ATP-3-09-12 Field Artillery Counterfire and Weapons Locating Radar Operations Download
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Employment Considerations for Weapons Locating Radars 26 October 2021 ATP 3-09.12 4-7 COMMON SENSOR BOUNDARY 4-17. To facilitate timely dissemination of acquisitions to the appropriate unit(s) which will engage potential target, planning and employment of a common sensor boundary (CSB) is critical. A common sensor boundary is a line depicted by a series of grid coordinates, grid line, phase line, or major terrain feature that divides target acquisition search areas into radar acquisition management areas (FM 3-09). 4-18. The CSB should be planned and managed by either the FFA or counterfire HQ. The following factors influence the placement of the CSB: Availability of attack systems. Range of FS systems. Range and operational mode of WLRs. Known and suspected locations of enemy indirect fire systems. Type and availability of munitions. Friendly maneuver operations. 4-19. The location of the CSB is adjusted based on the tactical situation. Repositioning of WLRs, changing enemy situations, and the establishment or deletion of FSCMs may dictate adjustment or deletion of the CSB. 4-20. Figure 4-3 on page 4-8, depicts an example of a standard use of the CSB in a linear division operation. The AN/TPQ-50 WLRs would transmit their acquisitions to the appropriate FA BN counterfire operation section, as they are all tracking short of the CSB. The AN/TPQ-53 WLRs’ range can acquire targets in adjacent units’ AO and beyond the CSB. All acquisitions from the BCTs AN/TPQ-53s should be transmitted to the managing COS. The COS will then assess the target. If the target is located within the BCT boundaries and short of the CSB, then the BCT’s FA BN will action the target. If the target is located outside of the BCT boundaries, or beyond the CSB, then the target will be transmitted to the counterfire HQ’s TPS. 4-21. In Figure 4-3 the CSB is tied to the FA BNs’ C battery (BTRY) planning range. Assuming that C BTRY is equipped with 155 millimeter (mm) cannons, the CSB planners place the CSB is a position that will allow the BTRY to engage any target acquired short of the CSB. This can also be a forcing function for the BCT FSCOORD and FA BN staff to ensure that their counterfire shooters are in a positon to support the BCT’s counterfire fight.