enemy observation, and capable of being guarded by a minimum number of personnel. The quality of access must also be considered. Some essential considerations include: Accessibility during poor weather conditions. Can the position be accessed during periods of rain and snow? Positions that may deteriorate during inclement weather should be avoided to prevent stranding the WLR. Overhead clearance. Avoid locations where trees, power or telephone lines may damage WLR components when entering and exiting the position. Check the clearance requirements for tunnels and overpasses to ensure section equipment does not exceed requirements. Bridges. Check the bridge classifications on routes to WLR positions. Ensure that the bridge classification of section equipment does not exceed the load bearing capabilities of the bridge. Fords. Check fords to ensure they are passable to the WLR section equipment. If heavy rains are expected some positions may become untenable because of fording restrictions. Obstacles. Check routes for current and planned obstacles. These obstacles may include road craters, tank ditches, abates, or wire obstacles. Also, check for natural obstacles such as fallen trees and rockslides. Ensure that the access is sufficient to allow egress after combat has occurred. Rubble from buildings, utilities, and fallen trees should not prevent the WLR section from displacing from a position. SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS I-17. Safety is an important consideration when operating and working around the AN/TPQ-50. Possible safety concerns include radiation, wind, noise, and electrical hazards. ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION HAZARDS I-18. The hazard ranges for the AN/TPQ-50 extends full 6400 mils scanning: 2.0m within 1600 mils of the stare sector, non-scanning: 6.4m, and more than 1600 mils outside of stare sector: 0.8m. WIND I-19. The AN/TPQ-50 system includes a weather cover that is placed over the WLR assembly for protection from wind, rain, snow, or sand. The mesh at the bottom of the cover allows hot air to flow out when used in hot, dry temperatures. The weather cover's drawstrings and Velcro straps further protect the AN/TPQ-50 from conditions. The AN/TPQ-50 can operate in a 35 mph (30 knot) wind. However if the prevailing wind is 57 mph (50 knots) or more the system must be disassembled to avoid damage. SECTION II – DETECTION, VERIFICATION, AND LOCATION METHODOLOGY I-20. The AN/TPQ-50 is extremely proficient at detecting airborne objects, and aircraft are no exception. Even though an aircraft can provide a stable detection pattern for a track, it does not meet the expected velocity and trajectory profile of artillery, rockets, or mortars. Therefore, the aircraft may be displayed as a non-discrimination track or as a non-projectile track. AN/TPQ-50 DETECTION AREA I-21. The possible detection area is a three dimensional space defined by the minimum and maximum range, search sector, and the vertical scan of the WLR. Planning ranges are used for the purposes of this discussion. However, the maximum planning range for the WLR is not an absolute. It is the range at which the probability