ATP-3-09-12 Field Artillery Counterfire and Weapons Locating Radar Operations Download
Page 22 of 150
Chapter 1 1-12 ATP 3-09.12 26 October 2021 vital to the survivability of TA and delivery platforms on the battlefield. It is an indispensable element to the artillery commander in the ability to exercise command. 1-41. The operations officer selects position areas for WLRs based on intelligence preparation of the battlefield (IPB), the range capabilities of WLRs, the units HPTL, and a comprehensive analysis of the OE. Intelligence preparation of the battlefield is the systematic process of analyzing the mission variables of enemy, terrain, weather, and civil considerations in an area of interest to determine their effect on operations (ATP 2-01.3). A thorough analysis of the METT-TC can provide which factors are most important to consider. Generally, in a traditional battlespace, WLRs are deliberately positioned to acquire adversary weapons, prevent loss of the WLRs to adversary action, and avoid unnecessary movement. This maximizes WLRs coverage and cueing time. Through analysis of threat characteristics known as the order of battle at the tactical level, staffs can begin to derive additional information such as: Types of systems. Number of systems. Capabilities of each system (munitions, ranges, rates of fire, rate of march). Dispositions: deployment distances between firing units in relation to maneuver missions of each echelon; (DS versus counterfire). Logistical capability. Communication nodes and capabilities. Counterfire capability: WLRs assets, ranges, typical battlefield emplacements. EW threat and capabilities to friendly WLRs. 1-42. During each phase of planning, the staff focuses on the development of specific counterfire products and details any additional planning considerations that are considered to create an effective counterfire plan. This will be used as a tool to annotate best practices as they relate to planning through the lens of counterfire. The counterfire planning process begins with the commander's guidance, IPB, and selection of tentative high- value targets early during the planning process and continues throughout operations. A high-value target is a target the enemy commander requires for the successful completion of the mission (JP 3-60). These high- value targets are converted to HPTs and prioritized based on their importance to the friendly commanders mission. The validation of these HPTs occurs during COA analysis (wargame). COUNTERFIRE/TARGETING AND THE MILITARY DECISION-MAKING PROCESS 1-43. Counterfire/targeting planning is conducted with all of the MDMP steps: receipt of the mission, mission analysis, COA development, COA analysis, COA comparison, COA approval, and order production. Receipt of the Mission: Counterfire/targeting focus: Develop initial running estimates. Develop initial information requirements. Identify available assets from higher HQ. Request the following information from supporting command WLRs to facilitate the supported commands counterfire planning process: Type of system. Active or passive. Range of the system. Frequencies used. Detection capabilities. Manning requirements. Mission Analysis: Counterfire/targeting focus: Update and refine running estimates.