ATP-3-09-12 Field Artillery Counterfire and Weapons Locating Radar Operations Download
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Introduction to Field Artillery Counterfire and Targeting 26 October 2021 ATP 3-09.12 1-7 WLRs and forward observers. Fixed or rotary wing airfields/strips. FS communication infrastructure. 1-26. Intelligence assets must be synchronized and integrated to accurately locate targets. Attack/delivery systems to include artillery, mortars, aviation assets, attack helicopters, naval surface FS, and cyberspace electromagnetic activities must be dedicated against the threat total FS system. Considerations for conducting proactive counterfire/targeting include: All available artillery units participate. Integrate all available joint FS attack/delivery systems. Requires augmentation by Army and joint intelligence assets to locate and accurately target the enemy indirect FS systems The intelligence staff officer at echelon manages the intelligence mission command information system, intelligence collections assets, and information dissemination. Understanding the enemy order of battle, emplacement, and displacement procedures. Establishing digital interface from sensor to shooter. Making maximum use of an established permissive fire support coordination measure (FSCM) to facilitate the clearance of fires. Managing no-fire areas that protect special operations forces, long-range surveillance detachments, reconnaissance troops, and scouts is critical. Use of advanced field artillery tactical data system (AFATDS) to clear fires should be maximized (See Appendix A for additional information). Establishing WLR call for fire zones (CFFZs) and artillery target intelligence zones (ATIZs). Air Support Operations Center dissemination and execution of airspace coordination order, air tasking order, and airspace coordinating measures (ACMs). REACTIVE COUNTERFIRE 1-27. Reactive counterfire provides immediate organic or joint fires to neutralize, destroy, neutralize, or suppress enemy indirect fire weapons once acquired. The FS system responds primarily to enemy mortar and artillery fires during or immediately following enemy engagement of friendly forces. Reactive counterfire usually requires quick response capabilities for optimum effectiveness and can benefit from the establishment of quick fire channels. 1-28. FA units employ a variety of counterfire acquisition assets to accurately locate enemy indirect fire assets as they are engaging friendly forces by establishing sensor-to-shooter links to attack the enemy systems. Ensure that the mission fired report and artillery target intelligence is sent to the all source analysis section. Other key considerations for conducting reactive counterfire include airspace clearance, the use of both permissive FSCMs that facilitate quick engagements and restrictive measures such as no-fire areas to protect critical assets, establishing quick-fire channels with sensor-to-shooter links, and designating WLR zone managers. 1-29. The FSCOORD is the primary advisor for counterfire and must emphasize to the maneuver commander that all combat information is reported through operations channels. Counterfire provides joint fires in response to enemy indirect fire weapons as acquired. Counterfire is achieved through joint fires and the information collection effort. 1-30. Information collection is an activity that synchronizes and integrates the planning and employment of sensors and assets as well as the processing, exploitation, and dissemination systems in direct support of current and future operations (FM 3-55). These efforts are linked through operations throughout the depth of the battlefield. While a fine line may exist between counterfire and attack at depth, once a target is capable (that is, within range) of affecting the close fight, its attack is considered a target of opportunity. Information collection assets must be prioritized to accurately locate targets. Attack/delivery systems (such as artillery, mortars, close air support, attack helicopters, naval surface fire support and select nonlethal enablers) may be brought to bear on the enemy total FS system.