ATP-3-09-12 Field Artillery Counterfire and Weapons Locating Radar Operations Download
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Chapter 1 1-8 ATP 3-09.12 26 October 2021 1-31. Counterfire planning is integral to the targeting process. Counterfire begins with targeting during the MDMP and continues throughout the operation. Counterfire planning consists of zone management, pattern analysis, site analysis, and position survivability considerations. The intelligence officer and the targeting officer develop named areas of interest and target areas of interest where the enemy indirect fire assets are expected. Those areas are synchronized with the collection plan and zone management. COMMANDER'S TEN COUNTERFIRE IMPERATIVES 1-32. Targeting and counterfire are combat multipliers for the maneuver commander. Counterfire is one of the best methods available to assess a corps, division, or brigade combat teams (BCTs) ability to plan and synchronize operations. When nested with FS planning, coordination, and execution the 10 counterfire imperatives are a good tool to use in assessing and coordinating the overall counterfire fight. The 10 imperatives are as follows: 1. Provide commander's intent and guidance to enable counterfire operations and scheme of fires in support of the commander's objectives. Counterfire planning begins during the MDMP and continues throughout the targeting process feeding the targeting working group, targeting decision board, and information collection plan. Commander's guidance (corps, division, and BCTs) sets the conditions for planning counterfire operations. The commander's guidance must be clear, concise, and easily understood. Whenever commander's guidance for counterfire and targeting is not clearly understood during the planning of an operation, FS planners should solicit that guidance from the commander. Commanders must include an endstate in their planning guidance for counterfire, to promote unity of effort and the integration, and synchronization of available FS and collection assets. Successful counterfire operations may require commanders to accept risk elsewhere while seeking to exploit opportunities. 2. Develop and execute an information collection plan that supports the targeting and counterfire fight. Successful counterfire operations require proactive and continuous collection and analysis of the enemy FS system. Collection managers must utilize the HPTL in accordance with the commander’s guidance. WLRs and collection assets must be prioritized, integrated, and synchronized with counterfire operations. The FA intelligence officer and the information collection manager at each echelon ensures that TA assets are properly integrated and synchronized into the overall collection and FS plan. The FSCOORD is responsible for positioning FS assets to respond to counterfire requirements. Position WLRs to support the observation and collection plans considering the enemy FS capabilities and range. Combat assessments, battle damage assessment, munitions effectiveness assessment, and reattack criteria will drive information collection requirements for counterfire operations. 3. Develop a permissive battlefield design using geometries and FSCMs. A fire support coordination measure is a measure employed by commanders to facilitate the rapid engagement of targets and simultaneously provide safeguards for friendly forces (JP 3-0). Using battlefield geometries and FSCMs to delineate the AO between corps and divisions is essential to effective counterfire operations and future planning. Permissive FSCMs allow for maximum use of destructive combat power to facilitate the attack of enemy indirect fire systems, while mitigating the risk to friendly forces. The commander adjusts battlefield geometries and FSCMs as required to keep pace with operations. 4. Plan and manage terrain and distribute on common graphics (logistics sites, position area for artillery - primary and alternate). Ensure FA units and WLRs are positioned to support counterfire operations at points of vulnerability such as obstacles, canalizing terrain, bridges, or gap crossings. The counterfire HQ is responsible for logistic support and recommends positioning of sensors and counterfire delivery systems, and ensures position area for artillery and radar position areas (RPA) are distributed using common graphics. Plan for primary, alternate, and tertiary position area for artillery and RPA. 5. Plan airspace that allows for responsive counterfire (ACMs, airspace coordination areas, and counterair). Airspace coordinating measures are measures employed to facilitate the efficient use of airspace to accomplish missions and simultaneously provide safeguards for friendly forces (JP 3-52). Close coordination is required to integrate airspace with counterfire operations. Counterfire conducted in LSCO will require high volumes of airspace. Army tactical missile system and