ATP-3-09-12 Field Artillery Counterfire and Weapons Locating Radar Operations Download
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Chapter 1 1-6 ATP 3-09.12 26 October 2021 1-23. The corps commander decides how the corps will conduct counterfire operations. The corps commander also provides guidance to coordinate and delineate corps, division, field artillery brigade (FAB), and division artillery (DIVARTY) responsibilities involved with enemy artillery analysis to reduce redundant efforts, and potential gaps and seams in analysis, production, and dissemination of intelligence and information. This guidance influences how subordinate division commanders fight through the allocation of corps assets, the issuance of attack guidance, and the identification of corps HPTs. Corps commander can support a division commander's counterfire efforts by attacking threat FS systems at depth; thus, the corps commander helps to shape the division counterfire battle. In addition to allocating assets to divisions, the corps commander can further support a division counterfire battle by responding to the division requests with air interdiction, strike coordination and reconnaissance, multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), cyberspace electromagnetic activities, and EW assets. With respect to counterfire in the division AO, the corps commander: Assigns missions to division and corps FS assets and delineates their areas of responsibility by establishing boundaries. Detects and attacks targets forwarded by the division. As appropriate, the corps, after coordinating with the division FSE, may attack threat FS targets within the division zone by massing fires to achieve required effects. Procedures for attacking threat systems firing from across boundaries also must be coordinated. Task-organizes and allocates assets. After assessing mission variable factors: mission, enemy, terrain and weather, troops and support available, time, and civil considerations (METT-TC) and commander’s intent, the corps commander can assign additional assets to the divisions for detection and attack of threat FS systems. Most often, corps provides non-divisional FA delivery assets to augment DIVARTY FS capabilities. This can be done by either of the following actions: Assigning a FAB a support relationship such as reinforcing (referred to as R) or general support-reinforcing (GSR) to a DIVARTY. Attaching the FAB to the division requiring augmentation. The FAB normally is then further attached to the DIVARTY. 1-24. Division Counterfire Responsibility: Typically, most of the reactive counterfire battle takes place within the division AO. Most of the threat active FS systems are located in this area. The responsibilities of the division commander mirror those of the corps commander. Although the division assets are fewer in number and variety, the division commander does have organic WLR, target processing, and delivery assets to conduct counterfire. The FSCOORD for the division is responsible for orchestrating the division counterfire effort. When a FAB from corps is available to the division, the DIVARTY commander may assign it the counterfire role. Responsibility for the execution of the division counterfire effort, however, remains with the DIVARTY commander. The division owns the counterfire fight in LSCO. To facilitate the counterfire fight all brigade WLR assets will be incorporated under the counterfire HQ. The brigade will conduct a limited counterfire fight utilizing the AN/TPQ-50 systems. PROACTIVE COUNTERFIRE/TARGETING 1-25. Proactive counterfire is the specific targeting of enemy indirect fire systems including their C2, sensors, platforms, and logistics before they engage friendly forces. The proactive measures consist of zone management, site analysis, and position survivability considerations. The proactive counterfire process begins with targeting and continues throughout the operation. The intelligence and targeting officers develop NAIs and TAIs where the enemy indirect fire assets are expected. The objective is to identify, locate, and attack the enemy's strike capability before it can impact friendly operations. MLRS or high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) battalions (BNs) from the FAB and DIVARTY, normally perform the bulk of proactive counterfire in support of division operations, using organic fires as well as allocated, joint, national, or multinational assets to acquire and disable attack components of the enemy's strike capability. Examples of target sets include: Cannon, rocket, and missile delivery systems. Prepared launch sites. Artillery ammunition storage facilities. Fire direction centers (FDCs).