ATP-3-09-12 Field Artillery Counterfire and Weapons Locating Radar Operations Download
Page 15 of 150
Introduction to Field Artillery Counterfire and Targeting 26 October 2021 ATP 3-09.12 1-5 TARGET ENGAGEMENT AUTHORITY 1-19. Engagement authority is an authority vested with a joint force commander that may be delegated to a subordinate commander that permits an engagement decision (JP 3-01). The authority and responsibility to engage targets rests with the joint force commander (JFC) responsible for the area of operations (AO). The JFC communicates engagement criteria to the force through rules of engagement specific to each AO. In LSCO, especially during the offense, it is critical that Target Engagement Authority be delegated to the absolute lowest echelon that has the proper resources to identify and attack enemy formations, facilities, and other capabilities in-accordance with the Law of War and established rule of engagement. Delegating target engagement authority to the lowest level enables more flexibility by entrusting engagement decisions to leaders at the tactical level. COUNTERFIRE 1-20. Counterfire is fire intended to destroy or neutralize enemy weapons (JP 3-09). Counterfire provides freedom for maneuver by destroying or neutralizing the enemy indirect fire capabilities. Counterfire can be accomplished by using different FS assets to include joint fires. Joint fires are fires delivered during the employment of forces from two or more components in coordinated action to produce desired effects in support of a common objective (JP 3-0). Counterfire must be synchronized and integrated with the current and future scheme of maneuver. 1-21. Counterfire contributes by providing fires against the enemy integrated fires complex. Counterfire protects friendly forces, combat functions, and facilities from enemy indirect fires by targeting enemy weapons, TA assets, C2 facilities, communications, and logistics sites. The counterfire battle is not a separate battle, but one aspect of the overall combined arms fight. Counterfire gains freedom of maneuver for all friendly forces. Counterfire is inseparably tied to current and future operations and is part of the overall combined arms fight to achieve fire superiority. 1-22. In LSCO, the corps commander is responsible for counterfire throughout the depth of the corps AO. The commander determines the best way to protect the corps combat forces and to defeat, delay, or disrupt the threat array. This estimate or analysis includes an assessment of the counterfire capabilities of the corps and its subordinate divisions. For more information on corps operations see ATP 3-92. The corps commander's counterfire responsibilities include the following: Segmenting the battlefield by delineating maneuver boundaries and assigning an AO for corps and its subordinate divisions. This helps establish the delineation of counterfire responsibilities within the corps zone. Assigning missions and responsibilities, to include specific task requirements to intelligence assets through the intelligence officer. Allocating resources. Corps assets may be retained at corps or allocated to subordinate divisions. Conversely, in some situations, the corps commander may require the use of division assets to support a corps counterfire responsibility. The corps commander should provide guidance for use of certain critical assets such as corps aviation assets, air interdiction, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities, special operations forces, and cyberspace electromagnetic activities resources. Requesting additional TA and attack/delivery systems from theater or joint task force (JTF) level or from other joint HQ. Detecting and attacking. The corps detects and attacks targets within its AO, typically beyond the established fire support coordination line. The corps also may attack targets within a division AO when the division has forwarded such a request to corps based on priority and need. Within its capability, the corps may respond to requests for additional fires from adjacent units. Assessing. Finally, the corps commander must assess the protection of his combat units and the effects of counterfire against threat FS systems. As appropriate, the commander adjusts information collection and/or attack priorities for protection of his force and attack of enemy targets. Commander may reallocate assets and modify the missions of subordinate units.